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  • Unloading and refuelling of petrol at new service stations

Unloading and refuelling of petrol at new service stations

This activity applies to 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 or greater than 500m3 (500,000 litres); and the refuelling of motor vehicles at a new service station, if the petrol refuelling throughput is, or is intended to be, 500m3 (500,000 litres) or more in any 12-month period.  

This activity is found in Schedule 28, Part 1, Paragraph 2(b) and (d) of the Environmental Authorisations (Scotland) Regulations.

Authorisation level

Registration

Fit and Proper Person tests

Fit and Proper Person tests apply to this activity. You will be asked in your application if you have any relevant convictions held by you or any other relevant person.

Read more about Fit and Proper Person tests

Fees and charges

An application fee applies to the application of a new authorisation for this activity.

An annual activity fee applies to this activity.

Read our charging information for further information on application and annual activity fees.

Information on the application fees to transfer, vary or surrender a registration that authorises this activity, is in our charging information.

Standard conditions

Your registration application will only be granted if you can confirm you are able to comply with the standard conditions set out below.

If you carry out an activity under a registration authorisation you must comply with the standard conditions. It is an offence if you do not comply with the conditions.

SEPA will not authorise this activity if it poses an unacceptable risk to the environment.

  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. Petrol vapours displaced from the fuel tank of a motor vehicle during refuelling at the Authorised Place must be recovered and transferred to a storage tank at the Authorised Place.

  3. The petrol vapour capture efficiency of the petrol vapour recovery system for the refuelling of motor vehicles must be equal to or greater than 85% as certified by the manufacturer.

  4. The storage tank for the recovered petrol vapour from refuelling motor vehicles must have a vapour/petrol ratio equal to, or greater than, 0.95 but less than, or equal to, 1.05.

  5. The vapour/petrol ratio at the storage tank for recovered petrol vapour from refuelling motor vehicles must be checked annually under simulated petrol flow conditions or using other appropriate methodology.

  6. Where an automated monitoring system has been installed for the refuelling of motor vehicles petrol vapour recovery system, it must:

    1. test the petrol vapour capture efficiency every three years;
    2. automatically detect faults in both the refuelling of motor vehicles petrol vapour recovery system and in the automatic monitoring system itself;
    3. indicate faults to the service station operator; and
    4. automatically stop the flow of petrol from the faulty dispenser if the fault is not rectified within seven days.
  7. There must be a sign, sticker or other notification placed on or in the vicinity of the petrol dispenser informing customers that a refuelling of motor vehicles petrol vapour recovery system has been installed.

  8. Measures must be taken to prevent, or where that is not practicable, minimise odour from the authorised activities.

  9. Offensive odours as perceived by a SEPA officer must not be emitted from the authorised activities.

  10. 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:

    1. an event that has caused or could cause adverse impact to the environment or harm to human health;
    2. an event that results, or could result, in an emission to the environment that is not authorised; and
    3. 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 Glossary of Terms.

  11. All measures that are reasonably practicable must be taken to stop an event and to minimise its effect on the environment.

  12. Within 14 days of an event a report must be submitted to SEPA detailing:

    1. the reason(s) for the event;
    2. the action(s) taken to stop the event and minimise the impacts; and
    3. the action(s) taken to prevent the event from reoccurring.
  13. All information recorded, kept or submitted to SEPA in accordance with a condition of this authorisation must be:

    1. true and accurate; and
    2. kept for a minimum of six years; and
    3. provided to SEPA upon request.

     

How to apply

In this section you can find out how to apply for a new authorisation and how to apply for a variation, transfer and surrender of an existing authorisation.

New applications

You can apply for a new registration for this activity using our digital application service.

Step 1: Download your activity form

You will need to download and complete the following activity form. The completed form will be submitted as part of your application:

Step 3: Submit using our digital application service

You can submit your completed application using our digital application service.

Make an application for a new authorisation

You can apply to vary an existing registration for this activity. Please note, this is the same activity form as applying for a new registration or transferring an existing one.

Step 1: Download your activity form

You will need to download and complete the following activity form. The completed form will be submitted as part of your application:

  • R-IND-A1: Unloading and refuelling of petrol at service stations

Step 2: Submit your application for a variation

Make an application to vary an authorisation

You can apply to transfer an existing registration for this activity. Please note, this is the same activity form as applying for a new registration or varying an existing one.

Step 1: Download your activity form

You will need to download and complete the following activity form. The completed form will be submitted as part of your application:

  • R-IND-A1 - Unloading and refuelling of petrol at service stations

Step 2: Submit your application

Read Transfer an existing authorisation to find out how to submit your application for a transfer.

To apply to surrender an existing registration that authorises this activity, read Surrender an existing authorisation

Help and guidance

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