Media Releases : 2018 : All

As climate change exposes Scotland to rising sea levels and the promise of more frequent extreme weather events, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency is urging businesses and homeowners to be prepared for winter flooding over the festive season.  Read the full statement

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is encouraging anyone interested in shaping the regulation of fish farming in Scotland, to ensure they have their say by Monday, 24 December.  Read the full statement

An action plan to help Scotland’s metals sector become an innovative and valued part of Scotland’s emerging circular economy, improve environmental compliance and stop illegal activity, has been launched today by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).  Read the full statement

An ambitious plan to drive environmental compliance at Scotland’s landfill sites, harness innovation and help the sector responsibly manage site closures and aftercare – as we transition to a circular economy focused on waste reduction, reuse, recycling and energy recovery – has been launched today by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).  Read the full statement

Businesses in Scotland are continuing to step up to increasing environmental challenges and yesterday (14 November) 10 Scottish companies were rewarded for their commitment to sustainability at the VIBES – Scottish Environment Business Awards.  Read the full statement

Scottish salmon farm medicine is significantly impacting local marine environments. That is the conclusion of one of Scotland’s largest and most comprehensive marine research projects into aquaculture, undertaken by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).  Read the full statement

The latest Radioactivity in Food and the Environment Report (RIFE 23) has been published today (25 October 2018) and shows that doses of radioactivity received by people in Scotland are still well within international dose limits.  Read the full statement

Everyone with an interest in the environment is being encouraged to share their views on SEPA’s sector plan for the emerging oil and gas decommissioning industry.   Read the full statement

Everyone with an interest in the environment is being encouraged to share their views on SEPA’s sector plans for tyres.  Read the full statement

90.97% of Scottish regulated business sites assessed were compliant. Scotch Whisky distillers over 90% compliance for the fourth year in a row. 75 sites assessed as non-compliant for the last two years became compliant. 41 sites classified as ‘Very Poor’ in 2016 improved their compliance rating. 17 sites moved from ‘Very Poor’ to Compliant. 9 sites moved from ‘Very Poor’ to ‘Excellent’  Read the full statement

Illegal cross-border waste haulage and disposal is the target of a series of new multi-agency interventions as part of the £3.8m LIFE SMART Waste project, which is led by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and co-funded by the European Union.  Read the full statement

An exciting new river restoration project designed to restore the Glazert Water to a more natural condition and minimise the likelihood of flooding in the River Kelvin Catchment downstream is one step closer.  Read the full statement

SEPA’s Chief Executive, Terry A’Hearn, attended the Safe Taysiders event at Baluniefield Police Training Station in Dundee yesterday (Monday 24 September) to encourage young people to educate their friends and family on how they can be flood-prepared.  Read the full statement

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has published Official Statistics today which provide detail of Household Waste collected across all Local Authorities during 2017, and for the first time as an official statistic, the carbon impact metric. This is a measure developed by Zero Waste Scotland (ZWS) of the whole-life carbon impacts of waste, from resource extraction and manufacturing emissions, right through to waste management emissions.   Read the full statement

Two of Scotland’s leading land and environment bodies have set their sights on finding ways to bring thousands of acres of derelict and vacant land back into productive use.   Read the full statement

In the face of rising sea levels and the promise of more frequent extreme weather events, the impact of climate change on Scotland’s most flood prone communities is projected to place over 169,000 homes and businesses at risk of flooding by 2080.  Read the full statement

During 2016 and 2017, Galloway Fisheries Trust undertook a study of the fish, fisheries and anglers of Loch Ken. This was to assess the fish populations in the Loch and the extent to which angling around the loch assists the local economy.   Read the full statement

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has announced its next steps to stem the plastic tide by confirming it will end exemptions for burning most types of agricultural waste from 1 January 2019.  Read the full statement

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is urging the construction industry to ensure they have a licence and Pollution Prevention Plan before starting any new large construction projects from 1 September 2018.  Read the full statement

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has issued a warning letter to Tarmac Cement and Lime Limited following an investigation into dust in the Dunbar area.  Read the full statement

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is reminding people in Perthshire, Clackmannanshire and Stirling of the importance of checking staff credentials, after a homeowner in Greenloaning was visited by a man impersonating a SEPA officer.  Read the full statement

My Beach, Your Beach, Keep Scotland Beautiful's latest campaign to improve bathing waters at three well known beaches, was launched today.   Read the full statement

The Malawian Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development visited SEPA’s Edinburgh office on Friday 13 July to discuss how partnership working through the Hydro Nation can help tackle the 21st century challenges facing our environment.  Read the full statement

The 2050 Climate Group has joined the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) in calling on young people to take part in the national consultation to improve Scotland’s future flood risk management plans.  Read the full statement

More than 40 of Scotland’s best green businesses have been announced as finalists for the VIBES – Scottish Environment Business Awards in recognition of their commitment to tackling environmental challenges.  Read the full statement

Edinburgh-based inventor, Gary Martin, has pioneered a new high-tech solution to help people in flood risk areas developed through Scottish Government’s CivTech programme.   Read the full statement

Scotland’s sewage and solid organic waste can make a contribution to the country’s heat and power needs and contribute to further reductions in greenhouse gas emissions to tackle climate change, according to experts from Scottish Water and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.  Read the full statement

SEPA has issued an enforcement notice to GP Green Recycling Limited following investigations into complaints from members of the public about odours from their composting operations on Newhousemill Road, Blantyre.  Read the full statement

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) & the Health and Safety Executive today (Friday 8th June 2018) announced a joint investigation into ExxonMobil Chemical Ltd and Shell UK Limited, the operators of the Mossmorran petrochemical plants in Fife.  Read the full statement

Scottish recycling, composting and re-use of waste from all sources has rocketed past the 60% milestone for the first time. That was the key finding of Official Statistics published today (29th May 2018) by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).  Read the full statement

As Scotland sizzles in the early summer sun, and with hundreds of thousands of Scottish families and visitors expected to head to our stunning coastlines for the bathing season (1st June – 15th September), the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has revealed that 75 of the country’s 86 designated bathing waters (87%) meet strict environmental standards for water quality.   Read the full statement

Carrying out engineering works in the water environment without authorisation from SEPA, or breaching authorisation conditions, will now result in a £600 Fixed Monetary Penalty. Both contractors and land owners/occupiers can be liable for penalties. Poor engineering can lead to land loss and increased susceptibility to soil erosion and flooding.  Read the full statement

Scotland’s sustainable businesses will be leading the way for the UK on the European stage later this year with 10 out of the 11 UK businesses shortlisted for the 2018 European Business Awards for the Environment (EBAE) from Scotland.  Read the full statement

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has today (Tuesday 1 May 2018) launched the start of a national conversation to improve Scotland’s future flood risk management plans.  Read the full statement

The search for Scotland’s best green businesses is drawing to a close this week with just a few days remaining for companies to enter the VIBES – Scottish Environment Business Awards.   Read the full statement

Petrochemical companies ExxonMobil Chemical Ltd and Shell UK Limited have been served with Final Warning Letters by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) following an enhanced unplanned flaring event at the Mossmorran complex in Fife, during June 2017.   Read the full statement

Everyone with an interest in Scotland’s environment is being invited to have their say on the Scottish Environment Protection Agency’s (SEPA) sector plans for Scotch Whisky, metals and landfill.  Read the full statement

Inspiring young people to follow a career in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) is vital to Scotland’s environmental regulator.  Read the full statement

Business leaders were challenged by Scotland’s environment regulator today – change your mind set, face up to the scale of the environmental challenge facing us and understand how your business will help solve it while creating businesses success.  Read the full statement

Officers from the Waste Crime Team of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) were in Fort William again this week to investigate, and help address, flytipping at an illegal site at Mount Alexander, Camaghael.  Read the full statement

As the piles of snow left over from “the Beast from the East” melted last week, causing surface water and rising rivers in several communities across Scotland, attention turned to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).  Read the full statement

Businesses in Scotland are being urged to act now to embrace the economic opportunity of sustainability by the VIBES – Scottish Environment Business Awards.  Read the full statement

As “the Beast from the East” cast its wintry grip on Scotland this week, staff from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) worked above-and-beyond the call to safeguard Scotland’s environment and support local communities.   Read the full statement

91.7% of Scottish regulated business sites assessed were compliant. 46.6% of sites assessed as non-compliant for two or more years became compliant. 66% of sites classified as ‘Very Poor’ improved their compliance rating. 11 sites were moved from ‘Very Poor’ to Excellent.  Read the full statement

Experts will use satellites to monitor the quality of water in Scotland’s lochs as part of a pioneering new project led by the University of Stirling.  Read the full statement

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has responded to complaints of persistent flytipping at an illegal site in Fort William and is working with the local community to address the problem.  Read the full statement

High tides combined with a large storm surge are expected throughout some coastal parts of Scotland late tonight (Tuesday 2nd January) into Wednesday (3rd January), the Scottish Environment Protection Agency has today warned.   Read the full statement