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Research on the alternatives in a strategic environmental assessment based on the extension theory

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Abstract

The main purpose of a strategic environmental assessment (SEA) is to facilitate the early consideration of potential environmental impacts in decision-making processes. SEA alternative identification is a core issue within the SEA framework. However, the current methods of SEA alternative formulation and selection are constrained by the limited setting range and lack of scientific evaluation. Thus, the current paper attempts to provide a new methodology based on the extension theory to identify a range of alternatives and screen the best one. Extension planning is applied to formulate a set of alternatives that satisfy the reasonable interests of the stakeholders. Extension priority evaluation is used to assess and optimize the alternatives and present a scientific methodology for the SEA alternative study. Thereafter, the urban traffic plan of Dalian City is used as an example to demonstrate the feasibility of the new method. The traffic planning scheme and the environmental protection scheme are organically combined based on the extension theory, and the reliability and practicality of this approach are examined.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (no. 40801228) and the Fund of Water Pollution Control and Management Projects in the Eleventh Five-Year Plan of Chinese Government (no. 2009ZX07526-006). The anonymous reviewers and the editors are greatly appreciated for their constructive suggestions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (MOE), School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Linggong Road 2, Dalian, 116024, People’s Republic of China

    Jing Du, Yang Yang, Ling Xu, Shushen Zhang & Fenglin Yang

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  1. Jing Du
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  2. Yang Yang
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  3. Ling Xu
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  4. Shushen Zhang
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  5. Fenglin Yang
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Correspondence to Ling Xu.

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Du, J., Yang, Y., Xu, L. et al. Research on the alternatives in a strategic environmental assessment based on the extension theory. Environ Monit Assess 184, 5807–5819 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-011-2383-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-011-2383-1

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