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Paula Woolgar, State of the Environment Reporting Manager

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

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Paula Woolgar, State of the Environment Reporting Manager

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  1. 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

  2. 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)

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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?

  8. 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

  9. 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?

  10. 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

  11. 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?

  12. 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

  13. Land quality data sources State, 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 & WIC ANY COMMENTS?

  14. Water resources & habitats data State, 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

  15. 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 – SEPA ANY COMMENTS?

  16. Acidification data sources State, 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?

  17. Nutrient enrichment data sources State, 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 - SEPA ANY COMMENTS?

  18. 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 – FSA ANY COMMENTS?

  19. Radiation data sources State, 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 – ISD State, 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?

  20. 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?

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