Consultation hub of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA)

Everyday SEPA works to protect and enhance Scotland's environment, helping communities and businesses thrive within the resources of our planet. We call this One Planet Prosperity.

To achieve One Planet Prosperity we will talk with those who matter most – our communities, the businesses we regulate and their stakeholders and our partners. We encourage feedback on the consultations you’ll find on this hub and your feedback will help to shape the delivery of our work in clearer, more powerful ways.

We welcome your participation in any of our consultations that interest you.

Recent consultations are displayed below, but you can also search for consultations in other ways including by keyword, postcode and interest.

Consultations on applications under the Radioactive Substances Act 1993 and applications under the Water Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Regulations 2011 (except new aquaculture CAR consultations) can be found on the SEPA website. New aquaculture CAR consultations can be viewed on the aquaculture consultation page .

A sophisticated criminal cyber-attack has had a major impact on the way SEPA works. This consultation hub is still fully operational. We encourage all stakeholders and partners to complete current consultations using the online tool to ensure all views are captured and considered. We continue to maintain protections for Scotland’s environment, communities and our people.  

Open Consultations

See All Open Consultations

Closed Consultations

See All Closed Consultations

We Asked, You Said, We Did

Here are some of the issues we have consulted on and their outcomes. See all outcomes

We asked

We consulted on an application received from the Ministry of Defence regarding HMNB Clyde and radioactive substances. The consultation ran between the January and March 2020 and provided the opportunity to comment on proposed changes to existing agreements that cover the disposal of radioactive waste from both Coulport and Faslane.

You said

We received over 7,000 responses that we are currently in the process of reviewing.

We did

The very high number of responses received together with the change to working arrangements due to COVID-19 has resulted in a delay to our review of responses and which will also delay progress of the application process. This page will be updated to include a summary of the consultation responses, when they have been reviewed, and our decision record.

We asked

SEPA and the Environment Agency ran a consultation about the steps we intend to take to engage stakeholders in the preparation of the third river basin management plan, RBMP.

The consultation provided stakeholders with the opportunity to comment on; the timescales for formal consultation, intentions to work with partners and our intentions for cross border working. A consultation for Scotland ran in conjunction.

You said

Seventeen responses from a variety of well-informed stakeholders responded. Respondents were supportive of the proposed steps and timescales set out in the consultation. The respondents praised the partnership approach and support integration of plans and policies. It was acknowledged that this approach often needs to be adapted for with cross border working. They felt this was the most efficient way to use resource and deliver wider benefits.

We did

The full summary of responses can be found here.

Given the largely supportive responses we intend to progress with the proposals outlined in the consultation to develop the third river basin management plans.

In addition to our national approaches, SEPA and the Environment Agency will jointly develop a communication and engagement strategy for catchments close to the national border.

We asked

SEPA ran a consultation about the steps we will take to engage stakeholders in the preparation of the third river basin management plan, RBMP, for Scotland. The consultation provided stakeholder with the opportunity to comment on; the timescales for formal consultation, how we will engage with partners, our intentions for cross border working and aligning RBMP with other plans and policies. A consultation for the Solway Tweed ran in conjunction.

You said

We received 38 responses from a variety of well-informed stakeholders who agreed with the proposed consultation steps and timescales set out in the consultation. The respondents were very supportive of the proposed partnership approach and integration with plans and policies. They felt this was the most efficient way to use resource and delivery multiple benefits. Some respondents sought clarification about the format of engagement and more detail about how RBMP would be integrated into other plans and policies.

We did

The full summary of responses can be found here.

Given the supportive nature of the responses SEPA will progress with the proposals outlined. SEPA will publish a communication and engagement strategy geared to the publication of the third plans to provide further detail to stakeholders.