16th June 2005 http://www.scotlink.org/files/policy/ParliamentaryBriefings/LINKBriefingSEAStage1.pdf
Strategic Environmental Assessment is a tool for factoring in environmental consideration at the beginning of the decision making process. Enshrining SEA in primary legislation, fit for Scotland, is a significant step towards factoring the environment into decision making. The introduction and application of Strategic Environmental Assessment should help us avoid many long-term costs of having to rectify environmental damage arising from inappropriate policy decisions.