UPSS Incident notification
Sourced from www.epa.nsw.gov.au 14/11/2013
Where a leak or spill at a UPSS is causing or likely to cause material harm to the environment or human health, the person responsible must notify both the appropriate regulatory authority (ARA) and DECCW’s Environment Line (phone 131 555 or (02) 9995 5555) as soon as practicable. Failure to report such pollution incidents is an offence under Part 5.7 of the POEO Act.
Incidents at UPSS which must be notified include (but are not limited to):
- a leak or spill from a UPSS verified in accordance with loss detection or incident management procedures that is causing or threatens material harm to human health or the environment
- evidence on the site of free-phase hydrocarbons in surface water or groundwater
- evidence that offsite migration of hydrocarbons could occur, is occurring or has occurred.
A written report on the incident must also be submitted to DECCW within seven days of the verbal notification, using the UPSS Regulation Leak Notification form in Appendix F of these guidelines.
The local council must also receive a validation report within 60 days of the removal of a tank, decommissioning of a UPSS or completion of remediation work, in accordance with the requirements of clauses 13 and 15 of the UPSS Regulation (see Sections 5 and 6 for details).
