SEPA gets support for new regime

Respondents to the consultation on Scotland's environmental protection regime have generally endorsed the changes planned by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).

In December 2010, SEPA launched a consultation setting out its proposals for a new, simpler and more effective way forward for environmental regulation in Scotland. The consultation closed in February.

SEPA reports a high level of support for its main proposals, including measures to: reduce the complexity and improve the effectiveness of environmental regulation; simplify permits (including working up proposals for single-site, operator or network licences); place an assessment of risk to the environment, and the performance of operators, at the centre of SEPA’s approach; target environmental “harms” and work with partner organisations and local communities to solve these; and deal with non-compliance through stronger and swifter forms of enforcement.

The regulator now plans to work with respondents and others on the details of the proposed changes and how the alterations will work in practice.