Iceland
From SEA.unu.edu/wiki
SEA in Iceland
Contents |
Key contact points
The Environment Agency of Iceland operates under the direction of the Ministry for the Environment. Its role is to promote the protection as well as sustainable use of Iceland’s natural resources, as well as public welfare by helping to ensure a healthy environment, and safe consumer goods. UST: http://english.ust.is/about-UST/
The Icelandic National Planning Agency is the prime site for information on Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) in Iceland. Among the main roles of the National Planning Agency is to give advice on planning and building issues, assist local authorities in preparing spatial plans and to review spatial plans produced by local authorities. The Agency organizes conferences on a regular basis, seminars and courses and publishes guidelines and reports. Skipulagsstofnun: http://www.skipulag.is/focal/webguard.nsf/key2/english.html.
SEA regulations and guidance in Iceland
SEA in the Iceland is carried out in response to:
- The Planning and Building Act 73/1997 , art. 9: “Development plans shall account for the impacts of the plan, its objectives and proposed development, on the environment, natural resources and the community, including, i.a., with a comparison of the possible alternatives.”
- European SEA Directive 2001/42/EB 27. June 2001 on the assessment of the effects of certain plans and programmes on the environment. The Strategic Environmental Assessment Act (SEA) in Icelandic 105/2006.
- Guidance on Strategic Environmental Assessment (April, 2007). The Icelandic National Planning Agency (Skipulagsstofnun). http://www.skipulag.is/focal/webguard.nsf/key2/umhverfismat_aaetlana.html
- Guidance on Municipal Plan (2003). The Icelandic National Planning Agency (Skipulagsstofnun). http://www.skipulag.is/focal/webguard.nsf/key2/leidbeiningar_skipulagsmal
Stages in the SEA process
SEA in Iceland is subject to:
Screening; Plans and programmes:
1. Which are subject to preparation and/or adoption by an authority at national or regional or local level or which are prepared by an authority for adoption, through a legislative procedure by Parliament or Government.
2. Which are required by legislative, regulatory or administrative provisions.
3. Which set the framework for future development consent of projects listed in
Annexes I and II according to law 106/2000.
Scoping: Consultation with the National Planning Agency. The scoping documents is made but not mandatory, it is included in the directions.
Review: Preparing the Environmental Report. The scoping documents is presented for six weeks and consulted with the National Planning Agency, local authorities and Environmental Agency.
Decision making: Consulting on the draft plan or programme and the Environmental Report. A decision is made by including the Environmental Report and results of consultation. A summary is made claiming how both points were included. The decision also includes a monitoring plan.
Implementation & monitoring: Monitoring the significant effects of implementing the plan or programme on the environment.
Case studies of SEA in Iceland
TRAFFIC PLAN 2007-2018, http://vgwww.vegagerdin.is/samgonguaaetlun.nsf/Main2?OpenFrameSet
STRATEGIC PLANNING FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF WASTE 2005-2020, http://www.samlausn.is/Aaetlun/ According to Icelandic law all municipalities are obligated to make a waste management plan. This has an origin in the directive 75/442/EEC of the Council of the European Communities.
OIL EXPLORATION IN THE DREKI AREA ON THE JAN MAYEN RIDGE: Proposal for a plan to offer exclusive exploration and production licences for oil and gas in the Dreki area (Dragon area) on the Jan Mayen Ridge, northeast of Iceland and a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of the proposed plan, http://eng.idnadarraduneyti.is/media/Rafraen_afgreidsla/Report_on_oil_exploration-KK.PDF
Bibliography
Glasson,J., Therivel, R. and Chadwick,A. Introduction to Environmental Impact Assessment 3rd Edition (2005) Routledge
Riki Therivel. Strategic Environmental Assessment in Action (2004) Earthscan
The Icelandic National Planning Agency (Apríl 2007). Guidance on Strategic Environmental Assessment.
Planning and Building Act, No. 73/1997, no. 135/1997 and no. 58/1999
Tuija Hilding-Rydevik. Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programs Nordic experiences in relation to the implementation of the EU directive 2001/42/EC. Nordregio 2003
Tuija Hilding-Rydevik. Nordic experiences of impact assessment of plans and programmes – SEA workshop, 11-12 February 2002, Stockholm. Nordregio 2003
