Basic requirements for the surrounding environment when installing a mobile fuel station

Since their introduction, mobile fuel station have been incredibly popular. They not only solve the daily challenge of refueling within a kilometer, but also provide significant convenience for businesses using fuel. However, while mobile fuel stations offer numerous benefits, their installation is not easy. They impose stringent environmental requirements, designed to minimize environmental risks to soil, groundwater, air, and surrounding communities. Today, we will explain the basic environmental requirements for mobile fuel station installation.

I. Major Negative Environmental Impacts

1. Soil and Groundwater Contamination (The Most Serious and Difficult-to-Remediate Impact)

• Risk Sources:
  • Leaks from oil storage tanks or pipelines: This poses the greatest environmental threat. Single-layer tanks or corroded, aging pipelines can cause persistent oil leakage, contaminating soil and groundwater within a radius of hundreds of meters.
  • Oil unloading errors: If oil spills during unloading are not accompanied by a containment dike and collection system, they can quickly seep into the soil.
• Consequences: Contamination of soil structure, killing of soil microorganisms, and damage to the ecosystem. Pollutants (such as benzene, toluene, and xylene) seep into groundwater and contaminate drinking water sources. These substances are carcinogenic, making remediation extremely costly and sometimes irreversible.

2. Air Pollution (VOC Emissions)

• Risk Sources:
  • "Small Breathing" Losses: Diurnal temperature fluctuations cause oil vapor in the tank to expand and contract, leading to its release.
  • "Large Breathing" Losses: Fluctuations in the oil level during unloading and refueling cause oil vapor to be squeezed out.
• Consequences: Emitted oil vapor (primarily composed of volatile organic compounds (VOCs)) is a significant precursor to ozone (O₃) and PM2.5. Some components (such as benzene) pose a direct threat to human health.

3. Surface Water Pollution

• Risk Sources:
  • Heavy Rainfall: Scattered oil stains on the ground or oil-contaminated firefighting water may flow into surrounding rivers or lakes with rainwater.
  • Accidental Leakage: In the event of a fire, explosion, or collision, large amounts of oil and firefighting wastewater, if not effectively contained, could enter urban sewers or natural water bodies.
• Consequences: An oil film covers the water surface, isolating the water from oxygen exchange, leading to the death of aquatic life and severely damaging the aquatic ecosystem.

4. Fire and Explosion Risks (Secondary Environmental Hazards)

• Risk Source: Leaked oil and gas mix with air to form explosive gases, which can cause fires or explosions when exposed to open flames, static electricity, or high temperatures.
• Consequences: The fire itself produces large amounts of toxic and harmful gases and particulate matter, polluting the atmosphere. Firefighting wastewater generated during firefighting is rich in oil and chemical fire extinguishing agents and, if improperly handled, can cause serious secondary pollution.

5. Noise and Ecological Disruption

• Risk Source: Noise generated by vehicles entering and exiting, fuel dispensers operating, and unloading pumps.
• Consequences: Disruption to wildlife and residents in the surrounding area.

II. Legal and Regulatory Requirements and Site Selection Access Requirements (Primary Prerequisite)

This is the most basic and crucial requirement. Failure to meet any of the following requirements will result in failure to obtain approval.

• 1. Compliance with Urban and Rural Planning and Land Use: The site selection must comply with the local urban and rural master plan and land use plan. The site must generally be industrial or commercial. Construction near ecological protection areas, water sources, residential areas, schools, hospitals, and other environmentally sensitive areas is strictly prohibited.
• 2. Safety Distance Requirements: Safety fire distances from surrounding buildings, structures, and traffic roads as specified in national standards (such as the "Technical Standard for Automobile Gasoline, Gas, and Hydrogen Stations" GB50156 and the "Technical Specification for Skid-Mounted Fueling Equipment" AQ/T 3010) must be strictly adhered to. This is to prevent fire and explosion accidents from affecting the surrounding area and also to protect the environment.
• 3. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Approval: An environmental impact assessment (EIA) must be conducted for the construction project and submitted to the competent ecological and environmental authorities for approval. The EIA document will provide a detailed analysis of the project's potential impacts on the surrounding environment (such as oil and gas volatilization, potential leaks, and risk accidents), and propose appropriate preventive measures. Construction is prohibited if the EIA fails.

III. Site and Geological Environment Requirements

• 1. Geological Stability: The site must have stable geological structures and avoid areas prone to geological hazards such as landslides, collapses, and mudslides. The foundation must be solid and uniform, capable of supporting the weight and operating loads of the skid-mounted equipment.
• 2. Topography and Drainage:
  • The site should be flat or slightly sloping for easy drainage.
  • A comprehensive sewage diversion system must be established. This means that rainwater and potentially contaminated wastewater (such as flushing water and firefighting wastewater) must be completely separated.
  • A cofferdam or drainage ditch should be installed around the site to ensure that leaked oil and firefighting wastewater in the event of an accident are effectively captured and diverted to an emergency pool. Direct discharge into the external environment or the municipal sewer system is strictly prohibited.
• 3. Subsurface Environmental Sensitivity: Local hydrogeological conditions must be surveyed to understand the groundwater level depth, flow direction, and the presence of nearby drinking water wells. More stringent requirements are imposed in areas with high groundwater and soil contamination risks.

IV. Environmental Protection Facility Hardware Requirements (Core Measures)

mobile fuel stations must be equipped with the following environmental protection facilities. This is a mandatory requirement:

1. Double-layer tank/double-layer pipeline system:

• Oil storage tanks and all oil pipelines must utilize a double-layer structure. Leak detectors are installed between the layers. If a leak occurs in the inner layer, the monitoring system will immediately trigger an alarm, ensuring that oil does not leak directly into the soil and groundwater. This is the most critical technology for preventing underground contamination.

2. Leakage Detection System:

• A 24-hour online leakage monitoring system must be installed to monitor the integrity of tanks and pipelines, as well as groundwater quality, in real time to ensure that leaks are detected immediately.

3. Oil and Gas Recovery System:

• Oil and gas vapor recovery systems (secondary and tertiary recovery) must be installed for both unloading and refueling. This system recycles volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted during refueling and unloading back into the tanks, significantly reducing air pollution from VOCs, eliminating safety hazards, and conserving resources.

4. Overflow Prevention Measures:

• The oil unloading port is equipped with an overflow prevention valve that automatically closes when the tank is nearly full to prevent oil from overflowing from the tank opening due to operator errors during unloading.

5. Accident and Emergency Pool:

• An emergency pool of sufficient capacity must be provided to collect firefighting wastewater and leaks generated in the event of an accident (such as a fire or leak) to prevent the spread of contamination.

V. Operational and Management Requirements

• 1. Strict Operating Procedures: Establish strict procedures for unloading, refueling, metering, and inspection to prevent leaks.
• 2. Emergency Preparedness: Develop a detailed and effective emergency plan for environmental emergencies and equip the tank with appropriate emergency supplies (such as oil absorbent mats, fire extinguishers, sand, and leak-proofing tools). Regularly organize emergency drills for employees.
• 3. Routine Monitoring and Maintenance: Regularly inspect, maintain, and calibrate environmental protection equipment (such as oil vapor recovery devices and leak detectors) to ensure they are in good working order.
• 4. Waste Management: Hazardous waste generated (such as oily rags, gloves, and tank cleaning sludge) must be disposed of by a qualified organization, and records must be maintained.

Summary

The environmental requirements for installing a mobile fuel station are comprehensive and mandatory. The core principle is "prevention first, prevention combined with control."

• Site selection is fundamental: avoid environmentally sensitive areas.
• Hardware is key: double-wall tanks, oil and gas recovery, and leak monitoring are three key environmental technologies.
• Management is crucial: even the best equipment requires strict management and operation to maintain its effectiveness.

If you have specific installation plans, the first step is to consult with the local government's commerce department (to obtain a refined oil retail license), emergency management department (fire safety review), ecological environment department (environmental impact assessment approval), and natural resources department (planning and land) to obtain the most accurate and up-to-date local regulations and requirements.

Written by

TAIAN SHENGDING METAL CONTAINER MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.

Editor Wang

WhatsApp:+86 152 5486 3111

Email:shengdingtank@126.com