Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA)

Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) The official page for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). Our main role is to protect and improve the environment.

SEPA is Scotland’s environmental regulator and is responsible for protecting and improving Scotland's unique and beautiful environment. Our work makes Scotland a greener place to live and creates a sustainable legacy for future generations. We do this by being an excellent environmental regulator, helping business and industry to understand their environmental responsibilities, enabling customers

to comply with legislation and good practice and to realise the many economic benefits of good environmental practice. We protect communities by regulating activities that can cause harmful pollution and by monitoring the quality of Scotland's air, land and water. The regulations we implement also cover the keeping and use, and the accumulation and disposal, of radioactive substances.

We’re sponsoring the Coasts and Waters category at this year’s Nature of Scotland Awards.For 30 years, we’ve championed ...
06/05/2026

We’re sponsoring the Coasts and Waters category at this year’s Nature of Scotland Awards.

For 30 years, we’ve championed the health of Scotland’s rivers, lochs and seas - home to iconic wildlife like salmon, otters, seabirds and basking sharks, alongside a wealth of lesser-known species. But many of these habitats are under threat.

This award celebrates the people, projects and partnerships helping nature recover and thrive in Scottish marine and freshwater environments. If you’re supporting or protecting Scotland’s waters, Nature of Scotland Awards want to hear from you.

Find out more: rspb.org.uk/whats-happening/nature-of-scotland-awards

Stay up to date with the latest news and advice from SEPA.Our weekly SEPA Update brings together the latest news, guidan...
05/05/2026

Stay up to date with the latest news and advice from SEPA.

Our weekly SEPA Update brings together the latest news, guidance and insights from across the organisation, straight to your inbox. Each edition covers a range of topics from across the organisation, helping you stay informed about our priorities, progress and plans.

This week’s SEPA Update will focus on our journey towards net zero, highlighting the actions we’re taking, the challenges we’re addressing and how we’re supporting Scotland’s transition to a sustainable, low‑carbon future.

Sign up today and choose the topics most relevant to you at: sepa.org.uk/update

When Iceland’s Eyjafjallajökull volcano erupted in spring 2010, Scotland lay in the path of an ash plume. As flights wer...
03/05/2026

When Iceland’s Eyjafjallajökull volcano erupted in spring 2010, Scotland lay in the path of an ash plume. As flights were grounded and concerns grew, we worked behind the scenes to collect samples, assess risks, advise government and provide clear updates to the public.

Read more about the story in our 30th anniversary feature article: linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7455184934207635456

May has arrived, and with the new month our waters begin to warm up, woodlands shift into deeper greens and wildflowers ...
01/05/2026

May has arrived, and with the new month our waters begin to warm up, woodlands shift into deeper greens and wildflowers press into every available space. With longer days and milder air, the landscape feels busier, fuller and more layered than it did just weeks ago.

A healthier environment requires collective responsibility. If you're out and about and you notice something that doesn’t look right, you can report environmental concerns through our online portal.

Take photos, note the time and location, and upload the details at: sepa.org.uk/report

Join our flood experts at the Scottish Hydrological Group in Edinburgh as they unpack the latest updates to Scotland’s N...
24/04/2026

Join our flood experts at the Scottish Hydrological Group in Edinburgh as they unpack the latest updates to Scotland’s National Flood Risk Assessment v3.0 including insights into new data enhancements, modelling updates and analytical improvements.

• Where: Quaker Meeting House, Edinburgh
• When: Wednesday 6th May, 6-8pm
• Free to attend (places are limited)
• Register by Thursday 30 April: [email protected]

23/04/2026

🔥 Wildfire warning for Western Scotland 🔥

There is a very high risk of wildfire in this area for Thursday, 23 April.

Wildfires have the potential to destroy property, landscapes and wildlife. All it takes is one spark to spread, causing a large amount of damage.

Remember, there’s no such thing as a 'harmless' fire.

🚒 Share this wildfire warning to help spread the word.

22/04/2026

Happy Earth Day!

This year’s Earth Day theme: Our Power, Our Planet, is a reminder that protecting the environment is a shared responsibility.

At SEPA, we put this into action by working with communities to build resilience, supporting businesses to adapt and innovate sustainably, and collaborating with partners to protect and enhance Scotland’s environment. Collective effort is key to delivering lasting change.

Last chance to have your say and inform the future direction of flood risk management in Scotland.Flooding is a growing ...
21/04/2026

Last chance to have your say and inform the future direction of flood risk management in Scotland.

Flooding is a growing challenge across the country. As our climate changes, the risk of severe weather and flooding is increasing. We must act now to protect people and places.

We are developing Scotland’s Flood Risk Management Plans for 2028–2034 and we want to hear from you.

The consultation closes tomorrow on 22nd April 2026: consultation.sepa.org.uk/evidence-and-flooding/frmp-phase-1-consultation/

What happens when funding, partnership and community come together?Funded by the Water Environment Fund, years of care h...
19/04/2026

What happens when funding, partnership and community come together?

Funded by the Water Environment Fund, years of care have reshaped this Dunfermline burn from a forgotten waterway into a valued place of calm, connection and pride. As nature has returned, so too has a shared sense of belonging - improving well‑being, rebuilding local identity and reconnecting people with the landscape around them.

Through Lyne Burn Voices, a community storytelling and creative initiative led by Greenspace Scotland, local people shared what this transformation has meant in their everyday lives.

Read more about the community stories behind the Lyne Burn transformation in our 30th anniversary feature article: linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7450560250614595584

Notes:
The Water Environment Fund is a Scottish Government‑funded initiative administered by SEPA.
With thanks to Fife Coast & Countryside Trust for providing images 3–5.

We are investigating a pollution incident resulting in dead fish on the Burn of Carron, near Aberlour.Initial investigat...
16/04/2026

We are investigating a pollution incident resulting in dead fish on the Burn of Carron, near Aberlour.

Initial investigations traced the pollution back to a layby on the A95. Officers attended and confirmed the water in the burn is now running clear.

We would urge anyone who has information relating to this pollution incident to contact us immediately on 0800 80 70 60 or online at www.sepa.org.uk/report.

Read the full media release: beta.sepa.scot/news/2026/investigation-following-a-pollution-incident-and-dead-fish-on-the-burn-of-carron-near-aberlour/

15/04/2026

At SEPA, we work to protect Scotland’s water environment, making sure water use supports healthy rivers and ecosystems.

Our Winter Water Situation Report showed recovery after the 2025 drought, but risks remain. We are encouraging businesses to consider how their operations would be affected by another dry summer and to plan accordingly.

Our water scarcity reports return this May, bringing clear, reliable updates on local water resources to help businesses plan ahead and respond to growing water scarcity.

Find out more: sepa.org.uk/waterscarcity

At this time of year, you may notice a yellow, paint‑like film on the surface of our coastal waters or lochs. Although i...
13/04/2026

At this time of year, you may notice a yellow, paint‑like film on the surface of our coastal waters or lochs. Although it can look like pollution, it’s actually pollen.

This yellow coating is completely natural and harmless. It forms when many trees of the same species (mainly conifers and spruce) grow together near the sea. When the trees release pollen at the same time, it gathers on the water and washes up along the shoreline.

If you ever see something that doesn’t look right, you can report suspected pollution by calling our Pollution Hotline on 0800 80 70 60 or visit sepa.org.uk/report.

Address

Angus Smith Building, Unit 6, 4 Parklands Avenue, Holytown
Motherwell
ML14WQ

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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