« Previous | Contents | Next »
Listen
Prevention of Environmental Pollution from Agricultural Activity
SECTION 11
AGRICULTURAL FUEL OIL
Agricultural fuel oil is poisonous and spillages into watercourses and onto land can have serious implications for plant and animal life. Each year, accidental spillages cause several pollution incidents. Oil is a highly polluting substance and its escape has serious implications for soil and water environments.
The Control of Pollution (Silage, Slurry and Agricultural Fuel Oil) (Scotland) Regulations 2001 relate solely to oil storage by agricultural businesses. Separate regulations are to be introduced to cover all other oil storage arrangements for non-farming businesses in due course.
DOs Comply with the statutory requirements of the Control of Pollution (Silage, Slurry and Agricultural Fuel Oil) (Scotland) Regulations 2001 if your farm storage of agricultural fuel oil exceeds 1250 litres. - Ensure that any new fuel oil storage above 1250 litres capacity is surrounded by a bund capable of containing 110% of the capacity of the tank.
- Make sure that the bund and the base of the storage area is designed and constructed to be impermeable and remain so for 20 years.
- Keep every part of the tank within the bund.
Ensure any outlet tap or valve can only discharge into the bund in the event of a loss or leakage and also keep this outlet shut and locked when not in use. | DON'Ts Install a fuel tank without contacting SEPA as you are required to give at least 28 days written prior notice. Site the fuel oil storage area within 10m of a drain or watercourse. Continue to use a fuel storage tank that poses a significant risk of pollution as SEPA may serve a 'notice' requiring you to carry out improvements to bring the installation up to the standards set by the 2001 Regulations. Pour or allow fuel oil to enter a watercourse as this is an offence in terms of the Control of Pollution Act 1974 (as amended). |
Ensure that all staff and contractors working on your farm are aware of the pollution dangers from fuel oil spills and how they should be dealt with. Ensure that a Contingency Plan is drawn up to deal with any potential spillage. Ensure that proprietary kits or absorbent materials are readily available to deal with spillages. Contact SEPA immediately in the event of a serious loss or spillage of oil. | Use detergents in attempting to clear up any spillage unless the area is contained so that material is collected for safe disposal. Be afraid to seek professional advice on clean up if there is a spillage or loss. Ignore small leaks from fuel tanks. Forget to carry out or neglect regular maintenance of fuel storage areas as pollution does not have to occur for SEPA to serve a notice. Overlook the need to empty the bund of accumulated, uncontaminated, rainwater. |
« Previous | Contents | Next »