Consultation on SEPA’s Enforcement Policy and Guidance

11th August 2015

The Regulatory Reform (Scotland) Act 2014 has enabled the Scottish Ministers to give the Scottish Environment Proctection Agency (SEPA) the power to impose fixed and variable monetary penalties and accept enforcement undertakings (the enforcement measures). The enforcement measures form part of the new environmental enforcement framework for Scotland that will enable more proportionate and flexible enforcement. They will help ensure that SEPA have the right tools to change the behaviour of those who continue to perform poorly or ignore their responsibilities, and will help them tackle non-compliance at an earlier stage before it becomes entrenched.
This framework builds upon the strengths of the existing enforcement approach and SEPA's working relationship with the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS). The new environmental enforcement framework has been developed jointly with Scottish Government and in partnership with COPFS.

This consultation covers those elements of the environmental enforcement framework which are required to be produced by SEPA. They are seeking views in this consultation on:
• SEPA’s updated enforcement policy;
• SEPA’s enforcement guidance.

These documents and a consultation summary document are provided on the website at https://consultation.sepa.org.uk/change-programme/consultation-on-sepa-enforcement-policy-guidance


Responding to the consultation
You can respond to the consultation via the web site link above. The closing date for the submission of responses is 22 October 2015, following which SEPA will review the documents prior to publication.

If you wish to discuss the consultation you should contact SEPA by e-mailing change@sepa.org.uk or phone 0300 099 6699.  

You can find related SEPA consultations on the website at:
https://www.sepa.org.uk/regulations/consultations/