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Notifications If you wish to notify SEPA of certain lower risk radioactive substances activities, you can do so using our online forms: Notifications to manage certain radioactive sources, including orphan sources, and radioactive waste from an incident Radioactive substances notification form - MS Word version Applying for authorisation The type of authorisation you will require is set out in t

Diffuse Pollution in the Rural Environment A programme of rural diffuse pollution work started in March 2010, to help deliver the objectives outlined in the River Basin Management Plans (RBMPs) for the Scotland and Solway-Tweed river basin districts.  Diffuse pollution priority catchments have been identified by SEPA as catchments failing to meet environmental standards. Each catchment has a dedic

The SEPA Marine National Environmental Monitoring Buoy Network provides real time, high frequency environmental data from strategic locations around the coast, as part of SEPA obligations to monitoring the marine environment. What is being monitored? Continuous monitoring equipment gathers dissolved oxygen, water temperature, salinity and chlorophyll-a data at regular intervals. The data is stored

To make this section of our website easier to use, we have broken down the questions most commonly asked of us into two sections: Section A gives an introduction to the regulations and how they are enforced and may be of use to smaller businesses and contractors. Section B goes into more detail and describes definitions, concepts and processes and is a useful resource for consultants, regulators and larger businesses and contractors. It also gives more information about how the regulations differ between Scotland and England. To make this section of our website easier to use, we have broken down the questions most commonly asked of us into two sections: Section A gives an introduction to the regulations and how they are enforced and may be of use to smaller businesses and contractors. Section B goes into more detail and describes definitions, concepts and processes and is a useful resource for consultants, regulators a

nuclear industry We regulate the management of radioactive substances, including those from the nuclear industry. This page provides information on the regulation of the nuclear industry. What is the nuclear industry? The nuclear industry includes power stations that generate electricity from a nuclear reactor, nuclear sites undergoing decommissioning and some defence activities. How do we regulate the nuclear ind

Legislation directs SEPA to assess and classify each shellfish protected area. To deliver this we work closely with Food Standards Scotland (FSS). FSS sample, analyse and report water quality in production areas throughout the year to ensure shellfish are safe for consumption, or determine if they require further treatment. At the end of each year FSS provide SEPA with this data who use it to clas

Frequently asked questions Why is a sea lice framework needed? Populations of wild Atlantic salmon have been in serious decline in recent decades and are now at crisis point. The pattern of decline is repeated across the salmon’s North Atlantic range and is likely caused, at least in part, by the effect of climate change on the survival of salmon during their time at sea. To build resilience of Sc

Waste from all sources Discover Data toolLast updated: 15th July 2025 Household Waste Discover Data toolLast updated: 28th October 2025 This page presents data and information on the types and quantities of waste generated and managed across Scotland. The Scotland’s Environment Waste Discover Data tool presents waste from all sources, i.e. from households, the construction and demolition sector, a

What are invasive non-native species? Non-native species (NNS) are plants and animals which have been introduced (accidentally or deliberately) outside of their native range through human activity. Many non-native species contribute positively to our lives, as livestock, crops, timber, garden plants or pets. However, a small proportion (10-15%) of non-native species spread rapidly and cause damage

Site NameLocation Info  Ardtoe and Loch Ceann Traigh An area bounded by lines drawn between NM5896071973 (Rubha na h-Acairseid) and NM6280072702 and between NM6300070299 and NM6300069862, and extending to MHWS. View Site Report Ayrshire Coast An area bounded by the coast and a line from a point at NS1783948444 (Farland Head) to point NS2104143938 and thence to the coast at NS2197744291 (Montf