Colin Bayes, Head of Water Policy for SEPA, said:" SEPA has worked closely with the Scottish Parliament to encourage the development of these new powers. Our mission is to protect the environment. These new powers would allow us to be much more pro-active in our duties. Until these new measures are in place, SEPA can only take enforcement action against a person, or organisation, after they make a polluting discharge to rivers, loch and the sea. Closing the door after the horse has bolted. Some incidents can have long term effects on water courses and such a limited response is not acceptable .

"SEPA staff always seek to advise and influence dischargers on sound environmental practice but where potential polluters fail to listen it has to await the damage being done before it has the force of the law with which to act. When these powers are made available, SEPA staff can confidently move forward to a new stage of water pollution prevention, a more proactive approach."

The proposal for these new powers was announced by the Minister for Transport and the Environment on 25 August. The relevant press release is available from the Scottish Executive press office on 0131 244 0383 or on the Scottish Executive Website www.scotland.gov.uk

The Scottish Executive public consultation paper is entitled The Control of Pollution (Registers) and (Consents for Discharges) (Secretary of State Functions) Amendment Regulations 2000. It is available on the Scottish Executive Website www.scotland.gov.uk or from Linda Galbraith, Area H-1, Scottish Executive, Environmental Protection Unit, Victoria Quay, Edinburgh EH6 6QQ.