Media Releases : 2023 : All

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) have confirmed a new framework, aimed at offering greater protection for wild salmon populations in Scotland.  Read the full statement

A Perthshire man has been served with a civil penalty of £3,500 by Scotland’s environment regulator for allowing controlled waste to be disposed of by burial when no waste management licence was in place authorising the activity.   Read the full statement

With parts of Scotland recording their wettest October on record, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) are appealing for as many people as possible to sign up for free flood Alerts and Warnings.   Read the full statement

In 2024 98% of Scotland’s bathing waters will again meet or exceed the Sufficient classification - with 84% achieving the higher standards of Excellent or Good.   Read the full statement

Businesses from across Scotland have been recognised at the 24th annual VIBES Scottish Environment Business Awards.   Read the full statement

The latest Radioactivity in Food and the Environment Report (RIFE 28) has been published today (2 November) and shows that levels and concentrations of man-made radioactivity measured in the environment during 2022 were well within international dose limits.  Read the full statement

A wider, more natural river channel has been restored to the river, which runs through Barrhead, with the ability to better absorb flooding and encourage more fish and wildlife.  Read the full statement

Rivers levels across the North and North East of Scotland remain high but will continue to improve across Sunday, with no rain forecast for the next two days. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) have begun to remove regional Flood Alerts and localised Flood Warnings – though these will remain in the areas most impacted by Storm Babet as work to assist communities continues. All Severe Flood Warnings were removed late Saturday afternoon.   Read the full statement

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) are urging communities across Scotland to remain vigilant and stay safe across the weekend, as further heavy rain and strong winds will continue to bring challenging conditions to communities. Met Office weather warnings remain in place across the day.   Read the full statement

Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) flooding experts have been monitoring weather forecasts, river levels and flood forecasting models through the night to provide information to communities and partner agencies as the country moves through another exceptional rainfall event. Prolonged, heavy rain will continue throughout the day and into Saturday, continuing extensive river and surface water flooding.   Read the full statement

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) have begun issuing localised Flood Warnings as Storm Babet approaches.  Read the full statement

Storm Babet is forecast to bring unprecedented levels of rain to the north-east of Scotland, with flooding that will cause significant disruption and be a danger to life.   Read the full statement

This is a Policy statement and relates to the Official Statistics Publication for Scotland - Household waste summary (Jan-Dec 2022), waste landfilled in Scotland – 2022, and waste incinerated in Scotland – 2022 statistics published at 9.30am on Tuesday 17 October 2023 and available on SEPA's website.    Read the full statement

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) have started issuing Flood Alerts ahead of expected flooding from Thursday, caused by Storm Babet.   Read the full statement

Scots are encouraged to start preparing now for potential flooding later in the week, with Storm Babet expected to bring heavy rain and strong winds from Wednesday evening.   Read the full statement

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) have announced the appointment of board member Dr Harpreet Kohli to the post of Deputy Chair.   Read the full statement

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has warned communities to ‘keep mindful across Monday’ as flood water impacts remain from the weekend’s severe weather event.  Read the full statement

The removal of the Garlogie Dam on Dunecht Estate means salmon can now access about 20 kilometres of precious spawning habitat.  Read the full statement

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is sad to learn of the passing of former Deputy Chair, Nick Kuenssberg OBE.  Read the full statement

Scotland’s environmental regulator is appealing for information from members of the public following a day of action investigating potentially illegal activity at a location linked to waste vehicles in North Lanarkshire last week (Thursday 28 September).  Read the full statement

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has published its Scottish Pollutant Release Inventory (SPRI) data for 2022.      Read the full statement

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is appealing for information regarding an incidence of circa 50 dead fish across an 18 mile stretch of the River Spey since Saturday 9th September.  Read the full statement

Scotland’s environment regulator has confirmed that work to remove radioactive particles from the foreshore at Dalgety Bay and prevent future contamination has been completed.   Read the full statement

July recorded nearly double the normal amount of rainfall in some areas that were experiencing significant water scarcity in June.  Read the full statement

Work is beginning to improve a 2½ mile stretch of the River Leven, opening it up for fish passage and benefiting local people and wildlife.   Read the full statement

River and groundwater levels in many parts of the country have now recovered to Normal Conditions or Early Warning in the latest report published by SEPA.  Read the full statement

A series of regulatory requirements, aimed at reducing the impact of flaring at the Mossmorran Complex on surrounding communities in Fife, has been implemented.   Read the full statement

The latest water scarcity report confirms the Rivers Annan, Nith, the Outer Hebrides, and the Loch Maree area have improved from Significant Water Scarcity to Moderate Scarcity.  Read the full statement

The Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Net Zero and Just Transition, Màiri McAllan MSP, today announced the reappointment of Craig Hume, Julie Hutchison and Dr Harpreet Kohli as Members of the Board of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.  Read the full statement

The rivers Annan and Nith in the southwest, as well as the Black Isle and the Outer Hebrides, are now in Significant water scarcity, the highest level, following a period of prolonged, dry weather.  Read the full statement

SEPA's new Transgender Equality Policy is the latest in a range of progressive people policies to create a modern and inclusive workplace reflective of the nation it serves.  Read the full statement

There have been two separate incidents of unauthorised river engineering over a distance of approximately 500 metres.  Read the full statement

While heavy, thundery showers across the country have led to some very localised recovery of rivers and groundwater, they have not been enough to sufficiently replenish levels and water scarcity conditions continue to get worse.  Read the full statement

SEPA forecasts that 28 out of 83 areas (a third) will be at Significant water scarcity level by 30th June 2023 if there is no recovery in river levels.  Read the full statement

The risk of water scarcity around the Loch Maree area in the Highlands has been raised to Significant, the highest level available. Two areas are also now at moderate scarcity - the Ness area in the Highlands and the Esk area of Dumfriesshire.  Read the full statement

Businesses extracting water urged to manage water wisely as the country continues to experience warm, dry weather.  Read the full statement

SEPA proposes new protections for wild Atlantic salmon in the seas around Scotland’s West Coast and Western Isles  Read the full statement

The Cabinet Secretary Màiri McAllan has designated Wardie Bay and Fisherrow Sands as Scottish bathing waters as the season starts on the 1st June.  Read the full statement

Wardie Bay has been designated as Scottish bathing water by the Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Just Transition Màiri McAllan, bringing the total number of Bathing Waters in Scotland to 89.  Read the full statement

Fisherrow Sands has been re-designated alongside a new designation at Wardie Bay as a Scottish bathing water by the Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Just Transition Màiri McAllan.  Read the full statement

Finalists revealed for 2023 VIBES Scottish Environment Business Awards. The shortlist covers every corner of the country, from Inverness to Hawick and Lossiemouth to Newton Stewart - as well as a wide range of sectors including transport, food and drink, construction and tourism.  Read the full statement

The risk of water scarcity risk has increased in parts of Scotland, with Alert level reached for the first time around Loch Maree in the Highlands.  Read the full statement

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has today (26th May 2023) published its annual operating plan (AOP) for 2023-2024, outlining the agency's key delivery priorities for the upcoming year.  Read the full statement

SEPA's new interactive tool shows how pollution has been driven down in some of the busiest bus corridors in Glasgow.  Read the full statement

Scotland’s environmental regulator has issued a civil penalty of £75,000 to a health food supplements manufacturer for failing to provide a leakage detection system on equipment containing powerful greenhouse gases that trap heat in the atmosphere and contribute to climate change.  Read the full statement

SEPA is appealing for information from the local community on the Isle of Bute after septic tank waste was found disposed of in a woodland near Loch Quien.  Read the full statement

A repeat of the water shortages faced by businesses last year can't be ruled out as parts of Scotland record low river levels and dry ground conditions in SEPA's first water scarcity report.  Read the full statement

Businesses that have been operating their own boiler, engine or generator for the production of heat or power are being urged to check whether they need to register with Scotland’s environment regulator as soon as possible.  Read the full statement

New data published by SEPA reveals Scotland generated 9.58 million tonnes of waste in 2021, of which 56.3% was recycled.  Read the full statement

Communities around the Mossmorran Complex are now able to see the air quality in their area in close to real time, with the launch of a new monitoring network from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).  Read the full statement

From farmers facing water scarcity to communities devastated by flooding, there’s no doubt Scotland is experiencing the harsh reality of climate change.  Read the full statement

The 25th annual VIBES awards have been officially launched by SEPA CEO Nicole Paterson at an event in Edinburgh.  Read the full statement

SEPA analysed data reveals more than half of diesel cars and a third of light goods vehicles travelling on the main routes into Edinburgh don’t currently comply with the requirements of the city’s Low Emission Zone.  Read the full statement

SEPA officers joined partners from Police Scotland, Revenue Scotland and HMRC on Tuesday 21 February 2023 for a Day of Action, carrying out inspections in the Johnstone area and appealing to local residents and businesses.  Read the full statement

The Scottish Flood Forecast provides the earliest indication possible of when and where flooding is expected over the next three days, and whether the source is from rivers, surface water or the sea.  Read the full statement

A Glasgow landfill site has had its permit partially suspended as the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) takes action in relation to offensive odour impacts.  Read the full statement

Drinks producers are being urged not to delay registering for Scotland’s landmark Deposit Return Scheme as the deadline fast approaches.  Read the full statement

Scotland is set for a week of unsettled weather as the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), Scotland’s flood forecasting and warning authority, is advising Scots and visitors to Scotland to keep updated, be mindful of potential disruption, and plan ahead for any travel across the period to the weekend.  Read the full statement