Statements : 2021
River Esk update - Friday 4 February
Multi-agency working is continuing following last month’s River Esk pollution incident.
A significant amount of contamination was removed from the watercourse in January supported by East Lothian Council’s contractor. Since then the council has continued to monitor the controls and measures which were put in place to contain and mitigate Read the full statement
River Esk update 25 January 2022
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency and East Lothian Council are continuing to work together to respond to the pollution incident which occurred in the River Esk at Musselburgh on Friday 14 January.
We have continued to closely monitor the river environment in recent days including over the weekend. The various measures installed i Read the full statement
River Esk update Monday 17 January 2022 16:00
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency and East Lothian Council are continuing to work together to respond to Friday’s pollution incident in the River Esk at Musselburgh.
On Saturday, SEPA officers identified the location of the pollution discharge and, while the discharge into the river has stopped, there is likely to be some residua Read the full statement
Flooding Outlook – Tuesday 7 November
Pascal Lardet, Flood Duty Manager for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, said:
“A band of heavy rain with snow on high ground will sweep northeastwards across Scotland during Tuesday along with strong to gale force southeasterly winds.
“There is a risk of coastal flooding from about midday on the southwest coast around Arg Read the full statement
Flooding Outlook - Sunday 31 October
Flooding Outlook - Sunday 31 October
Pascal Lardet, Flood Duty Manager for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, said:
“A band of heavy rain is crossing the country from the south west to the north east today, followed by heavy and squally showers this afternoon and late evening. The Western Isles could also Read the full statement
Flooding Outlook - Friday 29 October
Mark Franklin, Flood Duty Manager for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, said:
“Heavy and persistent rain is due to continue throughout Friday across areas of the Borders, Dumfries and Galloway, Ayrshire and Arran, West Central Scotland, Central Scotland and Edinburgh and the Lothians. While unlikely to cause impacts as extreme Read the full statement
Flooding Outlook - Thursday 28 October
Pascal Lardet, Flood Duty Manager for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, said:
“Heavy and persistent rain is due to continue throughout Thursday across Southern and parts of West Central Scotland, and is not due to clear until later on Thursday afternoon. The heavy rainfall has already caused surface water issues, including road Read the full statement
Persistent heavy rainfall causing disruption in Scottish Borders
Heavy rainfall has been continuing to have major impacts on areas in the Scottish Borders, particularly around Hawick, where a major incident has been declared and in Dumfries and Galloway.
SEPA's Flood Duty Manager, Pascal Lardet, said:
"Heavy rainfall today has affected Hawick in the Scottish Borders and parts of Dumfries
Read the full statement
Flooding outlook - Wednesday 27 and Thursday 28 October
Pascal Lardet, Flood Duty Manager for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, said:
“Heavy and persistent rain is forecast across southern Scotland on Wednesday and overnight into Thursday, with the Met Office indicating totals of 60mm of rainfall widely, and possibly 100mm on higher grounds over a 24-hour period.
“River and s Read the full statement
Statement on the IPCC Report
Commenting on the IPCC Report, Terry A'Hearn, Chief Executive at Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) said:
“The landmark report from the IPCC is a clarion call for what the world already knows - that the climate emergency is accelerating and only through radical collaboration, similar to that achieved in the healthcare emergency Read the full statement
Flooding outlook - Monday 9 August
Marc Becker, Flood Duty Manager for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, said:
“Today’s weather remains very similar to the weekend, but with the development of heavy, slow moving showers and thunderstorms more focused over central and south eastern parts of Scotland. Whilst not everywhere will see these showers and thunderstorms Read the full statement
Flooding outlook - Sunday 8 August
Marc Becker, Duty Flood Manager for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, said:
“Scotland will see a continuation of the very unsettled weather today with further heavy showers and thunderstorms expected. Whilst not everywhere will see these showers where they do occur we may see significant surface water flooding, esp Read the full statement
Flooding outlook - Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 August
Marc Becker, Duty Flood Manager for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, said:
“Scotland will see a continuation of the very unsettled weather over this weekend. Further heavy showers and thunderstorms are expected on both Saturday and Sunday, with a risk of more persistent and heavy rain in some parts of the north east on Sunday. Read the full statement
Flooding outlook – Friday 6 and Saturday 7 August 2021
Marc Becker, Duty Flood Manager for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, said:
“Over the next few days and into the weekend, the weather across Scotland will turn more unsettled with heavy, slow moving thundery showers affecting much of the country. During this period, a spell of more persistent heavy rain will also develop for a Read the full statement
Fire in Bellshill - Friday 9 July
Chris Dailly, Head of Environmental Performance at SEPA, said:
“SEPA staff have been on site today at Bellshill Industrial Estate to support our colleagues in Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and Police Scotland.
“We have confirmed that firewater run-off from the firefighting efforts at Mossbell Road, Bellshill, is entering the Sco Read the full statement
HRH Duke of Edinburgh
Bob Downes, Chairman, Scottish Environment Protection Agency, said:
“We send our sincerest condolences to Her Majesty The Queen, and the entire Royal Family on the passing of His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.”
SEPA statement on planned temporary shutdown of Fife Ethylene Plant
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is reassuring communities that it is fully engaged with ExxonMobil Chemical Limited following the operator’s community announcement that the site will begin its planned temporary shut down on 12 April.
While the process will require planned elevated flaring during the first day, the agency Read the full statement
Flooding outlook - Monday 29 March 2021
Ruth Ellis, Duty Flood Manager for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, said:
“On Monday and into Tuesday, the North West will see persistent, often heavy rain and winds, with river and surface water Read the full statement
Flooding outlook - Sunday 28 March 2021
- 13 Regional Flood Alerts and 22 Local Flood Warnings Now in Force.
- From late Sunday across to Tuesday, West, Central, Tayside and Northern Scotland will see persistent, often heavy rain and winds, with significant flooding impacts possible, particularly around the Spey, Forth and Tay and minor impacts possible across t Read the full statement
Flooding outlook - Wednesday 24 February 2021
Janine Hensman, SEPA’s Duty Flooding Manager said:
“Following heavy rain yesterday, river and surface water flooding impacts were experienced overnight, with the larger rivers remaining high today. There continues to be residual surface water on roads and fields, particularly around the larger rivers such as the Spey, Tay, Forth, Nith and Read the full statement
Flooding outlook - Tuesday 23 February 2021
Janine Hensman, SEPA’s Duty Flooding Manager said:
"The Met Office has issued an amber warning for rain from 12:00 on Tuesday 23 until 06:00 on Wednesday 24 February for Perth and Kinross, Stirling, East Ayrshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, Dumfries and Galloway, and the Scottish Borders.
“Heavy rain is forecast on Tuesday Read the full statement
Flooding outlook - Tuesday 23 and Wednesday 24 February 2021
Janine Hensman, SEPA’s Duty Flooding Manager said:
"The Met Office has issued an amber warning for rain from 12:00 on Tuesday 23 until 12:00 on Wednesday 24 February for Perth and Kinross, Stirling, East Ayrshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, Dumfries and Galloway, and the Scottish Borders.
"Following the wet weather experie Read the full statement
Flooding outlook - Sunday 21 February 2021
Janine Hensman, SEPA’s Duty Flooding Manager said:
“We expect the flooding situation to improve throughout Sunday and into Monday.
“After the heavy rain over recent days accompanied by some snow melt in highland areas, river levels are now expected to recede but are still high and some minor flooding impacts will be ongoing across Read the full statement
Flooding outlook - Saturday 20 February
Janine Hensman, SEPA's Duty Flooding Manager said:
“Throughout Saturday and Sunday, river and surface water flooding is expected across southern, central and north eastern Scotland. This is due to another band of heavy rain arriving today that follows yesterday’s rainfall and ongoing snow melt. River levels will drop initially, but will t Read the full statement
Flooding outlook - Friday 19 February 2021
Janine Hensman, SEPA's Duty Flooding Manager said:
“The ongoing thaw of snow coupled with heavy rain falling on wet catchments is likely to cause flooding of land, roads and isolated properties over the next few days. This may cause disruption to travel and is expected to largely affect southern, central and north eastern areas of the cou Read the full statement
Flooding outlook for Thursday 21 January 2021
“Flood Alerts have been issued for Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen City, Caithness and Sutherland, Findhorn Nairn Moray & Speyside and Orkney due to heavy rain expected across coastal areas between 8am and 2pm tomorrow (Thursday 21 January). This could result in overflowing of small watercourses and surface water, leading to pr Read the full statement