===============Shetland Friends of the Earth - SEPA page ====================================
You may be wondering why a Friends of the Earth group is 'advertising' a quango! Well nobody else is doing much shouting (besides Friends of the Earth Scotland) so we thought we would give it a go.Friends of the Earth Scotlands comment on SEPA can also be found here and in the SEPA.txt file Information on SEPA in Shetland is also here and in the SEPA.txt fileThis is information below was supplied by Vic Thomas (? from SCENE?)To read this off line grab the SEPA.txt fileSEPA - the Scottish Environmental Protection AgencyOn the 1st of April SEPA took over the responsibility for the safe keeping of Scotlands environment, just as the Environmental Agency (EA) does the same for England and Wales. Although the new body has been set up by the government as a Non- Departmental Public Body (a quango in popular terminology), the concept of SEPA is a positive one when one considers the inadequacy of the current weak and fragmented environmental regulatory bodies. Whether SEPA is to succeed in protecting the unique Scottish environment will only be known in a few tears time, but in the meantime this article seeks to describe the functions and raison d'tre of the new watchdog body.The need for a body such as SEPA was first mooted in the 1990 White Paper "This Common Inheritance" in which the desirability of a wholly integrated pollution control and regulatory body - a one stop shop for pollution issues - was highlighted. Prior to the change seven different bodies performed the various pollution controls functions in Scotland:the seven River Purification Boards (RPB) and three Island River Purification Authorities (RPA). In Shetland the SIC's Environmental Health Deparment performs the latter function.Her Majesty's Industrial Pollution Inspectorate (HMIPI) the waste regulation and local air pollution functions - carried out by the District and Island Councils. In Shetland again carried out by the Environmental Health Department.SEPA's inherited duties and powersSEPA is now responsible for the following functions:consenting of discharges to the water environment (surface tidal and ground waters)conserving water resources as far as practicableproviding flood warning systemsgranting abstraction licences for irrigation where a control order is in forceissuing authorisations to prevent, minimise or render harmless the release of substances into the environment from prescribed processesauthorisation of handling and disposal of radioactive wastesregistration of persons holding or using radioactive materialslicensing of waste management activitiesregistration of waste carriers and brokersregulation of transfrontier shipment of wasteimplementing approved cost recovery charging schemesmonitoring of pollutionenforcement action against persons breaching licence conditions or illegally polluting the environmentNew ProvisionsThe Environment Act 1995 also provides SEPA with several new duties and powers:a duty to prepare a national waste strategya duty to advise on whether contaminated land should be designated as a 'special site' and also act as an enforcing authority for such sitesa duty to regulate the 'producer responsibility' proposalsa function to assess, as far as appropriate, risk of flooding in any areaa duty to advise planning authorities on flood risksstatus as a consultee on new land drainage worksa duty to promote the conservation and enhancement of the natural beauty and amenity of controlled watersa duty to have regard both to the desirability of conserving and enhancing the natural and man-made environment and to the social and economic needs of any areaa duty to keep up to date on pollution control technology, and powers to undertake relevant research and developmentpowers to carry out assessments of the general state of the environmentduty to take in to account the likely costs and benefits of exercising its powersreserve powers, with Secretary of State approval, to direct local authorities to achieve air quality standardspowers too require creation of smoke control areasA further function will be to attain the Governments objective of achieving sustainable development.Operational areasSEPA is split into three regions, West, East and North regions. Shetland is part of the large North Region based in Dingwall. The body will operate through 14 area offices, with representation in the three island areas (including Shetland)===============FoE Scotland page on SEPA ============================================================FoE Scotland Campaigns - Environmental ProtectionEnvironmental ProtectionThe Structure of Environmental Protection in ScotlandGovernment plans for Scotland are set to obstruct local accountability and control inenvironmental decision making.1995 has seen the beginnings of local government re-organisation in Scotland with theshadow elections in April presenting far reaching consequences for the environment. Thenew authorities will be officially launched at the same time as the proposed ScottishEnvironmental Protection Agency (SEPA) in April 1996. FoE Scotland is pressing forimprovements to the new structures in light of concerns expressed by environmentalorganisations and those in existing local authorities.FoE Scotland has campaigned effectively in local government in recent years encouragingand assisting the creation of environment charters and action plans. FoE's annualconference last November saw wide representation from councils across Scotland gather todiscuss the threats and challenges to the environment from re-organisation. Theoversubscribed conference was an invaluable opportunity to share views and experiences.With growing expertise and adopting a strategic approach, local authorities in Scotlandhave greatly improved their environmental credentials. However, re-organisation puts theseadvancements at risk. Representatives shared common ground on many issues. Among the fearswere loss of: Momentum with charters and auditsMonitoring capabilityExpertise and economies of scaleAccountability Key authorities, e.g. Strathclyde, Lothian and Central.Issues are complicated further by the introduction of the Scottish EnvironmentalProtection Agency. SEPA will assume the responsibilities of the Industrial PollutionInspectorate, the River Purification Boards, the Hazardous Waste Inspectorate and thewaste regulation and air pollution controls of local authorities. FoE Scotland have beeninvolved in producing a response to the SEPA Bill which is currently going throughParliament and the new agency has come under intense and widespread criticism. In thelegislation there is no mention of local authority representation in SEPA, which isprofoundly disturbing.Friends of the Earth Scotland calls for significant amendments to be made to theEnvironment Agencies Bill, Without these, we argue that SEPA will be left without vitalpowers and an overcentralised and undemocratic structure. Local Agenda 21, flowing fromthe Earth Summit in Rio, promotes devolved power to local people and councils. SEPA andre-organisation currently promote moves away from this process. Friends of the Earth Scotland is calling for:A firmer commitment to Sustainable Development to be enshrined in thelegislation.At least one third of the Board to be appointed by Local Authorities, withfair representation also from environmental organisations, community groups, trade unionsand businesses.SEPA should be a decentralised body, enabling initiatives based on localconditions to flourish.SEPA should adopt a pro-active approach to pollution control, rather thanseeking self-regulation by industry. SEPA's stance is at present unclear.The Agency must adopt Integrated Catchment Management (ICM) for riverbasins and be given powers over flood defence and coastal work, land drainage, freshwaterfisheries policy, river flow and water abstraction.The emphasis of a national waste management strategy should be onreduction and recycling as well as disposal.What you can doYou can help by writing to Councillors, MP's and the Scottish Office:Seeking reassurances that the resources and structures will be put in place tomaintain and develop good environmental practice, beyond re-organisation.Calling for SEPA to have a clearly independent structure and for localaccountability 	to be reflected by local authority representation on it's boards.Mail George Baxter  <foescotland@gn.apc.org> at Foe Scotland.ÿ