Used oil - Florida

A wide variety of businesses handle used oil, from service stations to vehicle rental companies to manufacturing facilities. Federal EPA’s used oil management standards are a set of “good housekeeping” requirements for used oil handlers. State regulations governing the management of used oil may be more stringent than federal EPA’s.

Florida’s state requirements regarding used oil management include some regulatory information beyond the federal requirements. A summary of the additional requirements includes the following:

• All tanks and containers, whether inside or outside, regardless of size, must be closed or covered, and must be either double-walled or stored on an oil impermeable surface with engineered surface containment.
  • The Florida Department of Environmental Protection assumes that portable collection containers and other small containers (55 gallons or less) which are stored on an oil impermeable surface inside a structure will meet the secondary containment requirement.
  • For larger containers, the facility may demonstrate the building structure meets secondary containment requirements. This can include:
    • Appropriate documentation (such as an analysis by an engineer with experience in containment structures) that is maintained at the facility to demonstrate the structure’s secondary containment is sufficient to contain spills and leaks from containers and prevent migration of used oil to the soil, groundwater or surface water.
    • The container(s) is in good condition, and is not stored near a doorway leading outside or on a surface that slopes toward an outside doorway or drain that leads to the environment; the floor surface is in good condition and is oil impermeable, the walls connect to the floor, and there is sufficient volume to collect the used oil if it spills.
• Used oil transporters must show evidence of familiarity with Florida and federal laws and rules governing used oil transportation and to have an annual and new employees training program in place covering the applicable rules. A record of training must be maintained in the company’s operating and personnel files.
• Used oil transporters must submit an annual certification with the annual registration stating that the used oil transporter is familiar with applicable Florida and federal laws and rules governing used oil transportation, has an annual and new employees training program in place covering the applicable rules that is still operating and is being adhered to, and is annually reviewed and updated to address changes in regulations which apply to the operation, and which provides an explanation of any modifications to the training program.
• For closure, a professional engineer registered in the state must sign and seal the certification of closure completion. The certification must also be signed by the owner or operator of the facility.