-The objectives of this project is to clarify the correlation between public construction plans and the current strategic environmental assessment (SEA) program, to analyze the challenges presented in the SEA program, and to suggest feasible ways to improve its implementations. According to the contents of the public construction plans, most belong to the individual projects and some might be plans or program but no policy level. Moreover, the cases submitted to the Council for Economic Planning and Development are all individual projects, not being included in the SEA program. Reviewing the international experiences, the list and characteristic definition methods are designed to screen whether the policy, plan, or program (PPP) have significant environmental impacts and decide to carry out SEA process or not. In this study, a self-examination list is designed as definition criteria. The PPP proponents fill this list and examine the “environmental impact level” derived from PPP proposal. The environmental experts or agencies can be consulted while preparing the list. In order to avoid the unnecessary works, the categories of PPPs required using the definition methods shall be defined, such as PPPs are related to massive resources uses or environmental protections. Two major problems occur in the current SEA program. One is the vague target PPPs in SEA, and the other is several uncertain steps in SEA process, such as the screening, scoping, assessment items and methods, and public participation. Thus, to identify the target PPPs for SEA, to clarify the responsibility for different governmental agencies, and to strengthen the education training of SEA for public officials are primary suggestions for future reformation of SEA program in Taiwan.

Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), public construction plan, screening, expert consultations, self-examination list