The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA; ) is Scotland's environmental regulator and national flood forecasting, flood warning and strategic flood risk management authority.Environment Act (1995). (c.2), London, HMSO [Accessed 29 April 2010].LE Law and Your Environment, The plain guide to environmental law website [Accessed 29 April 2010]The UK Environmental Law Association website [Accessed 29 April 2010] Its main role is to protect and improve Scotland's environment. SEPA does this by helping business and industry to understand their environmental responsibilities, enabling customers to comply with legislation and good practice and to realise the economic benefits of good environmental practice. One of the ways SEPA does this is through the NetRegs environmental guidance service.NetRegs Website – online environmental guidance for business [Accessed 29 April 2010] It protects communities by regulating activities that can cause harmful pollution and by monitoring the quality of Scotland's air, land and water."‘Dumb’ tyre dumpers face crackdown as major operation targets waste cowboys", The Sunday Herald, Rob Edwards, published 11 April 2010 [Accessed 29 April 2010] The regulations it implements also cover the storage, transport and disposal of radioactive materials.

SEPA is an executive non-departmental public body (executive NDPB, often known as a quango) of the Scottish Government. SEPA was established in 1996 by the Environment Act 1995 and is responsible for the protection of the natural environment in Scotland. SEPA is a member of SEARS (Scotland's Environmental and Rural Services).

On 24 December 2020 SEPA was subject to a serious and complex cyber-attack that significantly impacted their contact centre, internal systems, processes and communications. Hackers stole over 4,000 digital files. SEPA refused to pay the ransom, and on 21 January 2021 learned that the information stolen had been published online illegally; some of the information was already publicly available, while some was not.

Corporate information Mission SEPA's mission statement is to be an environmental regulator and an effective and influential authority on the environment.SEPA Corporate Plan 2008-2011 [Accessed 30 April 2010]

Aims SEPA provides a system of environmental protection for Scotland that aims to improve the environment and help deliver the Scottish Government's overall environmental objectives.

So that it can effectively achieve its mission and aims, SEPA has created a Corporate Plan which lists its priorities and goals.

Structure SEPA employs around 1,300 staff who are involved in protecting Scotland's environment and human health. SEPA's staff are employed in a wide range of specialist areas which include: chemistry, ecology, environmental regulation, hydrology, engineering, quality control, planning, communications, business support and management functions.

The agency operates through three directorates:

Operations The previously named Environmental Protection and Improvement (EPI) Directorate is now known as Operations after an internal reorganisation in April 2010. The directorate includes environmental policy, radioactive substances policy and regulation, SEPA's advisory work, river basin management planning, national planning, strategic environmental assessment and Organisational Development (encompassing Human Resources, Health and Safety and Learning and Development).

Science and strategy The Environmental and Organisational Strategy Directorate and Environmental Science Directorate were merged in a reorganisation that took place in April 2010. The directorate is now known as the Science and Strategy Directorate and includes Chemistry, Ecology, Marine, Hydrology, Environmental Quality, Radioactive Substances, Science, Organisational Planning and Improvement, Environmental Strategy. Communications is also part of this directorate, because of its strategic role within the organisation.

Finance and corporate services The Finance and Corporate Services directorate undertakes the financial planning and reporting for the organisation as well as its procurement, facilities management, information systems and management and resilience activities.

Governance The Agency Board legally constitutes SEPA and board members are appointed by Scottish Ministers.SEPA Agency Board, SEPA Corporate website, [accessed 28 April 2010] SEPA's Chairman and a deputy chairman are appointed by Scottish Ministers and the Agency Board appoints a Chief Executive.

SEPA used to have Regional Boards (North, South-west and South-east) that undertook local engagement with customers, partners and stakeholders. However, these were phased out by 2010 and SEPA now adopts a different approach to engage with its stakeholders at a local level.

Activities and outcomes Flooding SEPA is Scotland's national flood forecasting, flood warning and strategic flood risk management authority.

SEPA operates Scotland's flood warning service. This is a 24-hour, 7-day-a-week, information service which includes direct warnings by phone and online flood warnings and flooding updates through its dedicated telephone number 0345 988 1188.SEPA Floodline Flood Warnings Service [Accessed 30 April 2010]

As the name suggests, the Floodline service is designed to give the public early warning of likely flooding in specific areas. The service also gives advice on what to do before, during and after a flood.

In Wales, Floodline is operated by Natural Resources Wales, and in England by the Environment Agency.

In March 2011 SEPA enhanced its provision with a direct warnings extension to its Floodline service. This sends flood warning information for a chosen geographical area direct to customers who have registered a mobile or landline telephone number.SEPA Floodline [Accessed 5 April 2011]

Also, that month the Scottish Flood Forecasting Service (SFFS) was formed, a partnership between SEPA and the Met Office with £750,000 of funding from the Scottish Government. Its role is to provide flooding forecasts to Category 1 and 2 responders.

Air Quality In order to protect Scotland's air quality, SEPA regulates and monitors industrial activities and processes in Scotland that may lead to local airborne pollution.State of the Environment Air Quality Report, 1999. Stirling, SEPA Publication. [Accessed 9 May 2010] In order to do this effectively, SEPA works closely with local authorities and other partners to manage and improve air quality locally.""Dust samples analysed so far not harmful", The Sunday Herald, Carolyn Churchill and Rachel Loxton, published 17 April 2010. [Accessed 30 April 2010]

There are many things which can negatively affect good air quality such as vehicle and transport emissions, energy production, some industrial processes, waste and agriculture. The emissions that are produced by these activities can significantly damage air quality, which can lead to health problems, depletion of the ozone layer and changes to other natural habitats.

The overall picture in Scotland is one of good air quality which has been getting better over the last 30 years or so, particularly in urban areas. But the picture is not perfect. There are some localised problems in Scottish towns, mainly caused by traffic emissions. ... Scotland’s carbon dioxide emissions are contributing to global climate changes which are likely to have significant long term environmental impacts. Alasdair D. Paton, SEPA Chief Executive, 1999.

SEPA and the Scottish Government work in partnership with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to ensure the objectives that are listed in the Air Quality Strategy for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are achieved.Air Quality Strategy for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland [Accessed 30 April 2010]

The Scottish Air Quality database (SAQD) and website were commissioned by the Scottish Government. Launched in April 2007, SAQD was set up to provide a single source of air quality information for Scotland that would improve research quality to support and evaluate Scotland's air quality policies whilst also providing the public with more easily understood and accessible local air quality information.

Climate Change

SEPA's position on climate change recognises that it is the greatest threat to our physical and socio-economic future. The organisation has produced a climate change plan which contains details about how SEPA will reduce its own carbon emissions.SEPA's Climate Change Plan [Accessed 30 April 2010] This five-year climate change plan introduces SEPA's specific role in climate change mitigation and what they will do over the next five years to further integrate climate change across the organisation.

SEPA's Climate Change Plan was subject to a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) as part of its preparation. This was required under the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005.Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005, London HMSO [Accessed 30 April 2010] The SEA helped SEPA to understand the environmental effects of the plan and allowed for improvements to be made throughout the preparation process. The environmental report explains, in detail, the findings of the SEA. As the plan has now been formally adopted, SEPA is required to explain how it has taken account of the SEA process in a "SEA Statement"."SEA Statement"

SEPA, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) and Historic Scotland are all government-funded organisations with responsibilities for different aspects of Scotland's environment and heritage; in 2009 a joint statement on climate change was prepared as part of a joint approach in Scotland.

"The Scientific evidence is now overwhelming: climate change presents very serious global risks and it demands an urgent global response".The Economics of Climate Change, October 2006: Stern Review [Accessed 30 April 2010]

In Scotland, the effects of climate change can be seen in raised temperatures, increased rainfall and less snow cover (than the last Ice Age). These changes have a significant impact on the growing, breeding and migration seasons, as well as species abundance and diversity.

Land Quality SEPA aims to protect and enhance the quality of Scotland's land through provision of guidance on good land use practice and a variety of regulatory measures.

Planning SEPA is identified as a key agency under the Planning etc. (Scotland) Act 2006Planning (Scotland) Act, 2006(asp 17) Part 3—Development management, (6H)(A)(ii), London, HMSO. [Accessed 7 May 2010] and helps deliver the Scottish Government's commitment to providing a more effective and efficient planning system. SEPA also provides formal environmental advice in relation to development plans and on various development proposals across Scotland.

SEPA attempts to enable good development whilst also protecting Scotland's environment through the planning system and takes a consultative approach where they can add most value. The agency tends to favour early engagement with planning authorities to ensure they can support development plan proposals and aid the implementation of a genuinely plan-led land use planning system.SEPA's development plan proposals, SEPA website. [Accessed 7 May 2010]SEPA's development plan proposals for smaller scale developments, SEPA website. [Accessed 7 May 2010]

The guidance note "How and when to consult SEPA"How and when to consult SEPA, SEPA Website [Accessed 7 May 2010] provides further information on planning consultation with SEPA.

Radioactive substances

Radioactive substances are used widely in industry, medicine and research in Scotland. Uses can range greatly from the diagnosis and treatment of diseases to use in energy generation and nuclear weapons. However, if radioactive substances are not stored or used properly, they can potentially cause significant human health problems and damage to the environment.