●Research Trends and Results

Study of the implementation of SEA (StrategicEnvironmental Assessments) in road projects
SONE Shinri, HeadINOUE Ryuji, Senior Researcher
YAMAMOTO Yuichiro, Researcher
ANDO Shingo, Guest Research Engineer
Environment Department, Road Environment Division(Key words) Environmental Impact Assessment Law, Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), concept stage PI

Table 1. Comparison of Cases With and Without
Introduction of Concept Stage PI
EIA, city planning period

Cost at EIA, city planning stage

2. Analysis of the process of concept stage PI cases
Four cases were abstracted from among concept
stage PI implementation cases (24 cases) at projects
subject to the Environmental Impact Assessment Law(National Expressways and national highways with10km of four lane sections or more) etc., and thefollowing situations and challenges were clarified bycollecting information and conducting interviews.
・The system is operated as follows in line with the“Plan Enactment Process Guideline at the Concept
Stage of a Public Works Project (April 2008,
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport andTourism)”.
[1] Initiation→[2] sharing challenges→[3] setting
multiple proposals and evaluation items→[4]comparative evaluation→[5]selecting proposed plan
・The introduction of SEA legislates part of theseprocesses (evaluation from the environmental
perspectives). It is necessary to clearly display thisoperating guideline at a site.

3. Effectiveness of introduction of concept stage PI
A project planned without performing concept stage
PI (case without introduction of PI) and a projectplanned by performing PI (case with introduction ofPI) in adjoining sections on a single route werecompared. In a case with PI introduction in a city inparticular, the time and cost etc. required at the EIA
and city plan setting stage are greatly reduced,
clarifying the importance of obtaining the residents’
understanding of the project at the concept stage(Table 1).

Environmental
countermeasures

1. Introduction — Amendment of theEnvironmental Impact Assessment Law andIntroduction of SEA—
Under the amendment of the Environmental Impact
Assessment Law (promulgated in April 2011), theprocedures of the Planning Stage Environmental
Consideration Statement (SEA) will be carried out
beginning April 1, 2013. SEA legislates environmental
impact statements when a project’s position and scaleetc. are studied at an earlier stage than the existingEnvironmental Impact Assessment (EIA), in order toeffectively avoid or mitigate serious environmental
impacts.
In a road project, at the concept stage (stage when
the general route and the basic structure are decided),flexible and smooth communications (PI) with theresidents and other concerned parties are accompaniedby comprehensive judgments and setting of plans froma variety of perspectives including the environmental,social,economic,etc.
Guidelines
totheimplementation of legally designated SEA at theconcept stage of road projects are studied.

Explanation
meetings/public
hearings

EIAPosition
document
Proposedcity plan
Discussion of needfor and suitability ofthe projectOpinions onenvironmental
conservation
measuresState ofimplementation ofenvironmental
conservation
measuresYokohama ring road,Northwest route (PIintroduced)
Approx. 5 years

Yokohama ring road, Northroute (PI not introduced)

Approx. 14 years 3 months
 Environmental impact
statement explanation
 Environmental impact
meeting: 9 times, 1,470
statement explanation
participants
meeting: 4 times, 201
participants Public hearing: 4 times,
presentation by 83 people Public hearing: once,presentation by one
 Supplementary
personexplanation meetings: 191times
 398 (Scoping 295,947 (Draft
documents)
Environmental impact
statements)
 11 (Draft
Environmental impact
 Opinions on allstatements)
environmental items
 Opinions in opposition
 Opinions in opposition
to the proposed city plan
approx. 134,000, opinions
1, opinions of approvalof approval approx.
17.
83,000.
Opinions limited

Opinions diffused

Two items are objects ofsubmission of opinions,contents limited

Nine items are objects ofsubmission of opinions,contents diffused

Environmentalconservation items
implemented for 9 of 17
items

Environmental conservation
items implemented for all
items (15 items)

4. Study of correct operation of SEA
Based on the above, a committee of young
academic experts (Chairman: TERABE Shintaro,
Associate Professor, Tokyo University of Science) in
related specialized fields (civil engineering planning,public administration) was established to study how tocorrectly operate SEA at the concept stage. It hascompiled the Correct Operation of SEA at the Concept

●Research Trends and Results
Stage of a Road Project (Material for FurtherDiscussion). (Fig. 1)
1. It is most important to operate it to obtain (not reduce)
trust in administration.
2. Precautions during each process[1] Initiation

Specifying implementationof SEA[2] Sharing of challenges

Environmental sidechallenges are essential.

[3] Setting multiple
proposals/evaluation
items

Environmental side items
are essential[4]

Evaluation ofenvironmental aspect foreach proposed plan
(preparing theConsideration Statementetc.)

Comparativeevaluation

SEA
procedures

Later, comparativeevaluation including socialand economic aspects.
[5] Selecting proposedplan

Comprehensively judgingenvironmental, social, andeconomic aspects

3. Hearing opinions of the Consideration Statement done asa process integrated with the concept stage PI.
4. Selection of appropriate experts and clarification of theirroles

Figure 1. Outline of Correct Operation of SEA(Material for Further Discussion)
5. Future Plans
The items changed by the amendment of theEnvironmental Impact Assessment Law including
SEA, and the most recent scientific knowledge will bereflected in the Environmental Impact Assessment
Technique for Road Project (Manual) (see below)
which will be revised by the middle of 2012.
http://www.nilim.go.jp/lab/dcg/gijutsu/gijutsu.htm