Storage Tank Systems for Petroleum Products and Allied Petroleum Products on Federal Lands or Aboriginal Lands

Act: Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, Part 9, Section 209.
Regulation: Registration of Storage Tank Systems for Petroleum Products and Allied Petroleum Products on Federal Lands Regulations or Aboriginal Lands, SOR/97-10

To Whom Does This Apply?

• Owners of outside aboveground storage tank systems for petroleum products having a single or total capacity of more than 4 000 L, and
• Owners of underground storage tank systems for petroleum products or allied petroleum products, where the storage tank systems are located on federal lands or aboriginal lands.

Summary

The regulation falls under The Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999). Environment Canada administers the Act on behalf of the federal government, but develops regulations and guidelines jointly with Health Canada.

The Registration of Storage Tank Systems for Petroleum Products and Allied Petroleum Products on Federal Lands or Aboriginal Lands Regulations came into force 1 August 1997, and require registration of all specified storage tank systems located on federal lands or aboriginal lands, with the appropriate federal department administering the land, by 30 October 1997.

The Department of Environment will have access to the consolidated storage tank system records in each appropriate federal department. A prohibition on fuel delivery is provided for any unregistered storage tank systems. Appropriate federal departments must report unregistered tanks to Environment Canada if they fail through reasonable action to get the owners to register them.

An annual report on the number or storage tank systems is first required under the Regulations by 30 April 1998 and every 30 of April thereafter. Please note that the two storage tank technical Guidelines provide additional requirements for the maintenance and upgrade of storage tanks by federal departments boards and agencies. Compliance with the guidelines, though not mandatory, is deemed to be in keeping with the spirit of the law.

Products Affected

For the purposes of the Regulations, "petroleum product" means:

• a single hydrocarbon or a mixture of at least 70% hydrocarbons, refined from crude oil, with or without additives, that is used, or could be used, as a fuel, lubricant or power transmitter. It includes gasoline, diesel fuel, aviation fuel, kerosene, naphtha, lubricating oil, fuel oil and engine oil, including used oil; it excludes propane, paint and solvents.

For the purposes of the regulations, "allied petroleum product" means:

• a single hydrocarbon or a mixture of hydrocarbons other than a petroleum product. It includes alcohols, glycols, thinners, solvents, organic chemicals and inks.

DISCLAIMER
Information contained in this section is of a general nature only and is not intended to constitute advice for any specific fact situation. For particular questions, the users are invited to contact their lawyer. For additional information, see contact(s) listed below.

Quebec Contact(s):
See National Contact.

---

National Contact(s):
Mr. René Drolet
National Programs Directorate
Environment Canada
Place Vincent Massey
351 Saint-Joseph Boulevard
Gatineau, Quebec  K1A 0H3
Telephone: (819) 994-0738
Fax: (819) 997-0086
Web site: http://www.ec.gc.ca/envhome.html

Environmental Protection Publications Centre
Environment Canada
Telephone: 613-953-5921 or 613-953-5750
Fax: 819-953-7253
Web site: http://www.ec.gc.ca/envhome.html