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Operating agreements with petroleum companies

Following high profile groundwater pollution incidents arising from petrol filling stations between 1998 and 2000 TOTAL featured in "Spotlight" in two consecutive years. In October 2002 the Environment Agency and TOTAL signed a voluntary operating agreement in which TOTAL committed to go above and beyond its legal environmental obligations in the operation of its service stations and associated transportation.

Under the agreement TOTAL has undertaken environmental risk ranking of its service stations in relation to underground fuel storage in order to prioritise capital investment in pollution prevention measures. To date this includes remote monitoring of wetstock (fuel products) to detect leaks quickly and upgrading underground storage tanks to a double-skinned design in groundwater Source Protection Zone 1, the most vulnerable areas around public drinking water abstractions.

Training is also an important part of the agreement. TOTAL Retail staff have received environmental awareness training, whilst staff involved in the sale and delivery of fuels to commercial customers have also received training on best practice for safe deliveries, including the requirements of the Oil Storage Regulations.

The Environment Agency contributed to the development of TOTAL’s Safe Deliveries programme last year, which involved the introduction of new, higher standards for delivery points based on environmental and safety risks. The campaign was favourably received by customers and the industry and has led to an UK industry working group to agree a common approach across the industry.

The Environment Agency and TOTAL continue to develop the agreement and seek to expand its coverage to other areas of TOTAL’s business. This is the first such agreement the Environment Agency has made with a multi-national oil company and we are in discussion with other oil majors to negotiate similar agreements.