Overview of the next SEPA report on the State of

Scotland’s Environment and underpinning data sources

Paula Woolgar, State of the Environment Reporting Manager

Objectives of Presentation

Inform and raise awareness Highlight use of non-SEPA data sources Establish whether there are any other suitable

data sources Receive ideas and comments (take after each

section)

Why a SEPA SoE report?

Part of the process of reviewing whether meeting SEPA’s main aim “to provide an efficient and integrated environmental protection system for Scotland that will improve the environment..”

Need to know what trying to protect and the condition of the environment

Duty to form an opinion on the general state of pollution of the environment

10 years since the last one Commitment in SEPA Corporate Plan

Background to SoE Report

To be published Sept 2006, approx 50 pages Targeted at those who have an interest in the

environment but not detailed knowledge Aimed at improving awareness, informing

priorities & highlighting gaps Will detail state of air, land and water in 2005

or most recent year for which data available Highlight implications of state for human &

ecosystem health i.e. attempt to address the so what factor

Highlight potential reasons for change in state i.e. provide emissions & trends in emissions

About the environment rather than what SEPA does

Structure of report Introduction Background Climate Air (quality) Land (quality, resource & habitats) Water (quality, resource & habitats) Acidification (all media) Nutrient enrichment (all media) Hazardous substances (all media) Radiation (all media) Waste management (all media – may become

incorporated into synthesis) Synthesis

Key features Standard format for each section Summary at beginning Something about environmental processes Bit about how measure state, limitations and

how arrive at views Summary table detailing state, implications

and factors contributing to supported by commentary

Amalgamated data – not singling out companies or local authorities

Case studies to illustrate key points References and further information sources

Process of Production P Woolgar responsible for management, editing, pulling

together internal & external data, initial drafting Using SEPA data and published external data Some additional analysis commissioned from CEH

(ammonia, ozone critical level exceedence) Will seek external review of specific items in report

from organisations whose data has been used Hard copy report plus interactive web version Formal launch at SEPA conference (details to be

firmed up) To be produced at 5 year intervals

ANY COMMENTS?

Climate data sources (1)State Scottish mainland temperature – SE stats Global annual mean concentration of CO2 in air –

Mauna Loa observatory Occurrence of gales – MET Office/SNIFFER Ice core data - web

Impact Annual/summer/winter rainfall – SEPA, 3 sites Annual/summer/winter/high river flow – SEPA data 7

rivers Northern shift of species – SNH Occurrence of springtime events – SNH Scottish sea temperature & level – SNIFFER? Dissolved organic carbon in water - UCL

Climate data sources (2)

Pressures Annual emission of greenhouse gases from

reporting regulated processes – SEPA SPRI Annual emission of greenhouse gases from all

Scottish sources – NAEI report Annual emission of carbon dioxide from those

participating in emissions trading scheme – SEPA ETS returns

ANY COMMENTS?

Air quality data sources (1)

State Annual mean concentration gl ozone, NOx,

SO2, PM10, benzene, butadiene – AURN

Impact No. occurrences moderate/high/very high

ozone, PM10, NOx and SO2 pollution - AURN Exceedence of ozone critical level – CEH Acidification of land & water – CEH Impact of large combustion plants on Natura

2000 sites – SNIFFER project

Air quality data sources (2)

Pressures Annual emission of air pollutants from

reporting regulated processes – SEPA SPRI Annual emission of air pollutants from all UK

sources – NAEI web site Annual emission of NOx and SO2 from large

combustion plants – SEPA LCPD returns Annual solvent use – SEPA SED returns

ANY COMMENTS?

Land resource & habitats data

State, pressures, impact Loss of soil to water – SEPA estimate Land cover – CS2000 Area of agricultural land subject to env. sustainable

practices – SE LMC and organic aid scheme Status of BAP habitats & species – SE stats/JNCC Condition of protected sites – SNH Number of derelict & vacant sites (plus brought back

into use) – SVDLS Number of mineral workings - BGS Farmland & woodland bird populations – BTO Occurrence of landslides – SE report & BGS

Land quality data sourcesState, pressures, impact Soil Organic Matter, pH – CS2000 Heavy metals – CS200, MLURI transects Exceedence of critical loads for acidity & nutrient

nitrogen – CEH Number derelict sites with known contamination (plus

brought back into use) – SVDLS Number of sites formally identified as contaminated

land (plus remediated) – SEPA based on LA notices Litter on beaches – Marine Conservation Society Litter on streets – KSB Fly-tipping – KSB Amount of waste to landfills and land – SEPA & WICANY COMMENTS?

Water resources & habitats dataState, pressures, impact Annual/summer/winter/high river flow – SEPA data 7

rivers Groundwater level – Newbridge borehole Condition of river habitats – RHS Status of BAP habitats & species – SE stats/JNCC Condition of protected sites – SNH

Annual/summer/winter rainfall – SEPA, 3 sites Water bodies impacted by abstraction and flow

regulation & morphology – WFD characterisation Amount of water licensed for abstraction – SEPA, April

06 baseline

Water quality data sources

State, pressures, impact Classified waters (rivers, lochs, estuaries,

coasts; identified bathing & shellfish waters, freshwater fisheries) - SEPA

Groundwater bodies impacted by point source & diffuse pollution – WFD characterisation

Reasons for downgrading of waters Loss of E Coli from land to water – SEPA

estimate Extent of sewage treatment – WIC Surface water abstracted for drinking water –

SEPAANY COMMENTS?

Acidification data sourcesState, pressures, impact Exceedence of critical load for acidity in terrestrial &

freshwater habitats – CEH Lochs and rivers downgraded due to acidification -

SEPA Area coniferous woodland – Forestry Facts & Figures Annual emission of NOx and SO2 from large

combustion plants – SEPA LCPD returns Annual emission of air pollutants from reporting

regulated processes – SEPA SPRI Annual emission of air pollutants from all UK sources –

NAEI web site Emission of ammonia from all Scottish sources – CEH Loch Grannoch & Loch Chon – AWMN

ANY COMMENTS?

Nutrient enrichment data sourcesState, pressures, impact Exceedence of critical load for nutrient nitrogen – CEH Lochs downgraded due to phosphorus – SEPA Waters sensitive to eutrophication - SEPA Inputs of N and P to water – SEPA SPRI & OSPAR Loss of N&P from land to water – SEPA estimate Annual emission of NOx and SO2 from large

combustion plants – SEPA LCPD returns Annual emission of air pollutants from reporting

regulated processes – SEPA SPRI Annual emission of air pollutants from all UK sources –

NAEI web site Emission of ammonia from all Scottish sources – CEH Fertiliser use – SE statistics Estimate of production of manures & slurries - SEPAANY COMMENTS?

Hazardous chemicals data

State, pressures, impact Metals, PAHs, PCBs, dioxins in soil – MLURI

transects, soil & herbage survey, CS 2000 Pesticides in groundwater – SEPA data Tributyl tin including imposex – SEPA Fish farm chemicals - SEPA Annual emissions of metals, PAHs, PCBs,

dioxins to air & water from regulated reporting processes – SEPA SPRI

Inputs of metals to water – SEPA OSPAR Concentrations in food – FSAANY COMMENTS?

Radiation data sourcesState, pressures, impact – UV radiation Thickness of stratospheric ozone above Lerwick – SE

statistics Emission of ozone depleting substances from

regulated reporting processes – SEPA SPRI Occurrence of skin cancer – ISDState, pressures, impact – ionising radiation Radioceasium – MLUIR transects, soil & herbage

survey Radionuclides in the environment – RIFE Gamma radiation dose - Defra Water bodies impacted by ionising radiation – WFD

characterisation Emission of radionuclides from regulated reporting

processes – SEPA SPRI ANY COMMENTS?

Interpretation of trends

No significant increase if less than 95% level of confidence of change (Rank Spearman correlation, seasonal Kendall test etc.)

Significant increase if 95% or greater level of confidence of change

Little or no change - less than 10% compared to selected base year

Substantial change - equal to or greater than 10% compared to selected base year

ANY COMMENTS?