Time is running out for thousands of council bosses and company directors to either comply with new oil storage regulations from September or risk facing a hefty fine or massive clean-up costs.
Fuel storage is an issue which most organisations would rather not think about but businesses and local authorities could be facing a large fine if they do not comply with the Control of Pollution (Oil
Storage) Regulations 2001 that come fully into effect on 1 September 2005.
Local councils need to be setting an example and taking a lead in complying with the new legislation to ensure that businesses and company directors follow suit.
The Control of Pollution (Oil Storage) Regulations 2001 will come into full effect from 1 September in a bid to reduce the number of oil leaks which have a devastating effect on the environment. Tank owners will then be required to provide a secondary containment facility, such as a bund or drip tray to prevent oil escaping from the container or its pipework and equipment which must be large
enough to contain 110 percent of the maximum contents of the
oil container.
Anyone storing oil in containers greater than 200 litres, above ground at an industrial, commercial or institutional site, or more than 3500 litres at a domestic site will be affected by the
regulations.
The maximum fine for each incidence of non compliance with the Control of Pollution (Oil Storage) Regulations 2001 is £5000. The maximum fine for a pollution incident at magistrates’ court is £20,000 – which could be on top of the non compliance fine.
Phil Chatfield, policy adviser for pollution prevention at the
Environment Agency, explains the reasons behind the new legislation: “Oil in the wrong place causes serious and long
term damage to wildlife and the environment, as well as
disrupting businesses, damaging reputations and potentially contaminating our drinking water supply. “The penalties for failing to comply with environmental legislation are severe, reflecting
the seriousness with which the potential damage to the
environment from oil and diesel spillage is viewed. Companies
and individual directors can face hefty fines and clean up
costs. Businesses are liable for oil leaks however they are
caused – whether due to poor design, installation, maintenance or vandalism.”
As a result of the new oil storage Regulations, hundreds of local authorities and businesses are expected to consider fuel alternatives. One alternative is to convert to Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) which can provide the full package of heating, hot water,
cooling and catering from a single fuel source. Although still
open to the fuel storage regulations, LPG users are provided with a fully complying tank as part of the service from suppliers Calor.
Calor’s Paul Riding said: “It is important to review all options
when choosing a fuel supply.
LPG offers a number of benefits in that it eliminates the
environmental risks associated with fuel spillages and the installation and maintenance of the tanks is carried out by Calor.
Also gas is extremely versatile and can be used for all of your energy requirements including cooking, air conditioning and all
types of heating.”
In contrast to oil tanks, the responsibility for the maintenance and safety of the bulk tank remains with the LPG supplier and tanks are
inspected and approved for safe refuelling every time a delivery
is made.
