Environmental Authorisations (Scotland) Regulations 2018: ​Proposed Standard Conditions for Registration level activities

Closes 24 Nov 2024

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3.2.1.2. Unloading of petrol at service stations

This activity applies to the unloading of petrol from mobile containers such as road tankers into stationary storage tanks at a service station but excludes the re-fuelling of motor vehicles at the service station. An example of the types of site where this activity applies is a remote petrol station with a low throughput of petrol.

Activity description

The unloading of petrol into stationary storage tanks at a service station where the total quantity of petrol unloaded into such tanks at the service station in any 12-month period is likely to be equal to, or greater than, 500m3 (500 000 litres).

Standard conditions

Below is the list of core and activity-specific standard conditions for unloading of petrol at service stations.

  1. Petrol vapours displaced by the delivery of petrol into storage tanks must be recovered and returned through a vapour-tight connection line to the mobile container delivering the petrol.
     
  2. Measures must be taken to prevent, or where that is not practicable, minimise odour from the authorised activities.
     
  3. Offensive odours as perceived by a SEPA officer must not be emitted from the authorised activities.
     
  4. SEPA must be notified via its pollution hotline contact telephone number as soon as reasonably practicable, and in any case within 24 hours of identification of an event, of any of the following:

    a. an event that has caused or could cause adverse impact to the environment or harm to human health;

    b. an event that results, or could result, in an emission to the environment that is not authorised; and

    c. an event that has caused a breach of a condition of this authorisation.

    In this condition, the meaning of ‘event’ is as defined in the Interpretation of Terms of this authorisation.
     
  5.  All measures that are reasonably practicable must be taken to stop an event and to minimise its effect on the environment.
     
  6. Within 14 days of an event a report must be submitted to SEPA detailing:

    a. the reason(s) for the event;

    b. the action(s) taken to stop the event and minimise the impacts; and

    c. the action(s) taken to prevent the event from reoccurring.
     
  7. All information recorded, kept or submitted to SEPA in accordance with a condition of this authorisation must be:

    a. true and accurate; and

    b. kept for a minimum of six years; and

    c. provided to SEPA upon request.

Interpretation of terms

Interpretation of terms
Term Definition
Environmental harm
  1. Harm to the health of human beings or living organisms,
     
  2. Harm to the quality of the environment, including:
     
    1. harm to the quality of the environment taken as a whole,
       
    2. harm to the quality of air, water or land, and
       
    3. other impairment of, or interference with, ecosystems,
  3. Offence to the senses of human beings,
     
  4. Damage to property, or
     
  5. Impairment of, or any interference with, amenities or other legitimate uses of the environment.
Event
  • Any accident which has caused or could cause environmental harm; or
     
  • Any malfunction, breakdown or failure of plant, infrastructure or techniques which has caused or could cause environmental harm; or
     
  • Force majeure or action taken to save human life or limb.
Petrol Any petroleum derivative, with or without additives, having a Reid vapour pressure of 27.6 kPa or more which is intended for use as a fuel for motor vehicles, other than liquefied petroleum gas.
Petrol vapour Any gaseous compound which evaporates from petrol.
SEPA officer Any person who is authorised in writing by SEPA under section 108 of the Environment Act 1995.
Service station Any premises where petrol is dispensed to motor vehicle fuel tanks from stationary storage tanks, other than premises used in connection with the construction and delivery of new vehicles only.

Rationale

The intent of these standard conditions is to ensure that petrol vapour is recovered during the delivery of petrol to tanks. The conditions mainly focus on controlling this process and any potential odour emissions. If you already have a standard rules Permit for this activity, you will notice that the standard conditions proposed here are broadly similar.

 

81. Do you agree with the list of standard conditions for the unloading of petrol into stationary storage tanks at a service station?