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  • To whom do I report an oil discharge?

    A facility should report discharges to the National Response Center (NRC) at 1-800-424-8802 or 1-202-267-2675 . The NRC is the federal government's centralized reporting center, which is staffed 24 hours per day by U.S. Coast Guard personnel. If reporting directly to NRC is not practicable, reports also can be made…

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  • Determining frequency of coordination activities

    The Risk Management Program regulations require owners and operators of stationary sources to coordinate their response needs annually, or more frequently if necessary, with local emergency planning and response organizations (40 CFR §68.93(a)). Are stationary sources responsible for determining if coordination activities should occur more often than annually? Ultimate responsibility…

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  • When must I report an oil discharge to NRC?

    Any person in charge of a vessel or an onshore or offshore facility must notify the National Response Center (NRC) immediately after he or she has knowledge of the discharge.

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  • Who Must Develop an Emergency Response Program?

    The risk management program regulations require the owner or operator of a covered stationary source to develop and implement an emergency response program as described in 40 CFR §68.95, which must include an emergency response plan, emergency response equipment procedures, employee training, and procedures to ensure the program is up-to-date…

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  • What happens after a facility submits the information about an oil discharge to EPA?

    The EPA Regional Administrator will review the information submitted by the facility and may require a facility to submit and amend its SPCC Plan. Facilities and equipment that qualified for the new streamlined requirements may lose eligibility for those options as determined by the Regional Administrator. A state agency may…

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  • Who is subject to the Discharge of Oil regulation?

    Any person in charge of a vessel or of an onshore or offshore facility is subject to the reporting requirements of the Discharge of Oil regulation if it discharges a harmful quantity of oil to U.S. navigable waters, adjoining shorelines, or the contiguous zone, or in connection with activities under…

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  • My firm drills a series of 1/2-inch diameter holes in sheet rock to dry it out where rooms have been flooded. Is drilling these holes a prohibited practice?

    No. The requirement for HEPA exhaust control does not apply to the use of all power tools. Specifically, HEPA exhaust control is not required when using a power drill to drill holes in sheetrock. When using a power drill with a drill bit to cut through sheetrock, the speed associated…

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  • Reporting requirements for oil discharges

    What are the reporting requirements for discharges of oil? If a discharge of oil reaches waters of the United States, it is reportable to the National Response Center under 40 CFR Part 110 , which was established under the authority of the Clean Water Act. Discharges of oil must be…

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  • What do I need to submit to EPA if I have an oil discharge?

    The owner/operator must provide the following: Name and location of the facility Owner/operator name Maximum storage/handling capacity of the facility and normal daily throughput Corrective actions and countermeasures taken, including descriptions of equipment repairs and replacements Adequate description of the facility, including maps, flow diagrams, and topographical maps, as necessary…

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  • What information do I need to report for an oil discharge?

    The National Response Center (NRC) will ask a caller to provide as much information about the incident as possible including: • Name, organization, and telephone number • Name and address of the party responsible for the incident • Date and time of the incident • Location of the incident •…

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  • Remote coordination with local authorities

    The Risk Management Program regulations require owners and operators of stationary sources to coordinate their response needs annually, or more frequently if necessary, with local emergency planning and response organizations (40 CFR §68.93(a)). If a stationary source is in a remote location and in-person annual coordination is deemed impractical, can…

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  • Emergency Response Coordination Activities Effective Date

    The RMP Amendments finalized on January 13, 2017 included a requirement for owners or operators of a stationary source to engage in emergency response coordination activities (40 CFR §68.93). The regulatory text in 40 CFR §68.10(b) states that compliance with these activities must be completed by March 14, 2018. Because…

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  • How do RRP requirements apply to pressure washing? What containment and other preparation are required?

    Pressure washing is not a prohibited practice under the Lead Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) Rule . Pressure washing is subject to the same containment requirements as other permissible work practices. Before beginning the renovation, the firm must isolate the work area so that no dust or debris (including in…

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  • Are exercises required as a part of the emergency response program requirements under 40 CFR Part 68, Subpart E?

    Yes. At least once each calendar year, the owner or operator of a stationary source with any Program 2 or Program 3 process must conduct an exercise of the stationary source's emergency response notification mechanisms per 40 CFR 68.90(b)(3) or 68.95(a)(1)(i), as appropriate, before December 19, 2024, and annually thereafter…

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  • What are the oil discharge reporting requirements in the SPCC Rule?

    Any facility owner/operator who is subject to the SPCC Rule must comply with the reporting requirements found in §112.4. A discharge must be reported to the EPA Regional Administrator (RA) when there is a discharge of: More than 1,000 U.S. gallons of oil in a single discharge to navigable waters…

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