The Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is a coordination tool aimed at addressing and integrating environmental concerns into planning processes by systematically evaluating their effects on the environment. According to European Union Directive 2001/42/EC, the SEA processes should aim at guaranteeing high levels of environmental protection and at promoting the participation of local communities and administrative bodies for fostering social and environmental sustainability.
In this framework, in 2005 Terna launched a pilot SEA process applied to the Italian plan for electricity infrastructures based on promoting a close integration between the planning of measures to be implemented and evaluating their effects. Moreover, the company established a national SEA coordination group formed by Ministers, Regional Authorities and Terna. In particular, the SEA pilot process encourages compliance with international, national and local development policies, plans and programs, analyzes social, territorial, economic and environmental restrictions, shares motivations for implementing measures, evaluates and compares possible alternatives.
Due to the relevance of the decisions made with Terna’s plan, the SEA pilot process actively involves various different administrative bodies including the Ministry for Environment, the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry for Economic Development and several Regional and Provincial authorities.
During 2006, a methodological approach for the integrated planning and evaluation process was set up. Terna’s plan for 2007 will be accompanied by an Environmental Report illustrating the approach and the first results achieved.
As of the issuance of a specific provision -Part 2 of Legislative Decree 152/2006 and subsequent changes from Legislative Decree 4/2008- Terna has been applying the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) process to its Development Plan (DP), pursuant to the above-mentioned Directive 2001/42/EC. The SEA process is divided into 5 phases: