The Role of The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA)
Its main responsibilities are:
- Regulating emissions from industrial installations, including power stations, foundries, incinerators and chemical works and other activities such as intensive pig and poultry farming, via the Pollution Prevention and Control (Scotland) Regulations (PPC).
- Controlling pollution from waste management activities, including licensing storage and disposal of waste and regulating landfill sites. The Executive works in partnership with SEPA and local authorities on strategies for minimising waste and promoting recycling.
- Regulating installations using radioactive materials, e.g. nuclear power stations, oil rigs, hospitals and universities to prevent harm to the environment and human health.
- Regulating discharges to rivers, lochs, estuaries and coastal waters from sewage works, fish farms, septic tanks etc. SEPA also has broad duties for protecting and improving the water environment, including River Basin Management Planning under the Water Environment and Water Services Act.
SEPA operates a 24/7 pollution hotline, 0800 80 70 60 which should be used to report accidents or incidents requiring an urgent response and Floodline service, 0845 988 1188 which provides information on flooding risks in Scotland through the year.
There are a number of local SEPA offices which can be contacted for specific queries. Contact details can be obtained from the website or from their Corporate Office in Stirling on 01786 457700.
SEPA also plays a major role in advising the Scottish Government on the development of new policies for protecting Scotland's environment. It also provides advice to industry and the public on pollution control and other environmental issues.
You can find out more about what SEPA does on its website.