The Role of Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA)
SEPA's main responsibilities in relation to pollution 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 Scottish Goverment 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 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.
To report pollution accidents or incidents that require an urgent response. SEPA operates a 24/7 pollution hotline, 0800 80 70 60.
There are also a number of local SEPA offices, which can be contacted for specific queries, for details of these and to find out more about what SEPA do, go to their website.