Oil for this purpose includes petrol, diesel, central-heating oil, vegetable and plant oil and many others.

There are requirements on how the oil should be stored e.g. you must store containers within a drip tray, bund or any other suitable secondary containment system.

The Environment Agency can serve on you an anti pollution works notice if your site gives rise to, or is at risk of giving rise to, pollution of surface waters or groundwater. This notice will require you to undertake remedial action.

Where oil causes an environmental incident, the responsibility for that incident rests with the business that has control of the oil, (irrespective of ownership). Therefore even if the Oil Storage Regulations do not apply to you, you are committing an offence if you cause pollution, either deliberately or accidentally.

Penalties & Implications of non-compliance:

You may be prosecuted and fined if oil from your site enters the ground or watercourses. And you may have to pay substantial clean-up costs.

Further Information:

Environment Agency: http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk