Statements : 2019

Healthcare Environment Services - SEPA statement

A spokesperson for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency said:

“As Scotland’s environmental regulator, SEPA is clear that compliance is non-negotiable. The environmental responsibilities created by HES’ activities are the subject to current legal action and ongoing regulatory investigation.

“SEPA continues to support the Scott    Read the full statement

Flooding update 10 December 2019

A band of persistent and heavy rain is again affecting large parts of western, southern and central Scotland. This is currently causing surface water flooding affecting the transport network.

Localised flooding is also possible from rivers responding to the heavy rainfall throughout the day. Typical impacts could include localised floodin    Read the full statement

Potential flooding impacts 5 - 6 December 2019

A band of persistent and heavy rain will affect Western parts of Scotland on Thursday followed by heavy wintry showers on Friday. This is likely to cause surface water flooding affecting the transport network. Localised flooding is also possible from small rivers rising quickly in response to heavy rain. In urban areas drainage issues could caus    Read the full statement

Flood outlook for Saturday 31 August

Unsettled weather continues today bringing a risk of surface water and river flooding, and also the potential for some localised wave overtopping along the coast.

During Saturday widespread persistent rain may result in surface water flooding in the Great Glen, Moray and Lochaber, and potentially elsewhere in northern and central Scotland    Read the full statement

Flood outlook for Friday 30 August and Saturday 31 August

Unsettled weather is forecast to affect large parts of Scotland on Friday and Saturday, bringing a risk of surface water and river flooding, and also the potential for some localised wave overtopping along the coast.

On Friday afternoon and evening, heavy rain will affect mainly south west, west and north west Scotland, with a risk of sur    Read the full statement

Bathing water quality - update

Every day SEPA works to protect and enhance Scotland’s environment. During the bathing water season, which runs from 1 June to 15 September, we provide advice on water quality at Scotland’s 86 designated bathing waters.

The intense rainfall, which Scotland has recently seen, can affect bathing waters due to the contaminants that can be pr    Read the full statement

Bathing water quality

Every day SEPA works to protect and enhance Scotland’s environment. During the bathing water season, which runs from 1 June to 15 September, we provide advice on water quality at Scotland’s 86 designated bathing waters.

Intense rain can affect bathing waters due to the contaminants that can be present in run off, flood water and sewer ove    Read the full statement

Flood Outlook Sunday 11 August

Persistent, heavy rain is forecast to affect southern and central areas of Scotland today. Surface water and flooding from small watercourses and larger rivers is possible throughout the area, particularly in west central Scotland and Ayrshire. Areas around the River Irvine and the Upper Clyde are most at risk.

Flooding could affect roads    Read the full statement

Flood outlook for Saturday 10 August and Sunday 11 August

Pascal Lardet, Flood Duty Manager for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) said:

“Unsettled weather will continue today and tomorrow and regional Flood Alerts will remain in place across much of the country due to further thundery showers forecast on Saturday and longer spells of rain on Sunday.

"Most of the local Floo    Read the full statement

Flood outlook for Friday 9 and Saturday 10 August

Pascal Lardet, Flood Duty Manager for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) said:

"Unsettled weather is forecast across Scotland today (Friday 9 August) and over the coming days. There is a risk of localised flooding from surface water and small watercourses across much of Scotland due to heavy rainfall today. There is also a    Read the full statement

Flood outlook for Friday 9 August

Pascal Lardet, Flood Duty Manager for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) said;

“Unsettled weather is expected across Scotland over the coming days. The Met Office has forecast that on Friday a band of heavy rain will move northwards across Scotland reaching southern Scotland in the early hours, the central belt around 6am a    Read the full statement

Flood outlook for Wednesday 24 July 2019

Richard Brown, Flood Duty Manager for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), said:

“The Met Office has forecast that heavy rain will fall during thunderstorms moving from the South overnight tonight and fading out on Wednesday morning in the North. In response SEPA has issued regional Flood Alerts highlighting the risk of loca    Read the full statement

Flood outlook - Wednesday 10 and Thursday 11 July

Vincent Fitzsimons, Flood Duty Manager for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), said:

“Heavy rain is forecast for northern, central and eastern areas of Scotland over Wednesday and Thursday. SEPA has issued a number of regional Flood Alerts, which mean flooding is possible in places within these areas. You can see these at <    Read the full statement

SEPA response to planned flaring at Mossmorran – 3 July

SEPA received notification from ExxonMobil Chemicals Ltd on Sunday 30 June 2019 of their intention to undertake controlled flaring at the Mossmorran Fife Ethylene Plant from Monday 1 July 2019, for a period of no more than five days. Further to this announcement, the operator delayed the commencement of the planned works, which is due to start s    Read the full statement

Mossmorran: Unplanned flaring

At 10:05 this morning (Friday 14 June 2019), SEPA was notified by Exxonmobil Chemical Ltd of unplanned flaring at Mossmorran, Fife.

SEPA activated a full operational response, including multi-agency co-ordination, regulatory and air quality monitoring.  Reflecting scientific best practice on current and predicted wind patterns, air qualit    Read the full statement

Flood Outlook - 13 June 2019

Mark Franklin, Flood Duty Manager for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) said:

“Persistent and heavy rainfall has resulted in a risk of river and surface water flooding in south-east Scotland this morning and into this afternoon.

“The rainfall is heaviest over high ground in East Lothian and eastern areas of the Scot    Read the full statement

Flood Outlook - 12 June 2019

Marc Becker, Flood Duty Manager for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) said:

“Persistent and heavy rainfall is expected to head into south-east Scotland on Wednesday night continuing into Thursday morning resulting in a risk of surface water and river flooding impacts.

“The rainfall is expected to be heaviest over hi    Read the full statement

Reports of scum washing up on beaches in the Firth of Forth

A spokesperson from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) said:

“Every day SEPA works to protect and enhance Scotland’s environment. SEPA has received a number of reports of scum washing up on beaches in the Firth of Forth.

“SEPA Officers have carried out an investigation in response to these complaints and have taken s    Read the full statement

Loch Vaa

A spokesperson from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) said:

“Although generally considered a wet country, Scotland can be vulnerable to periods of dry weather, which can result in pressure upon the environment and water users in some areas.

“The winter of 2018 –19 has been relatively dry compared to long-term averag    Read the full statement

Pollen from conifer trees on the surface and banks of Loch Lomond and Loch Long

A spokesperson from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) said:

"Every day SEPA works to protect and enhance Scotland's environment. SEPA has received reports from members of the public regarding a yellow substance on the surface and banks of Loch Lomond and Loch Long. SEPA Officers attended the area to investigate potential s    Read the full statement

Flaring at Mossmorran complex, Fife

Everyday SEPA works to protect and enhance Scotland’s environment and, in addition to other public agencies, is jointly responsible for the regulation of ExxonMobil Chemical Limited and Shell UK Limited at the Mossmorran complex in Fife.

On Easter Sunday, 21 April 2019, SEPA responded to complaints of unplanned flaring at the Exxonmobil C    Read the full statement

Oil spill beaches due to re-open this weekend

Published: Thursday 21 Mar 2019 by Fife Council

Beaches closed    Read the full statement

CLINICAL WASTE CONTINGENCY – SEPA STATEMENT

A spokesperson from SEPA, said:

“SEPA is clear that our work with Scottish Government, NHS National Services Scotland and health boards on contingency arrangements for the storage and disposal of clinical waste, are a result of Healthcare Environmental Services no longer providing collection services to NHS Boards across Scotland. HES are    Read the full statement

Fife Council statement - oil at Limekilns and Charlestown 22 February

As published on Fife Council's website

2:30pm

Fife Council continues to co-ordinate the hard    Read the full statement

Fife Council statement - oil at Limekilns and Charlestown 21 February

As published on Fife Council's website

13:30pm

Work is continuing to clean-up the Fife coast    Read the full statement

Fife Council statement - oil at Limekilns and Charlestown

As published on Fife Council's website

11.00 am

Progress is being made to clear contaminated    Read the full statement

Oil on beach in Fife - SEPA statement

At circa 9am today (19 February) SEPA was alerted to reports of oil between Charlestown and Limekilns in Fife.

SEPA officers immediately responded and are supporting Fife Council and working with Marin    Read the full statement

Chromium contamination in Polmadie Burn

A spokesperson from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), said:

“Clyde Gateway, in partnership Glasgow City Council and South Lanarkshire Council, is undertaking extensive work to reduce the level of chromium, which is the result of chromium ore processing residue from a former chemical works previously located in the Shawfie    Read the full statement

Healthcare Environmental Services - SEPA Statement (1)

SEPA is clear that compliance is non-negotiable.  HES remains responsible for meeting environmental obligations under their permits, and to ensure that waste is removed from their sites to authorised treatment or disposal facilities. 

Having served enforcement notices in September and December 2018, inspections by SEPA demonstrate that He    Read the full statement