Broadly speaking, incidents of environmental pollution happen for one of two reasons. Either there is an accident, with or without culpability, or there is malign intent. In other words, public confidence depends on the competence of operators, or on their honesty.
In a perfect world, we could take those virtues for granted. The fact that there is so much concern over the environment is proof enough, however, that the world is far from perfect, and that a close eye must be kept on those handling and discharging materials into our water and air. Anyone who has a different idea should also have a very good justification.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) believes it can justify its new Regulatory Evidence Strategy. In fact, the body argues that after 18 months of consideration it has produced a scheme that will “substantially increase” its ability to “protect and improve” the environment. Sepa, it goes almost without saying, had better be right. Potentially, the cost of mistaken confidence is far too high.
On the face of it there is very little to be said for allowing operators to monitor and report their own effluent discharges. Even if each and every one is honest and well-intentioned, one part of the agency’s function is surely to guard against unforeseen human errors. Even if Sepa establishes strict processes to “audit” self-monitoring, there is a risk, surely, of stable doors being locked after the horse has gone. Where the environment is concerned, that is too late.
Undaunted, the agency speaks, instead, of being able to “target our resources to where they can make the greatest difference”. In other words, it believes that self-monitoring will free it, at a time of budget stringency, to do more important work more effectively. “Checks and balances” imposed by its audit mechanism will ensure, Sepa believes, that environmental cheats cannot prosper.
Given economic realities, the agency deserves the chance to show that efficiency, budgets and public safety can each be enhanced. Given the vast range of operators falling within the regulator’s remit, it has no real margin for error. For now, nevertheless, we should trust Sepa to know what it is doing.
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