The future development of environmental law is not only dependent upon the courts, but on the role of the relevant institutions and agencies.

You have already gained an insight from the previous tutorial and the further reading that you have been given, of the EU institutions, and will now learn more about the UK institutions and that they operate at all scales of geographic resolution: national, regional and local.

Firstly, the role of the Environment Agency will be studies and subsequently, the contribution of the government agencies. There is no one single body in the UK that is solely responsible for environmental protection. This is held by many bodies, some of which are merely advisory. Central and local government bodies are elected, whilst others are not such as appointed bodies given environmental responsibilities. Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Pollution (HMIP) and the National Rivers Authority (NRA) were founded to implement a more effective and structure approach to environmental protection in the UK. The powers given to both bodies were considerable. Under the Water Resources Act 1991, the NRA were empowered to enforce all of the water regulation with respect to pollution, water resource management (concerning flood defence and land drainage), river navigation and fisheries. HMIP was established in 1987, incorporating the Industrial Air Pollution Inspectorate from the Health and Safety Executive from and the Radiochemical and Hazardous Waste Inspectorate. The source of the HMIP?s power was in various types of legislation such as the Alkali etc., Works Regulation Act 1906, the Health and Safety at Work etc., Act 1974 and EPA 1990 for the control of radioactive substances, atmospheric emissions and the monitoring of waste disposal.

The Environment Agency (EA), as established under the Environment Act (EA) 1995 has now unified both the HMIP and the NRA. The EA has been established for England and Wales, whilst a separate Agency (SEPA) has been formed for Scotland.

Further Reading:
Guidance to the Environment Agency on its Objectives, Including the Contribution it is to Make Towards the Achievement of Sustainable Development. (DoE 1995).

Visit both the Environment Agency (England and Wales),
and the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) websites.
And read about government departments here.