Please note that WorkSafe Tasmania also has requirements in relation to the ceasing use and decommissioning of underground petroleum storage systems.
Storage Systems that were in use on or after 31 March 2010
If a UPSS, which was in use on or after 31 March 2010, ceases to be used, then within 2 months an infrastructure owner must
- Temporarily decommission the system; or
- Commence permanently decommissioning the system.
The Ceasing Use of UPSS Form must be submitted to the Director within 2 months of ceasing use.
Ceasing Use of UPSS Form (DOCX 148Kb) OR Ceasing Use of UPSS Form (PDF 222Kb)
Note: If using the PDF version, download the file, open it in Adobe Acrobat Reader and complete using the Fill and Sign tool. Acrobat Reader can be downloaded from the Adobe website.
The 2-month timeframe is extended to 6 months if the system is not in use due to repair or replacement, or where loss verification or an environmental site assessment are being carried out.
Further information on
permanent decommissioning requirements in the UPSS Regulations is available on this website.
Temporary Decommissioning
A UPSS should only be temporarily decommissioned if there is an intention to re-use the storage system within 12 months (e.g. it may be triggered by the sale of a property, change of lessee etc). Otherwise, the storage system should be permanently decommissioned. In addition, if a temporarily decommissioned UPSS has not returned to use within the 12 month period, an Infrastructure Owner must permanently decommission the storage system in accordance with the UPSS Regulations. Further information including a summary of requirements relating to
Temporary Decommissioning is available on this website.
Sale of Property
If a property is sold where a UPSS has ceased to be used and permanent decommissioning has been selected on the Ceasing Use of UPSS Form, the responsibility for permanent decommissioning will remain with the person/company that was the infrastructure owner at the time of ceasing use.
If a UPSS has been temporarily decommissioned, and the property is sold within 12 months of the UPSS ceasing use, the decommissioning responsibilities transfer to the new infrastructure owner/landowner, so they must either put the UPSS/s back in use or permanently decommission them.
Decommissioning Abandoned Storage systems (not in use on or after March 31 2010)
The UPSS Regulations do not require that abandoned storage systems are decommissioned within a certain timeframe. The intent of the regulations is that abandoned storage systems will be decommissioned when the infrastructure owner determines that they want to decommission the storage system (for example during redevelopment of a site, as part of a sale agreement etc).
Further information and a summary of the requirements in the UPSS Regulations are available on the
Decommissioning Abandoned Storage Systems web page.