Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Related legal acts

Key definition

Environment definition

What does Environment mean? In legal practice, environment refers to the natural media and the living systems potentially affected by a project, operation or emission. UK environmental legislation commonly defines it as including air, water and land, and any living organisms (including humans) and ecosystems supported by those media. Similar formulations are used across England & Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and in Irish environmental legislation; exact wording varies by statute and context, but usage is broadly consistent. Where a regime provides a definition, courts apply that text; where it does not, the term carries its ordinary meaning. The concept sets the scope of regulatory...

SEPA investigation and enforcement powers, statutory notices, civil sanctions and prosecution for environmental offences in Scotland

Published by a LexisNexis Corporate Crime expert

Practice notes

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is Scotland’s lead environmental regulator, broadly mirroring the functions of the Environment Agency (EA) in England and Natural Resources Wales in Wales.

For information on the enforcement powers of environmental regulators in England and Wales, consult these Practice Notes:

Environment Agency—powers to investigate environmental crime
Environment Agency (EA)—powers of entry
Natural Resources Wales—powers to investigate environmental crime
Local authorities—powers to investigate environmental crime
Natural England—powers to investigate environmental crime

For details of key environmental offences in Scotland, see Practice Note: Key environmental offences in Scotland, and for the approach to sentencing, see Practice Note: Sentencing environmental offences in Scotland.

SEPA's role and policy

Established under the Environment Act 1995 (EA 1995) to protect and enhance the environment, SEPA regulates activities that may pollute water or air; the storage, transport, treatment or disposal of waste; the management of radioactive substances; and operations that could contaminate land.

As part of its regulatory work, SEPA addresses situations where people fall below required standards. SEPA’s responsibilities are engaged where a person causes, or risks causing, harm; alternatively, where...

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Niall McLean

Brodies LLP

Niall is a member of Brodies' Corporate Crime and Investigations practice and qualified in 2009. He is a regulatory lawyer with extensive advocacy experience in disciplinary proceedings, civil and criminal litigation. His corporate crime experience includes advising on bribery and corruption, environmental incidents, money laundering and complex fraud cases.Niall is also a solicitor advocate with extended rights of audience in the Court of Session. In 2017 Niall was appointed to the Scottish Government's list of 'Standing Junior Counsel' - advocates and solicitor advocates who represent the Scottish Government in courts, tribunals and inquiries. Niall is one of only two solicitor advocates appointed as a Standing Junior....

Web page updated on 21/05/2026

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