SEPA is the public body responsible for environmental protection in Scotland. Its main aim is to:

""provide an efficient and integrated environmental protection system for Scotland that will both improve the environment and contribute to the Scottish Government’s overall purpose."

SEPA was established by the Environment Act 1995. It became operational on 1 April 1996. The Environment Act 1995 also sets out SEPA's powers and responsibilities.

In broad terms, SEPA regulates:

• activities that may pollute water
• activities that may pollute air
• storage, transport and disposal of waste
• keeping and disposal of radioactive materials.
  
  

Some of SEPA's other principal responsibilities include:

• maintaining a flood warning system
• implementing the National Waste Strategy
• controlling, with the Health and Safety Executive, the risk of major accidents at industrial sites
• operating the Scottish part of the Radioactive Incident Monitoring Network.

SEPA also works with many other organisations to help protect and improve the environment. For more information on some of these click here

The Corporate Plan sets out SEPA's priorities and goals for the three financial years 2008-2011. Our work is based on six long-term environmental outcomes together with an outcome that focuses on the running of the organisation. For more information about these see our latest corporate plan.

Our regulatory work is guided by our policy on enforcement. To see this policy (in pdf format) go here.

SEPA employs around 1300 staff in a wide range of occupations and specialisms. These include chemistry, ecology, environmental regulation,hydrology, communications, quality control, engineering, planning,business support and management functions.

Our staff are located in a network of 22 offices, from Lerwick to Newton Stewart, and SEPA's Corporate Office in Stirling . For office locations and contact details please go here.