Chief Executive's Report
Introduction
With our environment facing the global crises of climate change and biodiversity loss, the work that we do as an Agency is as vital as ever, and it is important that we act now. Later in the Board meeting, we will present the End of Year Corporate Performance Report which highlights where we have focussed our effort over the past year to protect Scotland’s environment.
2024-2025 is an exciting and important year for us. Following on from the launch of our new Corporate Plan, setting out our ambition and priorities for the coming three years, last month saw the launch of our 2024-2025 Annual Operating Plan. This plan is framed around our five strategic priorities and sets out ‘what we do’ and our key ‘areas of focus’ for the coming year against these priorities. It also reflects our One SEPA programme of transformation, investing in our people, our systems, our regulation, our services, and our income. Our Annual Operating Plan will enable us to play our part in safeguarding Scotland’s environment for future generations.
This year we are beginning a refresh of our strategic planning and performance framework to strengthen the golden thread that runs from Government priorities and policies, through our Corporate Plan and Annual Operating Plan, down to operational delivery and our people. This includes developing an outcomes focused performance framework to enable greater understanding and oversight of the significant SEPA contribution to enhance the future of our environment in Scotland.
We understand how important our people are – they are our greatest asset and drive our high levels of performance on a daily basis.
Together, we have been working on a new set of shared values, providing a strong narrative and backdrop for how we interact, support, and influence one another; together we are passionate, professional, and purposeful.
Our values, our people and our one SEPA approach will support our organisational reset, focussing on how we work, as well as what we do. Thanks to colleague engagement and involvement throughout our One SEPA Interaction initiative, views and feedback have helped shape an authentic set of values and behaviours that bring clarity for all of us, helping us create a powerful workplace united by purpose and vision.
Working alongside the Chair, we have continued to meet a range of stakeholders and partners across the last couple of months including NatureScot and Scottish Water. Further Chair / CEO meetings are scheduled across the summer period.
I have presented at and participated in a range of meetings on Public Sector Reform, a Programme for Government Roundtable on Water Resources with Ministers and met counterparts from across the UK in the NI Environment Agency, Natural Resources Wales and the Environment Agency and my counterpart in the New Zealand EPA.
As we move forward, we know we need to work in new and innovative ways, and together in partnerships across the public, private and third sectors. Partnership working is highlighted in many brilliant examples throughout this report including where we created and led a partnership with Perth and Kinross Council, Scottish Water, Tay Salmon Fisheries, and local businesses to tackle a large and historic fly-tipping spot under Friarton bridge in Perth. SEPA received some of the great coverage in the national media following the clean-up.
This report features some highlights from the start of this new and important year, as our teams continue to work hard delivering for Scotland. For the future of our environment.
Protect
Footage from underwater video survey to train machine learning software
We collected interesting footage of seabed habitats in the South Arran Marine Protected Area from SEPA’s survey vessels, the Sir John Murray and Iona. Our underwater video sled was deployed to collect training video of protected habitats for a machine learning application, which is being developed by a partnership with the Scottish Association of Marine Science and others.
We were particularly interested in obtaining footage of maerl beds. Maerl is a highly protected, calcified seaweed, which creates a habitat for a variety of fauna and flora. It acts as a nursery habitat for commercial fish and shellfish and has a high capacity to sequester carbon but is incredibly slow growing and is at risk from pressures such as trawling and organic effluent. The footage obtained has been used to train new machine learning software to recognise maerl beds and other Priority Marine Features and will speed up analysis of underwater video, submitted in support of baseline surveys for fish farm applications. (A Flucker)
Fire at Fenix Battery Recycling Ltd WML/W/0022040, West Byrehill Industrial Estate Kilwinning
SEPA was informed of a significant fire at a regulated site on the evening of Monday 8 April 2024.
The Fenix Battery Recycling Ltd site in North Ayrshire, holds a waste management licence authorising the keeping and treatment of controlled waste, including hazardous and non-hazardous waste batteries. The site operator received approval to be an Approved Battery Treatment Operator in May 2023, with approval granted in July 2023 to allow export of batteries on site. These two licences enabled the operator to access additional international markets beyond the UK.
The site has been the subject of ongoing enforcement action due to non-compliance with licence conditions, in particular breaches of the tonnage of special waste permitted on site and breaches of the length of time processed and unprocessed waste was being kept on site. A partial Suspension Notice was issued to the operator in October 2023 prohibiting the acceptance of any special waste at the site after 17:00 hours on 3 November 2023, with a focus on reducing legacy material. We formed a key part of the multi-agency response to the fire. This included being involved in Local Resilience Partnership and Public Communications Group meetings and providing advice to public partners both on site and via the Multi Agency Incident Response Group meetings.
SEPA officers who were deployed to the site, confirmed that there were no visual impacts noted on the water environment and that appropriate samples were taken for analysis.
We continue to have a key role in the recovery phase of this incident and are working closely with all partners involved. Analysis continues to be carried out in the water environment to assess any potential impact on the downstream Site of Special Scientific Interest.
This is a good example of cross team response both within SEPA and across the public sector in response to an incident as noted recently by the Chair of the West Regional Resilience Partnership. (L Bunten)
SEPA Enforcement - Joint Unit for Waste Crime visited by Europol Environmental Crime Unit
SEPA took part in a meeting alongside partners from the Joint Unit for Waste Crime (Environment Agency, Northern Ireland Environment Agency, Natural Resources Wales, His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, Fire and Rescue Service) to showcase and discuss how each agency is targeting and tackling environmental crime with delegates from Europol.
This was a great opportunity to share experiences, challenges, innovations and successes in tackling environmental crime and explore opportunities for enhanced partnership working. Europol colleagues presented capabilities and services which are available to all partners to use to help tackle environmental crime. Recognising the complex nature of environmental crime and how it often involves cross border illegality, this is an excellent enhancement to ensure we are maximising all available tools, techniques and partnerships to target and disrupt environmental crime, and reduce its significant impact on the environment, communities and legitimate businesses. (L Bunten)
Addressing antimicrobial resistance through a One Health approach
We were invited to speak at a recent Scottish Government seminar on addressing antimicrobial resistance through a One Health approach. One Health is an integrated, unifying approach that aims to sustainably balance and optimise the health of people, animals and ecosystems. The event was held to promote awareness of Scotland’s work on antimicrobial resistance across the human health, animal health, and environment sectors and show how this is helping to minimise the spread of resistance to antibiotics and other antimicrobials.
The World Health Organisation lists antimicrobial resistance among the top 10 threats for global health. There are various sectors and activities that SEPA regulates that may influence the spread of antimicrobial resistance in the environment and SEPA is involved in research to better understand this issue and build this insight into future regulation.
The UK has a 20-year vision to contain, control and mitigate the spread of antimicrobial resistance by 2040 and this vision is supported by a series of five-year action plans. SEPA is working with the Scottish Government and partners to help produce the National Antimicrobial Resistance Action Plan for Scotland. SEPA is helping to ensure that the environmental dimension of antimicrobial resistance is fully and properly considered. (A Flucker)
Improve
Reporting on the performance of Glasgow's Low Emission Zone
The second Phase of Glasgow's Low Emission Zone came into force on 1 June 2023, meaning that all vehicles entering the zone were required to meet stringent emission standards. This followed a five-year period when the bus fleet met annual incremental targets to reduce emissions. Under Scottish Government's Cleaner Air for Scotland 2 Strategy, SEPA is responsible for reporting on the air quality performance of Scotland’s Low Emission Zones. In June 2023, SEPA reported on improvements to the bus fleet and changes to air quality along major bus corridors. In February 2024, new traffic data was collected across Glasgow's Low Emission Zone, and this will be used to report on progress in June 2024, for the one-year anniversary of Low Emission Zone implementation. (A Flucker)
Air Quality - Citizen Science Projects
East Renfrewshire Council has been running a school’s air quality programme over the last few months, promoting various local activities to improve air quality around vulnerable primary schools. SEPA has provided the council with air quality sensors that provide the schools with real-time data through a dedicated visual application. At the same time, SEPA has also provided access to the Scottish Government funded air quality banner competition for local schools to participate in, getting the message out through their own artwork to the wider community. Many of the primary schools have already signed up to the SEPA funded Air Quality Learning Lab – Our Amazing Air, provided by the Glasgow Science Centre. This is a six-week programme teaching schools about the importance of clean air, the impacts we have on air pollution and the measures we can take to improve air quality.
North Lanarkshire Council has just started a similar programme with two schools in Motherwell. SEPA has provided access to the same resources and the schools have already submitted their winning banners. This programme of work with the schools will continue up to Clean Air Day on the 20 June 2024. (A Flucker)
Air Quality
Local authorities have a duty to designate any relevant areas where the air quality objectives are not being met (or are unlikely to be met) as Air Quality Management Areas. This happens under section 83(1) of the Environment Act 1995. Under section 84(2) of the Act, they must develop an Air Quality Action Plan setting out the measures required to achieve the air quality objectives in the designated Air Quality Management Areas.
Since the Local Air Quality Management process was introduced in 2000, 43 Air Quality Management Areas have been designated across Scotland. All local authorities with Air Quality Management Areas were required to submit updated Air Quality Action Plans or start the process of revoking Air Quality Management Areas by the end of March 2024. Notification of Air Quality Management Areas revocation is made where air quality objectives are now being met. SEPA has been overseeing this process and currently 11 local authorities have complied with the requirement and discussions are ongoing with three others.
The number of declared Air Quality Management Areas has now reduced to 28 and 15 further revocations are scheduled for this year, demonstrating that air quality within these areas has improved. In 2023, for the second year running, there were no exceedances observed of the air quality objectives for any pollutant at any automatic monitoring site in Scotland (currently approximately 100 sites – see the Latest pollution map. The reduction in Air Quality Management Areas and continued compliance with air quality objectives demonstrates the concerted work of local authorities, SEPA and the Scottish Government, to protect and improve Scotland’s air quality. (L Bunten)
Clyde Gateway - Strategic Engagement
Clyde Gateway is an urban regeneration company which exists to drive inward investment and improvement for the people and communities across the east end of Glasgow within Glasgow City Council and South Lanarkshire Council areas. One area extending to 64 hectares, covered by the Shawfield Masterplan is impacted by chromium pollution from a historical chemical works. This contributes to a downgrade in status for two groundwater bodies and two surface water bodies.
Clyde Gateway has overseen the remediation of this contamination since 2008, and SEPA along with other partners has been involved from the outset, advising on the technical aspects of investigation, risk assessment and remediation of the Water Environment, and authorising remedial work where required.
Clyde Gateway has been awarded £14.6 million from the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund, for three projects associated with the remediation and redevelopment of the Shawfield Masterplan Area of South East Glasgow/Rutherglen. Two of these Levelling Up Fund projects aim to secure water environment improvements: Shawfield Phase 2 remediation and Polmadie Burn Remedial Works. (L Bunten)
Fly-Tipping
SEPA created and led a partnership to tackle a huge historic fly-tipping spot under Friarton bridge in Perth. Up to 230 tonnes of waste was cleared last month and preventative measures including Closed-Circuit Television, fencing and signage have been installed. The area received regular media and political attention, often being used as the photo backdrop whenever fly-tipping was in the news. There were also environmental risks to consider as the fly-tipping hotspot was directly on the riverbank of a Special Area of Conservation, in an area known to frequently flood. This year, the area had the unfortunate honour of being ranked number four in a press report on the worst fly-tipping hotspots in Scotland.
The project involved SEPA, Perth and Kinross Council, Scottish Water, Tay Salmon Fisheries, and local businesses. Around £45,000 was raised from various partners, with a portion used to launch a local public awareness campaign around fly-tipping and proper waste disposal. (L Bunten)
SEPA helps marine vessel on Loch Sunart
SEPA, as one of several organisations regulating finfish aquaculture, carry out marine surveys to develop our understanding of the associated environmental risks, and how they can be effectively mitigated. We protect the marine environment for the people of Scotland.
In April, the Sir John Murray and its associated small craft Iona, operated by SEPA in partnership with Marine Directorate, were carrying out planned survey work as part of routine monitoring to support the regulation of marine finfish farms. Whilst doing so they were alerted when the nearby Nitrox, operated by salmon producer Mowi Scotland, experienced difficulties after a rope became entangled in its propeller.
The skipper called for assistance from the Sir John Murray and the Iona, which responded immediately to help free the vessel’s propeller and restore propulsion before continuing planned survey work as part of routine monitoring to support the regulation of marine finfish farms. The Marine Directorate noted that a collaborative approach, as exemplified on Loch Sunart, is vital to ensure the protection of our marine environment and promote the sustainable development of the aquaculture sector. Mowi was very grateful for the assistance provided by both SEPA vessels and thanked us for our quick response.(A Flucker)
Adapt
Regulatory teamwork
The Fife, Angus and Dundee area was particularly heavily hit during the autumn and winter storms with the area receiving 270% more rainfall than average during October alone.
This resulted in extensive damage not only to residential communities but also to essential infrastructure, such as significant damage to major bridges on the A92, a 30m collapse of the main sewer from Dundee City and Brechin wastewater treatment works being completely deluged. Significant work has been conducted by SEPA since these events to expedite remediation on this essential infrastructure, minimise environmental harm and to ensure work was conducted in accordance with regulations, including two authorisations which were issued under emergency licensing provisions.
In addition, teams across SEPA met with and provided advice and guidance to local communities who are examining measures to tackle increased flood risk because of our changing climate. Over the past month team members have attended Community Action Meetings in the Invergowrie, Finavon, Luther, Lunan, Eden and Lumbie catchments. (L Bunten)
Avoid
Scottish waste data report published
SEPA’s latest waste data report shows that the recycling rate reached an all-time high in 2022 with households, businesses and public services recycling 62.3% of all Scottish waste. The recycling rate increased 5.3% from the 57.0% rate in 2021 – reflecting economic recovery from the pandemic and an increase in the proportion of construction and demolition material being recycled. This compares to a Scottish Government target of 70% of all waste being recycled by 2025.
Waste disposed to landfill was also at an all-time low figure of 2.30 million tonnes in 2022, with 23.2% of all wastes now ending up in landfill, a significant decrease from previous years. This compares to the Scottish Government target of less than 5% of all Scottish waste to be sent to landfill by 2025. (A Flucker)
Warn
Satellite Emergency Mapping Service
SEPA’s Satellite Emergency Mapping Service will be launching this year. The main purpose of this service is to aid emergency responders and support disaster response efforts by providing access to new and enhanced environmental data services. This will support decision-making by public bodies and mitigate against significant economic damage during critical crisis events when other means of monitoring often fail due to environmental factors. Emergency responders will benefit from having a visual and real time perspective of the disaster zone to aid response and mitigation measures. In collaboration with the International Charter for Space and Major Disasters and the University of Stirling, we are providing a coordinated and prepared service that is timely, efficient and could help save lives. (A Flucker/KL Campbell)
New flood duty officers training programme
We have developed, coordinated, and delivered training to 17 new recruits who have joined the operational flood forecasting and warning service. The training has covered a number of topics that introduced essential procedures, tools and processes duty officers have to navigate to provide communities and partners across Scotland with a flood forecasting and warning service. This new cohort of duty officers are now continuing their learning and development through specific rota-based training and shadowing of experienced duty officers before leading their own duty weeks next winter.
The recruitment of new flood duty officers will ensure that we improve the overall resilience of the service and moreover the welfare of the existing duty officers, who help underpin the vital services SEPA delivers 24 hours a day, 365 days a year in partnership with the Met Office.(A Flucker)
This report represents a strategic summary of the Agency’s delivery activity across the period.
Nicole Paterson
Chief Executive Officer
10 May 2024