UK Statutory Instrument 2001 United Kingdom

Control of Pollution (Oil Storage) (England) Regulations 2001

What this means for your business

4 obligations
3 penalties
1 guides
Enforced by
Environment Agency
Applies to
United Kingdom
On this page
4 compliance obligations, 1 practical guide
Read full text on legislation.gov.uk

What you must do

4 compliance obligations under this legislation.

Equipment and safety 2

Ensure fixed oil storage tanks meet safety requirements

Unlimited fine

If your business stores oil in a fixed tank you must make sure the tank and all its fittings meet a series of safety standards. This includes supporting the tank, fitting automatic shut‑off gauges and valves, protecting and testing fill/draw‑off/overflow pipes, providing corrosion protection, installing over‑fill prevention devices, and keeping any discharge points within secondary containment. You also need to keep records of installations, tests and maintenance.

Occupier s.4 Environment Agency When you have a fixed tank used for storing oil

Fit locks and safety devices on mobile oil bowsers

Unlimited fine

If your business uses a mobile bowser to store oil, you must make sure any tap or valve that can let oil out is locked when not being used. Any permanent delivery pipe must have a manual pump or an automatic‑shut‑off valve, both locked when idle, and a lockable valve at the pipe’s exit that is also kept locked when not in use.

Any Person s.5 Environment Agency When operating a mobile bowser that stores oil

Management duties 1

Store oil safely with adequate secondary containment

If you keep oil on your site you must use robust containers that won’t burst in normal use and place them inside a secondary containment system. The containment must hold at least 110% of the oil volume (or the larger of 110% of the biggest container or 25% of the total), be impermeable, protected from impact and have any pipe penetrations properly sealed. All ancillary valves, filters and gauges must be inside the containment, and where a fill pipe is outside you must use a drip tray (with extra capacity rules for drums).

Any Person s.3 Environment Agency When you store oil in containers on your premises

Offences and prohibitions 1

Fail to comply with oil storage regulations

Unlimited fine

If your business keeps oil and either breaches the requirements in regulations 3‑5 or ignores a notice issued under regulation 7, you commit a criminal offence. You can be prosecuted, facing either a summary‑court fine (up to the statutory maximum) or, on indictment, an unlimited fine.

Any Person s.9 Environment Agency

Penalties for non-compliance

3 penalties under this legislation. 3 carry an unlimited fine.

Unlimited fine

Ensure fixed oil storage tanks meet safety requirements

Unlimited fine

Either way s.4 Penalises: Ensure fixed oil storage tanks meet safety requirements
Unlimited fine

Fit locks and safety devices on mobile oil bowsers

Unlimited fine

Either way s.5 Penalises: Fit locks and safety devices on mobile oil …
Unlimited fine

Fail to comply with oil storage regulations

Unlimited fine

Either way s.9 Penalises: Fail to comply with oil storage regulations

Practical guidance

Our guides explain how to comply with the requirements above.

Oil storage regulations

What you must do if your business stores oil or fuel. Covers who the regulations apply to, container and bunding …

Sections and provisions

10 classified provisions from this legislation.

3 Duties 1 Offences and penalties 3 Powers 2 Exemptions

Duties 3

  • s.3 Requirements for storage of oil—general its base and walls
  • s.4 Fixed tanks the tap or valve
  • s.5 Mobile bowsers

Offences and penalties 1

Powers 3

  • s.7 Notices to minimise pollution risks in transitional cases
  • s.8 Right of appeal in transitional cases
  • s.10 Civil sanctions

Exemptions 2

  • s.2 Application of Regulations
  • s.6 Transitional provisions