The assessment of environmental impacts within a STAG Appraisal should follow the process outlined below:
- Baseline information - collection of relevant background information;
- STAG Part 1 - to filter out unsuitable options by identifying any major adverse environmental impacts. The outcome is summarised in the Part 1 AST;
- STAG Part 2 - a more in-depth environmental assessment of those options which have passed through the Part 1 successfully, including the identification of appropriate mitigation measures. The outcome is summarised in the Part 2 AST.
Each stage in the process should be carefully documented. The AST is intended as a summary of the assessment which can aid decision making. In order to provide confidence about the objectivity of the assessment underlying this summary, worksheets or working papers should be prepared for each relevant topic.
