What we do
SEPA has a statutory duty to report on the condition of
Scotland's environment. We publish a range of environmental
information and advise Ministers, partner bodies, industry and the
public on environmental issues.
Our Environmental Science (ES) Directorate provides scientific,
advisory and support services to SEPA. This is founded on
integrated high quality measurements of the chemical, ecological
and hydrological state of Scotland's environment, analytical
expertise, professional scientific advice and balanced assessments
suitable to record environmental change, manage the environment,
advocate improvements and inform sound regulation.
ES has a number of objectives to support SEPA's outcomes, which
are to:
- monitor Scotland's environment
- deliver scientific information that is accessible, quality
assured and fit for purpose
- provide a sound understanding and an impartial view of the
state of Scotland's environment
- provide integrated scientific advice using best available
understanding and knowledge
- anticipate future environmental trends and develop the services
to meet changing requirements
- work continuously towards higher consistency, effectiveness and
efficiency
- take a proactive approach to effecting environmental
improvement, protecting human health and achieving SEPA's
environmental outcomes.
Our Monitoring Plan is a purpose built electronic database
system - National Environmental Monitoring System (NEMS). For
Hydrological data we use the Hydrology Information Management
System (HIMS).
The details of 'where, when and what for' are held within NEMS.
For example, each geographic sample or sample site is given a
unique identifier location code. NEMS provides information on where
monitoring takes place, when it should or has taken place and the
analysis results. NEMS is the master and only source for SEPA's
national Monitoring Plan and Monitoring Schedule.
These databases are the working systems for enacting ES
monitoring, working with sample scheduling (also inspections),
analysis and reporting. Performance reporting on the plan's
achievements is undertaken by various business planning and
management processes, which are monitored and reported on a monthly
or quarterly basis via NEMS and HIMS.