The West Dunbartonshire Core Paths Plan is subject to a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), which is a requirement of the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005, A SEA provides a systematic process of identifying, predicting, reporting and mitigating the environmental impacts of any proposed plans or programmes.
The SEA consists of 3 main stages - Screening, Scoping and the Environmental Report.
Screening is the stage where a Statutory Authority (West Dunbartonshire Council) establishes whether the Plan is likely to have a significant environmental impact. The Responsible Authority must formally consult with the Consultation Authorities (Historic Scotland, Scottish Environmental Protection Agency and Scottish Natural Heritage) to seek their views prior to making a determination about undertaking an SEA.
Scoping sets out in more detail the areas of likely significant impact and requires a formal consultation with the Consultation Authorities to identify the scope and level of detail needed in the Environmental Report, including the proposed period of consultation
The Environmental Report has to describe the effects on the environment of the Plan and its reasonable alternatives identified by the environmental assessment.
As a result of the SEA Environmental Report an 'Appropriate Assessment' of the Water Access Points on the Inner Clyde was requested by Scottish Natural Heritage
Further information on Strategic Environmental Assessments see:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Environment/14587
