Regulator Profile

SEPA

Scottish Environment Protection Agency

Enforcement Regulator

5

Areas of regulation

33

Laws enforced

Scotland

Quick links

Visit official website Call 03000 99 66 99

Emissions Environmental Permits Waste Water

What SEPA does

Scotland's principal environmental regulator. Protects and improves Scotland's environment. Issues environmental permits for waste, emissions, water abstraction, and radioactive substances. Enforces environmental law and responds to pollution incidents.

Additional information

Scottish equivalent of Environment Agency. Also regulates COMAH sites in Scotland (jointly with HSE).

Legal framework

Legislation that SEPA enforces.

Primary legislation

• Control of Pollution Act 1974 Act 1974
• UKPGA 1980/45 Act 1980
• Environmental Protection Act 1990 Act 1990
• Radioactive Substances Act 1993 Act 1993
• WEAAISA 2001 Act 2001
• WEWSSA 2003 Act 2003
• Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 Act 2009
• Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009 Act 2009

Secondary legislation

• Special Waste Regulations 1996 (Scotland) UK Statutory Instrument 1996
• Contaminated Land (Scotland) Regulations 2000 Scottish Statutory Instrument 2000
• SSI 2000/95 Scottish Statutory Instrument 2000
• SSI 2004/112 Scottish Statutory Instrument 2004
• Hazardous Waste (Scotland) Regulations 2005 Scottish Statutory Instrument 2005
• Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 2007 UK Statutory Instrument 2007
• Radioactive Contaminated Land (Scotland) Regulations 2007 Scottish Statutory Instrument 2007
• Transfrontier Shipment of Waste Regulations 2007 UK Statutory Instrument 2007
• Environmental Damage (Prevention and Remediation) (Scotland) Regulations 2009 Scottish Statutory Instrument 2009
• Air Quality Standards (Scotland) Regulations 2010 Scottish Statutory Instrument 2010
• ... and 15 more statutory instruments

Sectors regulated

Environment Manufacturing