Strategic Environmental Assessment System and a Case Study on a Spatial Plan in the Netherlands

Abstract

This paper examines Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) system and its case study on a spatial plan in the Netherlands. The Netherlands has long experience on SEA and its new SEA system after the EU SEA Directive has the following characteristics；1)SEA process is similar with EIA process, 2)SEA is applied at later step of decision making, and 3)SEA system mainly assess environmental impact of plans. In case of SEA on spatial plans, most of alternatives are about location of development projects. One of the advantages of SEA on spatial plans in the Netherlands is appraising impact of the plan by GIS and expresses it visually, so it is easier to understand the process and contents of SEA. On the other hand, one of the disadvantages is how to achieve a balance between environmental, social and economic aspect is not clear.