Scottish Oil Storage Regulations – first stage now in force
The Water Environment (Oil Storage) (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (Scottish Statutory Instrument 2006 No. 133) apply to any kind of oil including petrol, diesel, mineral oil, heating oil, lubricating oil, waste oil, vegetable and plant oil. The storage of Agricultural Fuel Oil is now controlled by these Regulations and Regulation 8 removes oil storage from the Control of Pollution (Silage, Slurry and Agricultural Fuel Oil) (Scotland) Regulations 2003.
The Regulations apply to any kind of container which is being used and which is stored on premises above ground, whether inside or outside a building. These include fixed tanks, intermediate bulk containers, drums (oil drums or similar containers used for storing oil) or mobile bowsers.
The Regulations, although made on 1st April 2006, is coming into force in 3 stages following. These stages are:
1. new tanks (i.e. facilities commenced after 1st April 2006) will have to comply within 6 months of the Regulations [by 1st October 2006],
2. existing tanks at significant risk (i.e. facilities that are located within 10 metres of any surface water or 50 metres of a borehole or well will have to comply within 2 years [by 1st April 2008]
3. remaining existing tanks will have to comply within 4 years [1st April 2010].
Further information is available from the SEPA website at:
http://www.sepa.org.uk/regulation/oilstorage2006/index.htm
The full text of the Regulations is available from:
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/legislation/scotland/ssi2006/20060133.htm
Source: www.sepa.org.uk (accessed 03/10/06)