General
To make it easier for you to get the information you want, we recommend that you read the information elsewhere in these pages. There are important details about:
Although a variety of rules apply to accessing information, you do not need to state the relevant law in your request.
Copyright restrictions may apply to the information you request, especially if SEPA is not the owner (or sole owner) of the information. Please read our section on copyright.
Please note that if you request environmental or other data, it will not automatically be interpreted for you. If an interpretation exists already you can request this. However, if you require us to carry out interpretation for you, we are not obliged to carry this out and the work will probably be charged at the rate for non-publication scheme information (see section on charging).
Special requirements
If you need any particular help in preparing your request, or you need the information in a special format (e.g. braille, audio tape) please contact us. See the section on responsibilities in ‘About the publication scheme’ for contact details.
Requests for information SEPA does not hold
If you request information that SEPA does not hold we will do one of two things:
- refer you to an organisation that does, or may, hold that information
- ask for your permission to transfer your request directly to the correct organisation.
Our action will depend on the circumstances of each request, e.g. how much detail we have about your query and how confident we are about which particular organisation holds the information you want.
It may help you to refer to our ‘who does what’ guide at www.sepa.org.uk/about.
Getting information directly
You can access much of SEPA’s information by going to our website, registries or phoning one of our helplines.
Website
Our website is www.sepa.org.uk. We publish as much information as possible on our website in a variety of formats:
You can also search our website by clicking on the Search button (or use the A-Z on the same page). Many of our printed publications are also available online.
If information is available on our website, but you don’t have web access, you can ask us to post or email it to you.
Public registries
Public registries are the main store for large amounts of paper-based regulatory and enforcement information. Our registry staff will be able to help you find the information you need. You can request information in person or by phone. We have registries in
Aberdeen,
Dingwall,
Perth,
East Kilbride
and
Edinburgh
. Registry opening hours are 9.30 – 4.30 Monday to Friday. (SEPA offices are closed for Christmas, New Year and Easter public holidays.)
See office location and contact details, here.
Telephone helplines
- Flooding information and advice is available by calling 0845 988 1188. (The same information is available online at www.sepa.org.uk/flooding)
- Information about the National Waste Plan is available from the Waste Action Line on 0800 389 5270.
Making a request
If the information you want is not in our publication scheme, or you have any difficulties, you can:
In each instance, you will need to provide full contact details in case we need to discuss your query at any stage. You will also need to be as specific as possible about the information you want, although you do not need to tell us why you want it.
If you do not make your initial request in writing, we may need to take details and confirm it in writing to you before progressing. This is to help ensure that we understand your needs properly before committing time to responding.
SEPA office opening hours are 9.00 – 5.00 Monday to Friday, except for Christmas, New Year and Easter public holidays.
Information Centres
SEPA has four Information Centres around Scotland based in the Stirling, East Kilbride, Edinburgh and Aberdeen offices. Each of these maintains library collections to support SEPA staff. These collections are freely accessible to members of the public for consultation or borrowing.
Consultation
To arrange a visit during office hours to an Information Centre either email infonet@sepa.org.uk or telephone 01786 452453 (Stirling); 01355 574282 (East Kilbride); 01224 424649 (Aberdeen); or, 0131 273 7211 (Edinburgh). The catalogues of the collections can be searched from electronic catalogues located in the Information Centre. They are not available via the SEPA website.
Borrowing
Any item in these collections can be borrowed following standard Inter library loan procedures (contact your public, institutional or work library service for further information).
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