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Priority catchments

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 Water Environment Fund

Information regading the Water Environment Fund, including how to apply and the assessment process.

Information regading the Water Environment Fund, including how to apply and the assessment process. Rivers are a vital part of our landscape and a great asset to Scotland. They provide wildlife corridors, opportunities for recreation and wellbeing and resources for farming, drinking water, beverage production and hydroelectricity. Like many of our natural resources our rivers are under pressure and in places, damaged. This includes straightened and embanked channels which ar

Regulations

The regulation and legislation of radioactive substances (RSA) in Scotland.

The regulation and legislation of radioactive substances (RSA) in Scotland. Environmental authorisations (Scotland) Regulations 2018 What are we able to do? We can now accept: Applications for an EASR18 authorisation (please contact SEPA). Online notifications EASR18 for orphan source or managed radioactive substances (only IAEA category 5 that: exceed 200 kBq; tritium sources exceeding 20 GBq; and electrodeposited source. Radioactive substances in IAEA category 4 and ab

Remediation activities

Any remediation activity to address land contamination should be designed and planned so risks can be managed appropriately. It is commonly thought that remediation can only result in an environmental improvement. However, while the remediation of chemically contaminated land and the associated water environment is carried out with improvement in mind, the remedial activity itself has the potential to adversely affect human health or the

Any remediation activity to address land contamination should be designed and planned so risks can be managed appropriately. It is commonly thought that remediation can only result in an environmental improvement. However, while the remediation of chemically contaminated land and the associated water environment is carried out with improvement in mind, the remedial activity itself has the potential to adversely affect human health or the Any remediation activity to address land contamination should be designed and planned so risks can be managed appropriately. It is commonly thought that remediation can only result in an environmental improvement. However, while the remediation of chemically contaminated land and the associated water environment is carried out with improvement in mind, the remedial activity itself has the potentia

Radioactive substances

Regulation of radioactive substances in Scotland

Regulation of radioactive substances in Scotland Environmental authorisations (Scotland) Regulations 2018 What are we able to do? We can now accept: Applications for an EASR18 authorisation (please contact sepa.org.uk/contact). Online notifications EASR18 for orphan source or managed radioactive substances (only IAEA category 5 that: exceed 200 kBq; tritium sources exceeding 20 GBq; and electrodeposited source. Radioactive substances in IAEA ca

Non-nuclear industries

We regulate the storage, use and disposal of all radioactive substances, including those from the non-nuclear industry. Organisations that use radioactive substances, but are not part of the nuclear industry, are collectively known as the non-nuclear industry.

We regulate the storage, use and disposal of all radioactive substances, including those from the non-nuclear industry. Organisations that use radioactive substances, but are not part of the nuclear industry, are collectively known as the non-nuclear industry. Non-nuclear industries We regulate the management of radioactive substances, including those from the non-nuclear industry. This page provides information on the regulation of the non-nuclear industry. What is the non-nuclear industry? Industries that use radioactive substances, but are not part of the nuclear industry, are collectively known as the non-nuclear industry. The non-nuclear industry i

Activities exempt from waste management licensing

Information regarding activities that may be exempt from waste management licensing, and the statutory controls to prevent environmental pollution and harm to human health

Information regarding activities that may be exempt from waste management licensing, and the statutory controls to prevent environmental pollution and harm to human health From the 1st November 2025, you will no longer be able to apply for the exemptions listed on this page. The information on this page remains to help existing exemption holders comply with their legal obligations, before transitioning to the new Environmental Authorisation (Scotland) Regulation (EASR) framework for authorisations. To find out what authorisation you will need when your exemption exp

Aquatic Classification

There are a number of significant environmental problems caused by a number of pressures, including diffuse and point source pollution, alterations to beds, banks and shores, alterations to water levels and flows and the presence of invasive non-native species. In order to measure these pressures and their potential effects, we use an aquatic classification system which covers rivers, lochs, estuaries, coastal and groundwater bodies. These are split into management units called water bodies, with a classification produced for each body (the number of water bodies between years varies slightly, as some water body boundaries are reviewed to ensure that they can be managed appropriately).

There are a number of significant environmental problems caused by a number of pressures, including diffuse and point source pollution, alterations to beds, banks and shores, alterations to water levels and flows and the presence of invasive non-native species. In order to measure these pressures and their potential effects, we use an aquatic classification system which covers rivers, lochs, estuaries, coastal and groundwater bodies. These are split into management units called water bodies, with a classification produced for each body (the number of water bodies between years varies slightly, as some water body boundaries are reviewed to ensure that they can be managed appropriately). We produce an annual Water Framework Directive (WFD) Classification for all the water bodies in Scotland. Classification results for 2007 to the current year can be found on the Water Classification Hub. Read the State of Scotland's Water Environment 2024 summary report (MS Word, 1.17 MB). Most of our water environment is already in a good condition and subject to fewer pressures than most other E

Nuclear industry

nuclear industry

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

Accessibility statement

This accessibility statement applies to content published on the www.sepa.org.uk domain. This website is run by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). We want as many people as possible to be able to use this website. For example, that means you should be able to: change colours, contrast levels and fonts using browser or device settings zoom in up to 400% without the text spilling of

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