Media Releases : 2020 : All

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) confirmed that it is responding to a significant cyber attack affecting its contact centre and internal systems. Whilst core regulatory, monitoring, flood forecasting and warning services continue, communication into and across the organisation is significantly impacted.  Read the full statement

SEPA and Nestlé UK and Ireland have formed a three-year partnership to explore opportunities for environmental innovation in Scotland.  Read the full statement

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has today (10 November 2020) launched two new flood warning schemes for rural Scottish communities threatened by coastal and river flooding.  Read the full statement

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has today (10 November 2020) launched an innovative new flood warning service – which will warn the residents and road users of a flood-prone street in Aberfoyle when flooding impacts are likely.  Read the full statement

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is today (10 November) launching a new coastal flood warning service, funded by the Scottish Government, to provide local flood warnings to communities and businesses across the Western Isles.  Read the full statement

Regulation of marine fish farming wellboats has transferred to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) as part of a package to strengthen and streamline the regulation of the industry.  Read the full statement

The latest Radioactivity in Food and the Environment Report (RIFE 25) has been published today (5 November) and shows that levels and concentrations of man-made radioactivity measured in the environment during 2019 were low and impact to those most exposed is well within international dose limits.  Read the full statement

Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) statisticians have published Official Statistics today (27 October 2020) which provide detail of Household Waste collected across all Local Authorities during 2019.  Read the full statement

Scientists at the Scottish Environment Protection Agency’s (SEPA) have successfully pinpointed fragments of coronavirus’ ribonucleic acid (RNA) in local waste water samples across the country.  Read the full statement

Communities, businesses and travel networks across the north and east of Scotland benefitted from an early warning of flooding as record-breaking rainfall hit parts of Aberdeenshire.  Read the full statement

Chris Dailly, Head of Environmental Performance at SEPA, said: “Whilst we are pleased that the site has now returned to normal operations and is no longer flaring, we remain frustrated by the frequency of flaring and the flow of information from the operator. We’ve also clearly heard the impact flaring continues to have on local communities through over 740 reports to us since Sunday..."  Read the full statement

“Whilst its again important to stress that limited, controlled flaring is an authorised and important safety feature of industrial sites, we’ve heard clearly from over 380 reports to SEPA of the impact this further flaring event is having on local communities. “Having referred ExxonMobil Chemical Limited to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) for consideration of prosecution related to Easter 2019 flaring, we remain frustrated by the frequency of flaring and the flow of information from the operator. “We are investigating whether there has been a breach of permit conditions which would inform our next steps in line with our published Enforcement Policy."  Read the full statement

Derelict land is a wasted resource that should help to deliver national ambitions for a fair and green recovery, a national taskforce said today.  Read the full statement

The Scottish Pollutant Release Inventory (SPRI) 2019 data – this year experimental official statistics – was published today [29 September 2020] by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency. This year’s data covers annual mass releases of specified pollutants to air and water and information on off-site waste transfers from 1,327 SEPA regulated industrial sites.  Read the full statement

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has published Official Statistics today (29 September 2020) which provide details of waste landfilled and incinerated in Scotland for calendar year 2019.  Read the full statement

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has warned of an increasing water scarcity situation in the North-East and Highlands, with businesses which abstract water all year round being encouraged to take steps to reduce their water usage.  Read the full statement

Pouring out-of-date pints down the plughole is the last resort for struggling pub landlords. That is the advice from Scotland’s environmental watchdog, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), concerned about the environmental impact of the disposal of waste alcohol.  Read the full statement

SEPA is taking the #MoveTheDate conversation into homes and businesses across the world this August, as it hosts the global launch of Earth Overshoot Day.  Read the full statement

Scotland’s environmental watchdog, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), today (Tuesday 4 August) is appealing for information as part of an investigation into illegal dumping of household and commercial waste in the Shank Burn near to the A73 (Stirling Road) towards Brackenhirst.  Read the full statement

Scottish businesswoman Marie Macklin’s urban regeneration project in Kilmarnock is being singled out by SEPA and international sustainability organisation Global Footprint Network for its net zero vision.  Read the full statement

SEPA enforcement team targets criminals and chancers using social media to sell illegal waste services / Regulator reminds waste companies that compliance with the law is non-negotiable / Illegal operators contributing to fly-tipping and other illegal waste activity / Public are reminded - don’t engage the services of people who are not authorised.  Read the full statement

Volans, a global think tank and strategic advisory firm founded by John Elkington, the originator of the ‘triple-bottom-line’ of profit, people and planet, and advisor to major companies across the globe, has called out a pioneering Scottish partnership as a potential model for global economic recovery.  Read the full statement

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has begun its analysis work on the first samples of waste water (sewage) in a new trial aimed at helping monitor the spread of coronavirus in Scotland.  Read the full statement

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) today confirmed that it would accelerate its strategic partnership with Scottish Enterprise to support Scotland’s green recovery.  Read the full statement

SEPA Chair Bob Downes writes for Holyrood Magazine on the climate for change.  Read the full statement

A route map towards unlocking £1 billion of new investment for nature conservation in Scotland has been published by the Scottish Wildlife Trust and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). This work comes at a critical time as society plans a green recovery from the social and economic upheaval caused by COVID-19, and continues to respond to the urgent climate and ecological emergencies.  Read the full statement

Further information for Scotland's commercial recyclers and waste managers launched at managingourwaste.scot/wastemanagement  Read the full statement

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) today (Wednesday 13 May 2020) announced its intention to submit a report to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service for consideration of prosecution in relation to the flaring at the Mossmorran complex during April 2019.  Read the full statement

Some waste and recycling collection services across Scotland are temporarily disrupted as a result of the coronavirus.  Read the full statement

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) today (17 April 2020) announced the appointment of board member Michelle Francis to the post of Deputy Chair.  Read the full statement

Key workers across the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) have stepped up to further assist the national effort against coronavirus.  Read the full statement

Warning that “if you deliberately do the wrong thing, you’ll get the uncompromising regulator your behaviour deserves.”  Read the full statement

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has published Official Statistics today (31 March 2020) which provide details of waste from households, construction and demolition, and commerce and industry for calendar year 2018.  Read the full statement

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) today (20 March 2020) published its Scottish Pollutant Release Inventory (SPRI) data for 2018. SPRI is a database of annual mass releases of specified pollutants to air, water and land from SEPA regulated industrial sites.  Read the full statement

Scottish business environmental compliance was over 90% for the fourth year in a row in the latest figures published by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). 90.5% of Scottish regulated business sites were assessed as compliant (Excellent’, ‘Good’ or ‘Broadly Compliant’) in 2018. 76.2% of Scottish regulated sites (almost 4,000 sites) rated as excellent.  Read the full statement

Salmon have been spotted swimming upstream in an Inverclyde river for the first time in over 100 years following the successful adaptation of a redundant industrial weir.  Read the full statement

‘Unplanned flaring’ during ExxonMobil Chemical Limited’s Mossmorran restart is a reminder of why short and medium term solution are critical to addressing ‘unacceptable flaring’ said the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) today (Friday 14 February 2020).  Read the full statement

The Mossmorran restart has now entered its ‘next and final stage’ SEPA was advised yesterday evening (Monday 10 February 2020) by ExxonMobil Chemical Ltd.  Read the full statement

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) today (Friday 24 January 2020), confirmed the continuation of its ‘twin-track’ approach to the responsible restart of ExxonMobil Chemical Ltd’s Mossmorran facility in Fife.  Read the full statement