Media Releases : 2019 : All

Sustainable Growth Agreement signed by SEPA, Midlothian Council and Shawfair is the first of its kind in the planning and construction sector to encourage collaboration and partnership working.  Read the full statement

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) today (19 December 2019) updated stakeholders on the progress of its regulatory investigation into 'unacceptable' flaring by ExxonMobil Chemical Limited during Easter 2019.  Read the full statement

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency today (Wednesday 18 December 2019) confirmed that Scottish farmers and landowners who hold a water abstraction licence would have until 31 January 2020 to submit annual returns.  Read the full statement

Cabinet Secretary for the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform, Roseanna Cunningham MSP, today announced the appointment of Craig Hume, Julie Hutchison, Dr Harpreet Kohli and Philip Matthews as Members of the Board of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).  Read the full statement

Scotland’s commitment to tackling increasing environmental challenges has been celebrated with twelve companies being recognised for their commitment to sustainability at the 20th VIBES Scottish Environment Business Awards.  Read the full statement

Time is running out to vote in Scotland’s best-known green awards scheme. Since their inception in 1999, the VIBES Scottish Environment Business Awards have recognised more than 150 businesses that have taken significant steps to improve or reduce their impact on the environment, often saving money in the process.  Read the full statement

The latest Radioactivity in Food and the Environment Report (RIFE 24) has been published today (24 October 2019) and shows that doses of radioactivity received by people in Scotland remain well within international dose limits.  Read the full statement

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has today (3 October, 2019) launched a public consultation to inform the next steps in regulation of the finfish aquaculture sector.  Read the full statement

Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) statisticians have published Official Statistics today (17 September 2019) which provide detail of Household Waste collected across all Local Authorities during 2018.  Read the full statement

SEPA is looking for volunteer rainfall observers to collect data daily at around 9am and submit the information online. There are currently 134 rainfall observers across Scotland who play an important part in collecting this valuable data for SEPA.  Read the full statement

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has today (3 September 2019) published its strategic vision for environmental regulation of the Finfish Aquaculture sector.  Read the full statement

The hard work and commitment of companies at the forefront of environmental change in Scotland has today (29 July 2019) been recognised by the VIBES – Scottish Environment Business Awards.  Read the full statement

Exceptional board leaders are required to help transform Scotland’s environment protection agency (SEPA) as a recruitment campaign for four new board members is launched. The recruitment comes as the Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform, Roseanna Cunningham MSP, today announced the reappointment of Bob Downes as Chair of the Board.  Read the full statement

A new firm, evidence-based regulatory framework has been introduced for Scotland’s finfish aquaculture sector by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), one of a number of organisations regulating the sector. The framework will further strengthen the protection of the marine environment for the people of Scotland.  Read the full statement

With hundreds of thousands of Scottish families and visitors expected to head to Scotland’s beaches for the bathing season (1 June – 15 September), the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has revealed that more of the country’s 86 designated bathing waters are meeting the ‘excellent’ classification rating (32%).  Read the full statement

International School Aberdeen (ISA) hosted this year’s United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Conference on Thursday 30th May.  Read the full statement

On 20th May 2019, BBC One’s flagship investigations documentary ‘Panorama’ will focus on the Scottish salmon industry. The Panorama programme, entitled ‘Salmon Farming Exposed’, will examine the environmental performance and practices of the industry. It also looks at the regulatory oversight of the industry, including SEPA’s role.  Read the full statement

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is calling on locals in Elgin and Forres to get flood-prepared by attending a special drop-in session on the new and improved flood warnings for the River Findhorn and River Lossie.  Read the full statement

Ordnance Survey (OS), the Environment Agency (EA) and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) have collaborated to bring together a nationally consistent view of Great Britain’s watercourses called OS MasterMap Water Network.  Read the full statement

On Saturday, 27 April, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency was informed by ExxonMobil Chemical Limited that elevated flaring had ceased. Exxon further advised ground flaring was continuing ‘above normal levels’ for a ‘short period’*.  Read the full statement

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has today (25 April 2019) announced a formal regulatory investigation into the ongoing flaring from ExxonMobil Chemical Limited at the Mossmorran petrochemical plant in Fife.  Read the full statement

The search for Scotland’s best green businesses is drawing to a close with just a few weeks remaining to enter the VIBES – Scottish Environment Business Awards and companies across Scotland are being encouraged to enter.  Read the full statement

Scotland’s businesses are being encouraged to become world leaders in sustainability and embrace the economic opportunities that environmental changes can bring.  Read the full statement

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has published Official Statistics today (26 March 2019) which provide details of waste from households, construction and demolition, and commerce and industry.  Read the full statement

Drivers buying second hand tyres are being warned to check that they are legal and have passed the relevant safety checks.  Read the full statement

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is calling on farmers, land managers and contractors, to contact their local SEPA office before starting river engineering projects after a farming partnership was served with a £600 penalty.  Read the full statement

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is calling on land managers and contractors to ensure they have an authorisation before undertaking river engineering works after a housing developer was served with a £600 penalty.  Read the full statement

An ambitious new initiative aims to pioneer new ways of funding nature conservation in Scotland through the launch of the £1 Billion Challenge.  Read the full statement

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has completed its investigation into a number of unplanned flaring events at the Mossmorran Complex during 2017 and 2018.  Read the full statement

Communities across Scotland will benefit from more than £700,000 additional funding to improve flood protection.  Read the full statement

As Scotland continues to focus on improving its environmental performance, the VIBES – Scottish Environmental Business Awards is celebrating those that have helped to make a difference since the awards were launched 20 years ago.  Read the full statement

Nearly half of all flooding events along Scotland’s North East coast have historically taken place in January, according to recent analysis for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).  Read the full statement

Scottish businesses across agriculture, manufacturing and infrastructure are being urged to have their say on nine ‘sector plans’ currently out for consultation by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).  Read the full statement

A project to revitalise the River Leven in Fife as a great regional asset has received more than £300,000 in funding.  Read the full statement

Dry cleaners in Scotland are improving their environmental performance following the introduction of fixed monetary penalties by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).  Read the full statement

Greenhouse gases emitted by Scottish industry continue to fall, according to the latest annual mass pollutant releases published by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).  Read the full statement