The final changes to the oil storage regulations for
Scotland came into place on April 1st 2010,Tony Soper
explains the implications of these updates
Two of the most common pollutants
that contaminate our rivers, lakeThe final changes to the oil storage regulations for
Scotland came into place on April 1st 2010,Tony Soper
explains the implications of these updates
Two of the most common pollutants
that contaminate our rivers, lakes
and seas, are oil and fuel.
When oil and/or fuel leaks from a tank, it
discharges either into a surface water
drainage system, or directly to a
watercourse. The consequent harm done
to plants and animals in the water
environment can be widespread and
devastating.
Alternatively, the pollutant(s) may pass
into the sewerage network where they can
cause havoc within a sewage treatment
works.
It's precisely because of the amount of
damage caused annually by oil and fuel
spills that the oil storage regulations in
Scotland have been updated.
The Water Environment (Oil
Storage) (Scotland)
Regulations
Changes to The Water Environment (Oil
Storage) (Scotland) Regulations were
introduced in three stages, starting in
2006. The final installment came into
force on April 1st 2010.
Under this installment, all new and
existing commercial and agricultural oil
storage tank installations over 200-litre
capacity must have secondary
containment (e.g. a bund or drip tray).
Any valves, pipes, or other ancillary
equipment must also be placed within the
secondary containment to contain any
drips and spillages.
Business owners in Scotland who fail to
store their fuel and oil in bunded aboveground
tanks could be liable for fines of
up to £40,000.
The regulations apply to any kind of oil
including petrol, diesel, kerosene, mineral
oil, heating oil, lubricating oil, waste oil,
vegetable and plant oil.
Typical examples of the types of
locations that will be affected by the
regulation update include factories, public
sector buildings, retail, offices, farms,
motor and transport garages.
As things stand in the domestic sector,
all tanks over 2,500 litres serving Scottish
homes will have to be bunded. New and
replacement single domestic oil storage
tanks of less than 2,500 litres are covered
by The Building Regulations (Scotland)
2004, which require a risk assessment to
determine the need for secondary
containment.
We understand that SEPA has stated its
intent to investigate and take action
wherever pollution has occurred, with
priority ascribed to sites which have
caused water pollution and/or where
there is a serious potential for pollution -
for example, if the site is less than 10
metres from surface waters or less than 50
metres from a well or borehole.
Scottish vs English Regulations
There are similar regulations in England,
namely the Control of Pollution (Oil
Storage) (England) Regulations 2001
(details of which can be found on the
Environment Agency website). However,
the requirements of the regulations in
Scotland do differ slightly from those in
England.
For example
` The regulations in Scotland apply to
storage of waste oil, whereas the storage
of waste mineral oils is exempt under
English regulations because it is
covered by The Waste Management
Licensing Regulations 1994
The regulations in Scotland apply to
storage of oil in buildings while the
English regulations exempt the storage
of oil within a building
Scottish regulations require that if oil is
stored in a portable container of less
than 200 litres, the container must be
of sufficient strength and structural
integrity that it doesn't leak in ordinary
use. There is no similar requirement in
the English regulations
The regulations in Scotland exempt oil
stored in accordance with a Part A
permit under the Pollution Prevention
and Control (PPC) Regulations 2000,
or the Environmental Protection
(Prescribed Processes and Substances)
Regulations 1991. Premises used as an
oil distribution depot for the onward
distribution of oil to other places are
also exempt under Scottish regulations.
The English regulations exempt storage
of oil at premises used for refining oil
or for the onward distribution of oil to
other places. (source: SEPA)
It's perhaps no surprise that, well
before the new regulations came into
force, many installers in Scotland were
already taking a "bunded-only" approach
to new and replacement installations. It
future-proofed their installations and/or
avoided any chance of either the owner or
the installer being held liable for singleskin
tanks that might be installed in error.
Information about the changes to the
regulations and other differences between
Scotland and England can be found on
the SEPA website: www.sepa.org.uk/water/water_regulation/regimes/pollution_control/oil_storage.aspx
Tony Soper is the UK sales director for UK
oil/fuel tank manufacturer Kingspan
Environmental
