Environmental protection and improvement

SEPA is tasked with applying a wide range of legislation, more than 50 different directives and acts, covering everything from septic tanks to nuclear power stations.

Our responsibility is to be proportionate in our regulation and enforcement. Whether writing conditions in a licence or issuing a prohibition notice, we must take into account environmental, ecomonic and public interests.

It would be ideal if SEPA was a watchdog that didn’t need to use its teeth, and we try to work with operators to promote good practice. Examples of best practice initiatives include:

• Netregs
• diffuse pollution
• waste minimisation
• habitat enhancement.

Environmental science

SEPA takes thousands of samples every year from land, water and air, to help assess the quality of our environment.

This raw data needs to be turned into useful information, and we complement our own activities with research commissioned from other organisations.

As well as influencing our decisions, from strategy to enforcement, information on environmental quality is reported to our stakeholders through publications and our website.

Our network of river guaging stations is also the backbone of the national flood warning service, and SEPA’s expertise in water quantities and behaviour is of immense value to many other organisations.


Environmental and organisational strategy

SEPA needs to be aware of new challenges, legislation and issues. We try to look ahead so we can anticipate their impact on the organisation and prepare to deal with them effectively.

Working with the Scottish Executive and other agencies, we develop policies and guidance that help the whole organisation achieve environmental priorities and deliver a consistent service.

As a public body, SEPA needs to be efficient, and be seen to be efficient. We try to ensure our efforts are focused on achieving our stated objectives, and we carry out programmes to improve how we deliver our service.


Communication and information

SEPA has a wealth of data on the quality of Scotland’s environment, along with records of regulatory and enforcement activity. These are increasingly being turned into information that is of value to stakeholders.

Our influence on the environment is always indirect, even when regulating, so we try to raise the profile of environmental challenges and promote good practice through education.

We use the media, events, publications and our website to provide information, promote our messages and demonstrate that we are fulfilling our responsibilities.

SEPA is also a listening organisation. As well as carrying out regular consultations, we are increasingly working with stakeholders to help us find better ways of tackling environmental priorities.

Corporate services

Although our corporate functions are mostly internal-facing, they underpin our core work in many ways.

We are conscious of the need for SEPA to set a good example in how it manages its enviornmental impact. Our purchasing aims to be as ‘green’ as possible, while ensuring value for public money; we try to run energy efficient buildings and reduce our waste; and our IT systems help us to use less paper and travel fewer miles.

SEPA has to maintain high standards of financial propriety, as we are accountable to the Scottish Executive for the use of public funds, and to regulated operators who also pay for our services. We are audited rigorously by independent auditors and by Audit Scotland.

SEPA’s success depends on the quality of staff it employs. Many of them combine post-gradute qualifications with extensive practical experience to help fulfill a range of advisory, scientific and regulatory roles.

The SEPA communications centre, based in Perth, is a key element of several SEPA functions, including the pollution reporting hotline, the flood warning service and our general enquiry service.