Underground Petroleum Storage Systems
Underground petroleum storage systems (UPSS) can leak and contaminate land and water, posing risks to health and the environment.
These "fuel tanks" are commonly found at service stations, marinas, work depots, airports and other facilities.
As of September 2019, Councils in New South Wales regulate the operation of UPSS, not the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA).
The Protection of the Environment Operations (Underground Petroleum Storage Systems) Regulation 2019 aims to minimise risks through best practices in design, installation, maintenance and monitoring.
The person responsible for a UPSS must have procedures in place to detect and manage leaks and document them in a Fuel System Operation Plan.
It is illegal to allow or ignore contamination from a leaking or faulty UPSS. The person responsible must notify of incidents and submit a notification form to the appropriate regulatory authority, the EPA, within 7 days.