Underground Petroleum Storage System (UPSS)

Summary

A UPSS (Underground Petroleum Storage System) is a buried network of tanks, piping and fuel infrastructure designed to store petroleum products. Proper management is critical to prevent soil and groundwater contamination, satisfy development approvals and demonstrate environmental compliance. This glossary explains what a UPSS is, how it is regulated and the steps you’ll need to manage it effectively.

Definition

A UPSS is a system of one or more underground tanks, associated piping, valves and ancillary equipment designed to contain petroleum products below ground level, and is subject to specific design, installation, monitoring and decommissioning requirements to manage risk to land, groundwater and human health.

Why It Matters

In the environmental consulting, land remediation and compliance sectors, UPSS are a major focus for several reasons:

• Contamination risk: Leaks from underground petroleum storage systems can lead to contamination of soil, groundwater and surface water, posing risks to human health, the environment and future land-use.

• Regulatory duty: In Australia, especially in states like New South Wales (NSW), the Protection of the Environment Operations (Underground Petroleum Storage Systems) Regulation 2019 (UPSS Regulation) under the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 imposes strict obligations on persons responsible for UPSS.

• Approval and redevelopment interface: For land being redeveloped (for example former petrol stations or industrial sites), UPSS design, removal or monitoring may be tied to development applications, remediation strategies or contaminated land audits.

• Due diligence and liability: Operators and site managers must maintain equipment integrity, leak-detection systems, monitoring and records. Failure to do so may result in significant remediation costs, enforcement action or refusal of future use.

• Integrated service need: As part of comprehensive environmental services — e.g., contamination assessment, soil classification or remediation — managing a UPSS links directly to earthworks, fill reuse, groundwater investigations and regulatory compliance workflows.

Thus, understanding and properly managing a UPSS is essential for developers, environmental consultants and regulators navigating sites with fuel infrastructure, redevelopment pressures and compliance obligations.

When It’s Required

Knowing when a UPSS is relevant will help you integrate the right services and avoid surprise liabilities:

Common triggers

• Sites with buried fuel tanks: Petrol stations, marinas, airports, transport depots or industrial sites where petroleum products (fuel, diesel, aviation fuel) have been stored underground.

• New installations or upgrades: If a new underground fuel storage system is proposed, or an existing system is significantly modified (e.g., more than half the tanks replaced), the Regulation and standards apply.

• ‍Decommissioning or removal: When a UPSS is no longer used, tanks removed or the site repurposed (e.g., redevelopment), environmental investigation, validation and regulatory reporting may be required. 

• Contaminated-land assessment: If redevelopment of a former fuel site is underway, a UPSS investigation may form part of the contamination assessment, remediation plan or environmental site audit.

• Regulatory approval conditions: Planning approvals, environmental licences or remediation orders may include specific UPSS infrastructure conditions or monitoring obligations. For example, new UPSS must comply with standards such as AS 4897–2008.

Legislative & regulatory context

• In NSW, the UPSS Regulation (2019) under the POEO Act applies to all underground storage systems of petroleum (excluding above-ground tanks, LPG systems, etc.). 

• The system must be designed, installed and operated in compliance with industry standards (such as AS 4897–2008) and supported by equipment integrity testing, ongoing monitoring, leak-detection and documentation.

• The person responsible (owner/operator) must keep records for seven years, maintain a Fuel System Operation Plan, monitor for leaks/losses and immediately report any pollution incident.

How We Can Help

At Nova Group Pacific, we offer specialist services in Underground Petroleum Storage System (UPSS) compliance embedded within our broader environmental consulting and land remediation framework:

• UPSS Compliance & Risk Review – Rapid assessment of existing systems, leak-detection status, regulatory obligations and implementation of corrective actions.
  

• Installation, Decommissioning & Validation Support – Technical assistance for new or modified UPSS, removal or decommissioning of tanks, contamination investigation tied to redevelopment.
  

• Integration with Remediation & Site Assessment – UPSS work forms an integral part of contamination investigations, groundwater monitoring, and site assessments.

Proper management of an Underground Petroleum Storage System (UPSS) is essential not only for regulatory compliance but also for protecting the environment, mitigating risk and supporting redevelopment opportunities. Whether you’re operating a fuel-storage site, planning redevelopment, dealing with suspected leaks or validating a former facility, Nova Group Pacific can guide you through every stage of UPSS obligations, documentation, remediation and compliance.

‍Contact our team today for expert advice, robust documentation and practical solutions to ensure your UPSS strategy is technically sound and regulatory-ready.

Related Terms and Concepts

• Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) – the broader contamination-focused investigation often triggered by UPSS works or redevelopment of former fuel sites.
  

• Soil Classification – when tanks are removed or material excavated, classification of soils and wastes may be required, linked to UPSS-derived contamination.
  

• Groundwater Monitoring – underground fuel leaks have direct interaction with groundwater; monitoring strategies often accompany UPSS compliance.
  

• Fuel System Operation Plan (FSOP) – a required documentation component for UPSS operation under regulation, detailing monitoring, maintenance and incident-response procedures.
  

• Decommissioning & Validation – the process of taking tanks out of service and validating the site against contamination criteria for remediation or redevelopment.