Storage and Handling of Petroleum Products and Allied Products


Petroleum products continue to pose a risk of contamination to groundwater and soil. Contamination can occur from large spills or from small leaks and spills over a long period. The effects can be experienced through drinking water contamination, other public health issues, public safety concerns, and reduced real estate values.

To increase protection of the environment, the Manitoba government replaced the former legislation regulating the storage and handling of petroleum and associated products on December 17, 2001. The Regulation is entitled the Storage and Handling of Petroleum Products and Allied Products Regulation (MR188/2001).

Petroleum and allied product storage facilities are issued operating permits in accordance with the Regulation. A listing of current valid operating permits can be found here:

Announcements

Digital application forms now available

The department has simplified the process of transferring ownership of operating permits and applying for new operating permits by introducing digital application forms. The Application for a Permit to Operate a Petroleum Storage Tank System and the Application to Transfer Ownership of a Permit to Operate can now be completed online and are available under the Resources and Forms section.

Update to the application process for tank removal permits

As of July 1, 2021, the Application for Permit to Alter a Petroleum Storage Tank by Removal will be received, reviewed, and processed by the Petroleum Storage Program with Environment and Climate Change, where previously they were processed by regional Environment Officers.  The application form can be submitted by email to petstor@gov.mb.ca or by fax to 204-948-2338.

Removal of expiry dates from Operating Permits

Please be advised that the 5-year expiry dates on permits to operate fixed aboveground and underground petroleum storage tank systems in Manitoba are no longer in effect.

Expiry dates were imposed during a period that required system upgrades to meet the requirements of the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) Code of Practice as adopted by Manitoba Regulation 188/2001, the Storage and Handling of Petroleum Products and Allied Products Regulation (the Regulation). The expiry dates were intended to track those upgrades through completion. As the Petroleum Storage Program has determined that all upgrades are complete, the renewal process has been discontinued.

Please note that while a permit renewal is not required, all other requirements indicated on the permit as well as all tests and inspections required by the Regulation, remain applicable to your system. Please review Technical Bulletins PSF-002 and PSF-005, available under the Resources and Forms section, for guidance on the monitoring, inspection, leak detection and maintenance requirements that apply to your petroleum storage tank system. Operating permits were re-issued to the storage tank system owner in 2020 and will remain valid until such time the system is altered or removed from service or the permit is cancelled or suspended by the Director. You will not be required to provide a permit renewal application form.

Amendment to the Storage and Handling of Petroleum Products and Allied Products Regulation

An amendment to the Storage and Handling of Petroleum Products and Allied Products Regulation, M.R. 188/2001 (the Regulation) came into effect on August 17, 2018.

The regulatory amendment removes outdated fuel quality standards by repealing Part 3 of the Regulation. For more information, please see the news release at: https://news.gov.mb.ca/news/index.html?item=44661&posted=2018-10-01


Resources and Forms

The delivery of the Petroleum Storage Program is based on the Storage and Handling of Petroleum Products and Allied Products Regulation (M.R. 188/2001) (the Regulation). The Regulation adopts much of the Environmental Code of Practice for Aboveground and Underground Storage Tank Systems Containing Petroleum and Allied Petroleum Products (the Code of Practice), published by the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME), 2003, Reference Number 1326.

For a copy of the Code of Practice, redacted with permission by CCME, click here.  

Applications and Forms

Under the Regulation, permits are required to construct, alter or remove a petroleum storage tank system; to operate a petroleum storage facility; and to transfer ownership of an operating permit.

Only a petroleum technician with a valid licence may perform construction or alteration work on regulated storage tank systems. Listings for petroleum contractor companies can be found under the Licensed Petroleum Technician Information section.

All applications and forms required to obtain a permit can be found here:

Technical Bulletins

Section 4.1 of the Regulation allows the Director to issue technical bulletins to provide guidance on the application and interpretation of the technical or design requirements specified in the Regulation or the Code of Practice. All current and approved technical bulletins can be found here:

Technical Bulletin PSF-001 - Spill Containment and Runoff Collection at Product Transfer Areas for Petroleum Products and Allied Petroleum Products for Aboveground Storage Tank Systems 5000 Litres or Larger

Technical Bulletin PSF-002 - Monitoring and Leak Detection of Storage Tank Systems for Petroleum Products and Allied Petroleum Products for Aboveground Storage Tank Systems 5000 Litres or Larger and Underground Storage Tank Systems

Technical Bulletin PSF-005 - Inspection and Maintenance Requirements of Storage Tank Systems for Petroleum Products and Allied Petroleum Products for Aboveground Storage Tanks Systems 5000 Liters or Larger and Underground Storage Tank Systems

Guidelines

Guidelines are documents that set out how the department applies laws and regulations under its jurisdiction. The main purpose of a Guideline is to provide clarity in decision-making and fill in details sometimes missing from the strict nature of legal language in laws or regulations. Guidelines that are referenced in a permit or licence can be enforceable. All current and approved guidelines can be found below:

Storage Tank System Owner Information

Operating permits are issued to owners of petroleum storage facilities which are in compliance with the Storage and Handing of Petroleum Product and Allied Product Regulation (M.R. 188/2001).

A Permit to Operate a Petroleum Storage Tank System is required for all underground storage tank systems, and all aboveground storage tank systems with a capacity of 5,000L or more. It is the responsibility of the permit holder to maintain compliance with the permit they have been issued.

Persons responsible for a storage tank system of any capacity must ensure that no contaminants are released into the environment. Fuel transfers must be continuously supervised so that, in case of an accident, the flow can be immediately shut off. Any release must be immediately contained and cleaned up. Spills or leaks of flammable liquids in quantities of 100L or more must be reported to the 24-hour Environmental Emergency Response Line at 204-944-4888.

The department requires that all aboveground storage tanks with a capacity of 5,000L or greater and all underground storage tanks are monitored and tested for leaks, in accordance with Part 6 of the CCME Code of Practice.

Technical Bulletin PSF-002 was written to clarify the information provided in Part 6 of the Code of Practice. Refer to the tables in the technical bulletin to determine the type(s) of in-service monitoring required for your storage tank system, and what periodic leak detection tests (if any) are required.

Inspection and performance testing of the tank system must also be conducted on an annual basis by a licensed petroleum technician. The inspection and/or performance testing must be conducted in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. Refer to Technical Bulletin PSF-005 to determine which storage tank system components require inspection and performance tests.

Operating permit holders must ensure that inventory control and inventory reconciliation are conducted in accordance with Section 8.3 of the CCME Code of Practice. For a copy of the inventory reconciliation self-calculating sheet, click here. This sheet is an approved form for inventory reconciliation, however use of this sheet is optional. It is the responsibility of the user to ensure the data and calculations are correct.

Failure to comply with all the requirements of a permit and/or the Regulation may result in the permit being suspended or cancelled, and may warrant additional enforcement under The Dangerous Goods Handling and Transportation Act.


Licensed Petroleum Technician Information
Petroleum Contractor Companies with Licensed Petroleum Technicians
Becoming Licensed as a Petroleum Technician

In Manitoba, only a petroleum technician with a valid licence may perform construction or alteration work on regulated storage tank systems. A licensed petroleum technician (LPT) may not perform work outside of their areas of specialization, as specified in their licence.

Requirements for petroleum technician licensing are set out in Part 10 of the Storage and Handling of Petroleum Products and Allied Products Regulation (the Regulation).

Application Documents:
New Applicants

New applicants are individuals who have not been previously licensed in Manitoba to work on petroleum storage tank systems. To obtain a licence, an individual must hold valid petroleum mechanic certification from a recognized institution, such as the CPCA or TSSA.

A new applicant must submit:

  • a completed Application for Petroleum Technician Licence,
  • a valid copy of their recognized certification or accreditation, and
  • a signed copy of the Knowledge of the Regulation Certificate

Petroleum technician licences expire two years from the date of issue. The licence holder is responsible for renewing their licence before the current one expires.

Renewing Applicants

To renew a petroleum technician licence, applicants must submit:

  • a completed Application for Petroleum Technician Licence,
  • a valid copy of their recognized certification or accreditation, and
  • a written summary of their relevant practical work experience from the previous two years
LPT Change of Employer
  • It is the responsibility of the licensed petroleum technician (LPT) to notify the Director when they have changed employers. The LPT can do so by completing an Application for Petroleum Technician Licence.

Submit the completed application and supporting documents to the Petroleum Storage Program at petstor@gov.mb.ca

Notice Regarding Cathodic Protection Testing Certification in Manitoba

On December 30, 2014, a letter from the Director was issued with the department’s decision on the certification requirements for cathodic protection testing. The letter can be found here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I find a Licensed Petroleum Technician?

  • The Petroleum Storage Program maintains lists of qualified petroleum contractor companies under the Licensed Petroleum Technician Information section.

I have an aboveground storage tank that holds LESS than 5,000 litres. Do I need a permit?

  • Aboveground storage tanks with a capacity between 230L and 5,000L are subject to partial application of the Regulation (M.R. 188/2001).
  • The most notable exemptions for tanks less than 5,000L are:
    • There is no requirement to have a licensed petroleum technician install, alter or remove these tanks
    • There is no requirement to have an operating permit for these tanks

I have an aboveground storage tank that holds more than 5,000 litres. Do I need an inspection and do I need a permit?

  • If the tank has a capacity of 5,000L or greater, a licensed petroleum technician (LPT) will be required to conduct the installation. The LPT must obtain the necessary permits and submit the work completion documents to the Petroleum Storage Program at the end of construction.
  • The storage tank owner must also submit an Application for Permit to Operate a Petroleum Storage Tank System and may receive a Permit to Operate a Petroleum Storage Tank System.

I have a vertical storage tank system. How do I find out if my specific type of tank requires an API inspection?

  • Refer to Technical Bulletin PSF-002, available under the Resources and Forms section, which outlines the monitoring and leak detection requirements for all types of tanks.
  • In the specific case of single walled vertical tanks with aboveground piping within approved secondary containment, periodic API inspections are required. The frequency of inspection will be determined by other factors (10 years is a common inspection interval). Contact a qualified API 653 inspector for more information. The list of API 653 inspectors currently licensed in Manitoba can be found under the Licensed Petroleum Technician Information section.

 

Contact

Contact Information

Petroleum Storage Program
Environmental Compliance and Enforcement Branch
Environment and Climate Change
Box 36, 14 Fultz Blvd
Winnipeg MB R3Y 0L6
Ph: 204-470-8315
Email: petstor@gov.mb.ca

Regional Environment Officers
Contact information can be found here.

To Report a Spill, Contact the 24-hour Environmental Emergency Reporting Line:
In Winnipeg: (204) 944-4888 or Toll-Free: 1-855-944-4888

Additional information on reporting environmental spills and accidents click here.