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Department of the Environment (DOE)

Northern Ireland Environment Agency

Driver & Vehicle Agency

Oil Storage

Oil is considered a hazardous substance within the meaning of EC Directive 2006/118/EC on the protection of groundwater against pollution and deterioration. The environmental damage caused as a result of a pollution incident due to the release of oil can be significant and expensive to remedy. The most frequent polluting oil types are diesel, central heating oil, petrol and waste engine oil.

The Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC)(WFD) requires that for diffuse sources liable to cause pollution, measures are put in place to prevent or control the input of pollutants. It also requires that all surface waters and groundwaters attain 'good' status by 2015. The WFD is implemented in Northern Ireland through River Basin Management Plans which were published on 21 December 2009. Programmes of Measures have been developed to ensure that the objectives of the WFD are met and included in these is a commitment to make the Control of Pollution (Oil Storage) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010.

The Regulations apply to above ground oil storage facilities on industrial, commercial and institutional residential sites. They also extend to companies who refine or distribute oil. The Regulations set minimum design standards for new and existing above ground oil storage facilities, codifying existing good practice to ensure that above ground oil storage facilities are adequately constructed. A key requirement of the Regulations is for the storage container to have a secondary containment system (a bund, which is an outer wall or enclosure designed to contain the contents of an inner tank, or, a drip tray) to ensure that any leaking or spilt oil is contained and does not enter the aquatic environment.

The public consultation on the proposed Regulations ended on 17 June 2010. A copy of the consultation paper and the synopsis of responses to the consultation can be accessed from the links below:

Consultation paper on the Control of Pollution (Oil Storage) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010 (420KB)Opens in a new window.

A Synopsis of the Responses received to the consultation is attached below:

Synopsis of Responses to the consultation on the Control of Pollution (Oil Storage) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010 (95 KB) PDF Document. Opens in a new window. Opens in a new window.

The Control of Pollution (Oil Storage) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010 were made on 9 December 2010 and come into operation on 20 March 2011. A Guidance Document has been prepared to accompany these. A copy of the Regulations, the Guidance Document and the Final Regulatory Impact Assessment can be accessed from the links below:

The Control of Pollution (Oil Storage) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010 (109KB) PDF Document. Opens in a new window. Opens in a new window.

Guidance Document for the Control of Pollution (Oil Storage) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010 (1.13MB) PDF Document. Opens in a new window. Opens in a new window.

Final Regulatory Impact Assessment (1.08MB) PDF Document. Opens in a new window. Opens in a new window.

On 2 November 2011 the Control of Pollution (Oil Storage) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011 were made to correct a minor drafting error in regulation 8(1)(a) of the Control of Pollution (Oil Storage) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010.  They are operational from 30 November 2011.

A link to the Control of Pollution (Oil Storage) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011 can be found below.

The Control of Pollution (Oil Storage) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011 Opens in a new window.
Further Information
Quicklinks

NIEA Water Management Opens in a new window.

NI Coastal Marine ForumOpens in a new window.