Introduction to SEPA

The Scottish Environment Agency

For CaSPr Waste Workshop

Glasgow

19 October 2006

Claudette Hudes

NetRegs Team Leader

Who we are

Non-departmental public body set up by Environment Act 1995

Budget of £57m (05/06) 54% from Scottish

Executive Grant in Aid 46% from charging

schemes 22 offices 1220 staff

SEPA’s aim

SEPA's main aim is to provide an efficient and

integrated environmental protection system for

Scotland that will both improve the environment and contribute to the Scottish Ministers' goal of

sustainable development.

SEPA’s Corporate Vision

“To be an excellent environmental regulator

and a recognised and influential authority on

the environment”.

SEPA’s outcomes

Minimised, recovered and well-managed waste;

Good water environments; Good air quality; Good land quality; A respected environment:

protected, informed and engaged communities; and

Economic wellbeing.

SEPA’s toolkit for protecting the environment

We protect and improve the environment through: Laws and regulation Raising environmental awareness through education

and partnership working Environmental economics in considering costs/

benefits of our actions and economic instruments The planning system Advising Government, Scottish Executive and

partners on environmental issues

All underpinned by sound science and monitoring of the environment

Structure

Environmental Protection and Improvement - To protect and improve the environment by the translation of SEPA’s

policies into progressive action by others and through fair,

environmentally sound, legally correct regulation and partnerships.

Environmental Science – To monitor, assess and report on

the state of Scotland’s environment, providing independent

scientific data analysis and advice in support of SEPA’s duties

and environmental outcomes.

Environmental and Organisational Strategy - To lead SEPA’s environmental policy development and strategic and

organisational planning and improvement activities.

Structure

Secretariat - To support the chairman, chief executive, Board and its

committees, regional boards and corporate management team and

coordinate liaison with the Scottish Executive.

Finance and Corporate Services - To provide a wide range of Corporate services to ensure effective resourcing and that financial controls, advice and reporting are in place to support all departments’ operational performance and achievement of corporate goals.

Human Resources/ Organisational Development – To provide Professional advice and administrative services in areas of human resources, training, organisational development and health and safety.

Communications - To ensure effective internal and external Communications and provide a PR, educational advice and stakeholder relations management service.

Corporate Vision

“To be an excellent environmental regulator and a recognised and

influential authority on the environment”.

To be an excellent environmental regulator

What does it mean? Effective and efficient – fit for purpose Apply regulations in a proportionate,

balanced, fair and legally correct way Effective enforcement Responding to complaints/ incidents Base advice and decisions on sound science and

monitoring of the environment Promote best practice and influence operator performance Engagement and openness Provide guidance that is both flexible and consistent

To be a recognised and influential authority on the environment

What does it mean? Sample, monitor and assess Scotland’s

environment

Provide clear, easy to understand, consistent and accessible information

Be credible, visible, effective and efficient

Provide expert advice based on sound science and understanding of the environment

Build our internal knowledge

Influence policy makers

Leading to an improved Scottish environment

In practice…..

We have achieved some water quality improvements 2 years ahead of target

Substantial fall in the amount of waste going to landfill – 14m tonnes in 1997 to 7.88m tonnes in 2003

Working with industries affected by the new Pollution Prevention and Control (PPC) regulations to better understand the regime

We have been working with a variety of stakeholders to implement the Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003

In practice…..

Continued improvement in the quality of Scotland’s bathing waters

We have exceeded our target for improving habitats in Scotland through raising awareness of best management practices

Worked with partners on successful initiative to reduce fly-tipping in Scotland – increase in registration of waste carrier applications

Conclusion

This is SEPA!

Any questions?