New York Codes, Rules and Regulations
Title 6 - DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION
Chapter V - RESOURCE MANAGEMENT SERVICES
Subchapter B - Mineral Resources
Part 556 - Operating Practices
Section 556.4 - Safety

(a) Oil shall not be produced, stored or retained in earthen reservoirs.

(b) The operation of any well, lease or unit shall be such as to keep and maintain all well locations and lease or unit installations free of rubbish, debris, dead grass, brush, weeds and other inflammable material. All waste oil shall be disposed of in a manner which will not create a fire hazard.

(c) When it is deemed necessary by the department for the protection of life, health, or property, the department may require any lease or other oil storage tanks to be surrounded by an earthen dike which shall have a capacity of one and one-half times the capacity of the tank or tanks it surrounds. This dike shall be continually maintained and the reservoir within shall be kept free from vegetation, water or oil.

(d) All persons controlling or operating any oil and gas wells or pipelines, or receiving tanks, storage tanks, or receiving and storage receptacles into which crude oil is produced, received or stored, or through which oil or gas production or products is piped or transported, shall immediately notify verbally or by telegram the regional headquarters administering to the county in which the disruption specified below has occurred giving current details, and by letter within five days after the event, giving full details concerning all fires including those occasioned by discharges of lightning which occur at such oil or gas wells or tanks or receptacles. A similar report also shall be required for any breaks or leaks in or from tanks or receptacles and pipelines from which oil or gas production or products is escaping or has escaped. In all such reports of fires, breaks, leaks or escapes, or other accidents of this nature, the location of the well, tank, receptacle or line break shall be given so that the location thereof can be readily located on the ground. Such report shall likewise specify what steps have been taken or are in progress to remedy the situation reported and shall detail the quantity of oil or gas lost, destroyed or permitted to escape. In case any tank or receptacle is permitted to run over, the escape thus occurring shall be reported as in the case of a leak. The report hereby required shall be necessary only in case such oil or gas loss creates a fire or pollution hazard or exceeds 100 barrels of oil in the aggregate, or three million cubic feet of gas in the aggregate.