Statements : 2014
Flooding statement - 22/12/14
Richard Brown, Head of Hydrology from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), said:
A band of rain with some heavier bursts is expected to persist across southwest Scotland throughout Monday and overnight, with the potential for further localised flooding and surface water issues, particularly across Ayrshire, Dumf Read the full statement
Flooding statement - 21/12/14
Pascal Lardet from SEPA’s Flood Unit, said:
Heavy and persistent rain is expected across western Scotland throughout Sunday, which accompanied by strong southwesterlywinds and snow melt, has the potential to cause localised flooding and surface water issues over the next two days.
“On Sunday specifically, heavy rainfal Read the full statement
Coastal flooding statement - 11/12/14
Marc Becker, Hydrology Manager for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), said:
Following on from Wednesday’s turbulent weather, the severity of both wind and waves are due to lessen throughout Thursday, although strong winds in the Atlantic will continue to produce large waves along the north and west coast of Sc Read the full statement
Coastal flooding statement - 10/12/14
Richard Brown, Head of Hydrology for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), said:
Exceptionally strong winds and tidal surge in the Atlantic continues to produce unusually high tides and large waves along the north and west coast of Scotland. Read the full statement
Update regarding the Fire at Dounreay on 7 October
On Tuesday 7 October, Dounreay Site Restoration Limited (DSRL) notified SEPA about a small fire that had occurred in the sodium tank farm at the Prototype Fast Reactor facility and was subsequently extinguished by the on-site fire brigade. Sodium, which is tritium contaminated, is being removed as part of site decommissioning.
SEPA has in Read the full statement
Coastal Flood statement - 09/12/14
Richard Brown, Head of Hydrology for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), said:
“Exceptionally strong winds and tidal surge in the At Read the full statement
Coastal flood statement - 08/12/14
Richard Brown, Head of Hydrology for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), said:
“A combination of exceptionally strong winds and tidal surge in the Atlantic is expected to produce unusually high tides and large waves along the west coast of Scotland over the next few days. While the coastal flood risk for today (Monday 8 Dec Read the full statement
Flood outlook statement - 14/11/14 - 13.20pm
Marc Becker, Duty Hydrology Manager from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) said:
“Spells of very wet weather will affect Scotland today and over the weekend. Given the recent rainfall, it is likely that catchments will respond rapidly to further rainfall.
“A band of rain will spread northeast across most areas of Read the full statement
Oran Environmental Solutions Limited - Sentencing decision
A spokesperson from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), said:
SEPA has noted that Oran Environmental Solutions Limited has been admonished at Falkirk Sheriff Court today following being found guilty of two charges on 18 August, 2014, of breaching licence conditions at the former Carron Works waste transfer stat Read the full statement
Flood outlook statement - 11/11/14
Pascal Lardet, Flood Unit Manager from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), said:
“There is a potential risk of flooding across north east Scotland over the next five days due to forecast of bands of heavy rainfall tomorrow (Wednesday), Friday and Saturday. From around 3am on Wednesday (12 November) rain is expected across s Read the full statement
Flood outlook statement 07/11/14 - 12.30pm
Pascal Lardet, Flood Unit Manager from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), said:
While the heaviest rainfall has now passed for most of the country, river levels are continuing to rise across areas of Dumfries and Galloway, Tayside and Dundee and Angus, with the potential for localised flooding throughout today Read the full statement
Flood outlook statement - 06/11/14 - 12pm
Pascal Lardet, Flood Unit Manager from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), said:
Heavy downpours across south west and central areas of Scotland today are expected to cause river levels to rise with the potential for localised flooding and surface water issues on road networks and urban areas. The area’s most l Read the full statement
Flooding statement - 27 October 12.20
Richard Brown, SEPA’s Duty Hydrology Manager, said:
“Heavy and persistent rainfall across the northwest of Scotland has caused river levels to rise. Further rainfall is expected to continue throughout Monday and intensify this evening and into the early hours of Tuesday morning.
“Flooding, due to rising river levels, is possible ac Read the full statement
Statement regarding MoD's ecology and wildlife survey work
Calum MacDonald, Executive Director at SEPA said:
“We welcome this latest step in the MoD’s strategy for dealing with the radioactive contamination at Dalgety Bay beach. The MoD has reiterated its commitment to see this plan of work through, which will allow an end to the restrictions currently in place at the beach.”
Read the full statementStatement re Quarterly Performance Report
Following the recent release of our Quarterly Performance Report, an article has been published on the SEPAView website which aims to clarify the complex work being carried out to improve and protect Scotland’s water environment under River Basin Manage Read the full statement
Small fire at Dounreay
SEPA has been notified about a small fire at Dounreay which occurred in the early hours of Tuesday 7 October.
Dounreay Site Restoration Limited, which operates the site, has advised that a small fire occurred in the sodium tank farm at the Prototype Fast Reactor facility and that this was subsequently extinguished by the on-site fire brig Read the full statement
Chapelcross: B141 Gaseous Tritium Release
SEPA is aware that the Chapelcross site has recently been investigating an increase in the gaseous tritium discharges from an authorised outlet on the site. We have made a number of visits to the site to discuss the issue and its ongoing investigation.
The increase has since resulted in the site reporting to SEPA that a sub-limit for ga Read the full statement
Statement re Blochairn Road fly complaints
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has recently received a number of calls from residents around the Blochairn Road area of Glasgow, in relation to a large volume of flies. SEPA officers and representatives from Glasgow City Council’s Environmental Health department have carried out an investigation of SEPA regulated sites in the Read the full statement
Pre-Referendum period
The Scottish Independence Referendum Act 2013 restricts the material that can be published online by the Scottish Government and other public bodies for 28 days before the independence referendum on September 18.
The restrictions, in force from August 22, cover a range of communications including speeches and social media channels.
Read the full statementdate on Dounreay sampling
On Thursday 10 July, Dounreay Site Restoration Limited (DSRL) notified SEPA of the detection of a small quantity of radioactivity in a sample of sludge taken from a manhole within a foul drain system, outwith and upstream of the Dounreay site.
Following the initial notification DSRL has been undertaking subsequent analysis work to help de Read the full statement
Flooding statement - 12.35
Heavy and persistent rainfall has resulted in a number of surface water flood problems, including property flooding and transport issues, across the North East of Scotland.
Marc Becker, SEPA’s Duty Hydrology Manager, said:
“We are now seeing the larger rivers respond and further flooding impacts are anticipated in Huntly, Elgin and Read the full statement
Flood outlook statement - (15:00)
Wet and windy weather is expected over many parts of Scotland today (Sunday 10 August) and into tomorrow which has the potential to result in some localised flooding especially across the east and north of the country.
We would advise the public to take care during commuting time tomorrow morning (Monday 11 August) in North-east Scotland Read the full statement
Statement re Dounreay sampling
On Thursday 10 July, Dounreay Site Restoration Limited (DSRL) notified SEPA of the detection of a small quantity of radioactivity in a sample of sludge. The sample was taken from a manhole within a foul drain system, outwith and upstream of the Dounreay site.
Following the initial notification DSRL has been undertaking subsequent analysis Read the full statement
SEPA statement regarding odour issues - update
SEPA is receiving a large number of complaints regarding offensive odour mainly in the Bishopton and Erskine areas but also from communities on either side of the River Clyde right up into the centre of Glasgow. This was the case during yesterday and overnight.
The source of this odour is possibly linked to the spreading of sewage sludge Read the full statement
SEPA statement regarding odour issues in Erskine - update (2)
SEPA is receiving a large number of complaints regarding offensive odour mainly in the Bishopton and Erskine areas. Due to the changeable wind conditions at this time the source of this odour, in either Bishopton or Erskine, is likely to be the spreading of sewage sludge at Drumcross Farm, Erskine. This waste has been the source of a large numbe Read the full statement
SEPA statement regarding odour issues in Erskine - update (1)
SEPA is continuing to receive a small number of complaints regarding the sludge storage at Drumcross Farm, Erskine. SEPA officers attended the area again on Monday 30 June to continue our investigations but failed to substantiate any offensive odour on that occasion.
On Friday 27 June SEPA served an Enforcement Notice under Section 59 of Read the full statement
SEPA statement regarding odour issues in Erskine - update
SEPA is continuing to receive a small number of complaints regarding the sludge storage at Drumcross Farm, Erskine. SEPA officers attended the area again over the weekend to continue our investigations but failed to substantiate an odour on that occasion.
On Friday 27 June we served an Enforcement Notice on the exempt activity operator, J Read the full statement
SEPA statement regarding odour issues in Erskine - update 26.06.14
Following a site meeting with the local authority, landowner and operator, SEPA is continuing to liaise with the operator, James McCaig Farms, to identify alternative means of mitigating offensive sludge odour which we acknowledge is continuing to give rise to significant public complaints in the area surrounding Drumcross Farm, Erskine.
SEPA statement regarding odour issues in Erskine - update 24.06.14
Following a site meeting this morning with the local authority, landowner and operator, SEPA is continuing to liaise with the operator, James McCaig Farms, to identify alternative means of mitigating offensive sludge odour which we acknowledge iscontinuing to give rise to significant public complaints in the area surrounding Drumcross Farm, Ersk Read the full statement
SEPA statement regarding odour issues in Erskine
SEPA is aware of complaints from members the public regarding offensive odours in the Erskine area and has identified the source of the odours as originating from a sewage sludge storage activity at Drumcross Farm.
SEPA officers have attended the site to carry out investigations and we are in contact with all relevant parties to address t Read the full statement
Borehole work at Broadmeadows, Dumfries & Galloway
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is aware that Dart Energy Ltd has commenced the work required to plug four boreholes at their site at Broadmeadows.
This decision to plug the boreholes has been taken by the operator as an alternative to remedial action. A decision has been necessary because the boreholes constructed
Read the full statement
SEPA at the Dart Energy Inquiry
As Scotland's environmental regulator, SEPA fielded a number of experts to provide information to the Scottish Government Reporters who are conducting the ongoing planning inquiry into the Dart Energy proposals for coal bed methane extraction near Airth.
SEPA had no objection to the planning applications and has attended the inquiry at th Read the full statement
Statement regarding a small on-site fire at Dounreay
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) was informed by Dounreay Site Restoration Limited (DSRL) yesterday (12 March) that there had been a small on-site fire, involving low-level waste, within the Equipment Maintenance and Decontamination Facility. It had been extinguished by the site fire brigade.
SEPA was informed as it is a Read the full statement
SEPA statement regarding Vulcan Naval Reactor
SEPA has monitored for radioactive discharges at the Vulcan Naval Reactor since 1996 in order to assess the impact on the local environment. To date, SEPA is satisfied that discharges from the reactor have remained well below the authorised limit allowed under an agreement between the Ministry of Defence and SEPA. That limit is set at less than Read the full statement
Flooding situation - 16:30
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is reminding people to check the potential flooding situation in their area, as Scotland experiences more wet and windy weather today and over the weekend.
A number of flood alerts and warnings have been issued, with more possible over the next few days. A real time list of all flooding me Read the full statement
Flooding update at 1615
Heavy rain over the last 36 hours has caused rivers to rise throughout the north east of Scotland. There are currently four Flood Alerts and 11 Flood Warnings in force, covering Tayside and Angus.
We are concerned about river levels in Brechin, Angus, and would advise people to keep up to date by checking our Read the full statement
Flood outlook (17:00)
Heavy showers will continue to cross the country during the rest of Monday (6 January) with the South and West of Scotland receiving the brunt of these.
There is a risk of coastal flooding in the Firth of Clyde, and for areas around the Solway Firth, during Monday afternoon as a result of a tidal surge coinciding with high astronomical ti Read the full statement
Flooding update at 12.30
Following a more settled spell overnight, river levels have receded slightly but remain high. This means that rivers are likely to be responsive to more rain and so there is a likelihood of flooding to low lying ground in areas where the there has been prolonged rainfall.
A further band of heavy rain and strong winds are expected to move Read the full statement
Flooding outlook – 14.20
There are no serious flooding impacts at present but a close watch is being kept on the potential for coastal flooding around high water on the East coast this afternoon from 16.00 to 17.00.
Coastal flood impacts in the East coast are currently considered likely to be slightly less than those experienced on 5 and 6 December. The main focu Read the full statement
Statement re Stornoway Flood Alert
Following an enquiry about the flood alert in Stornoway, our statement is below:
Forecasting coastal surges and their coincidence with high tides is not an exact science. While we can be fairly sure what the astronomical high tide still-water levels will be, the combination of wind-driven wave overtopping and storm surges with high tides Read the full statement
Increased Risk of Coastal Flooding for South West Scotland
A storm surge coinciding with high astronomical tides means an increased risk of coastal flooding for some areas in South and West Scotland on Friday 3 January.
In addition to SEPA’s existing warnings for river flooding, updated Flood Alerts for coastal flooding have been issued for areas including Dumfries and Galloway, Ayrshire and Arra Read the full statement
Flood outlook - 14:30
Rainfall will cause river levels to rise in Dumfries and Galloway, the Scottish Borders, Central Scotland, Tayside and Angus during Wednesday afternoon and evening.
Flood alerts have been issued in these areas, with the risk of more flooding for low-lying agricultural land. In localities where the heaviest rain falls, some isolated floodi Read the full statement