INVESTIGATIONS
Ongoing and Completed Casework
Our Casework
Completed Investigations
| Investigation | Summary | More information |
| Air quality in Scotland | An investigation into the Scottish Government's plans and approach to ensuring future compliance with legal limits on nitrogen dioxide levels. | Summary Report - Available here
Full Report - Available here FAQs - Available here |
Live Investigations
| Investigation | Summary | More information |
| Climate change delivery | An investigation into the systems in place to support local authorities in the delivery of climate change targets. | Full details available here |
Pre-Investigations Casework
| Pre-investigation | Summary | Status |
| Use of Acoustic Deterrent Devices | Consideration of the licencing and enforcement regimes in respect of the use of Acoustic Deterrent Devices in the marine environment. | Pre-investigation enquiries concluded – informal resolution achieved with Marine Scotland
Summary Report - Available here Full Report - Available here |
| Local Authority climate change reporting | Consideration of the effectiveness and implementation of local authorities’ climate change responsibilities. | Pre-investigation enquiries concluded – moved to investigation |
| Licencing and removal of weirs | Consideration of the licencing and enforcement regimes in respect of redundant weirs and structures in Scottish rivers. | Pre-investigation enquiries concluded – case will be subject to ongoing monitoring
Summary Report - Available here |
| Ramsar site protection | Consideration of the effectiveness of the site protection system in respect of ‘Ramsar’ sites (wetland sites of international importance) in Scotland. | Pre-investigation enquiries concluded – case will be subject to ongoing monitoring
Summary Report - Available here |
| Access to Environmental Justice | Consideration of Scotland’s implementation of the requirements of the Aarhus Convention in respect of access to justice in environmental matters. | Pre-investigation enquiries concluded – case will be subject to ongoing monitoring
Summary Report - Available here |
| The storage and spreading of sewage sludge on land in Scotland | Consideration of the delayed implementation of recommendations contained within the Scottish Government’s Review of the Storage and Spreading of Sewage Sludge on Land in Scotland. | Under consideration |
| Designation of Bathing Water Sites in Scotland | Consideration of the requirements to designate new bathing waters in Scotland. | Under consideration |
| Habitats Regulations Appraisal regime | Consideration of the Habitats Regulations Appraisal process in respect of whether a plan or project may have adverse effects on protected European sites in Scotland. | Under consideration |
Latest News
Latest News
New role advertised: Senior Investigations Officer
Recruitment is now open for the following post within ESS: Senior Investigations Officer - closing date 10 April 2023 For...
Chief Executive's video update
Our Chief Executive Mark Roberts gives an update about the work we have been involved in over the past six...
Environmental Justice Summary Report Published
Environmental Standards Scotland (ESS) has today, Monday 19 December, issued a summary report about how it intends to monitor recent...
Contact Us
How can we help you?
If you want to raise a formal concern over how environmental law is being applied by a public authority in Scotland, please see our pages on How to raise a concern.
For Freedom of Information and Subject Access requests, please see our Freedom of Information pages.
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