Spill Prevention and Control Countermeasures (SPCC) are required if your facility needs to prevent the discharge of oil into navigable waters. If you have oil containers larger than a 55-gallon drum, you may be subject to these regulations. Discharge includes spilling, dumping, or leaking. You need a plan for spill prevention, containment, spill response, and it needs to be certified by a registered professional engineer (PE) and re-certified if technical changes are made.
In July 2002, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) published new regulations relating to facilities that store oil under the Oil Protection Act. These regulations were the first update to the original regulations published in the 1970’s. The new regulations completely revised the requirements for the development and certification of Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure Plans (SPCC Plans).
To assist and inform our clients, Bodine has prepared a summary of the major items or issues associated with the current and proposed regulations:
An SPCC Plan is required if the facility has a threshold oil storage capacity of:
- Above ground storage capacity of 1,320-gallons of oil at or within the facility; or,
- Underground storage capacity of 42,000-gallons of oil at or within the facility;
SPCC Plan Certification
- Plans must be certified by a Licensed Professional Engineer; or,
- Plan Self-certification is acceptable if the oil storage capacity is 10,000-gallons or less.
Additional clarifications or modifications of the previous regulations:
- Oil-filled operational equipment;
- Mobile refuelers;
Motive power containers are exempt from SPCC rule;
- Eliminates certain requirements for animal fats and vegetable oils;
- “Qualified Facilities” receive streamlined or reduced compliance requirements;
- Alternative requirements for integrity testing and security; and,
- Revisions to inspection and testing requirements.
General Facility Compliance Dates
- Initial operation prior to 8/16/02 – Maintain existing plan. Amend and implement Plan by 7/1/09
- Initial operation between 8/1602 and 10/31/07 – Prepare and implement Plan by 7/1/09
- Initial operation after 7/1/09 – Prepare and implement plan before beginning operations
Farm Facility Compliance Dates
- Initial operation prior to 8/16/02 – Maintain existing plan. Amend and implement Plan in accordance with USEPA regulations yet to be published.
- Initial operation after 8/16/02 – Prepare and implement Plan in accordance with USEPA regulations yet to be published.