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  • SPCC compliance dates for farms

    What are the Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) compliance dates for farms? On November 22, 2011, EPA amended the date by which certain farms must prepare, or amend, and implement their SPCC Plans to May 10, 2013 to comply with SPCC rule amendments promulgated since July 2002 ( 76…

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  • Are generator sets considered oil-filled operational equipment?

    No. Generator sets (gen sets) are a combination of oil-filled operational equipment and a bulk storage container. Lubrication systems on gen sets may be oil-filled operational equipment, but bulk storage tanks providing fuel for the generator typically are not oil-filled operational equipment.

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  • SPCC change in ownership

    If there is a change in ownership at a facility, can the facility operate under the same SPCC Plan without the certification from a professional engineer (PE)? If no change in procedures has been made, it may still be feasible to operate under the existing SPCC Plan. The information in…

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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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  • SPCC Rule regulated oil types

    What types of oil does the Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) Rule address? The term oil means oil of any kind or in any form, including, but not limited to: petroleum; fuel oil; sludge; oil refuse; oil mixed with wastes other than dredged spoil; fats, oils or greases of…

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  • Liability of oil retailers at SPCC regulated farm

    If a farm is out of compliance of Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) regulations and is checked by EPA and/or has a spill, is the retailer that filled the tank liable? No, EPA considers the oil tank owner responsible for lack of compliance.

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  • Secondary containment calculations in SPCC Plan

    The SPCC regulations in 40 CFR §112.7(c) require facilities to provide appropriate containment or diversionary structures or equipment to prevent discharges as described in §112.1(b). Does a facility's SPCC Plan have to include calculations to demonstrate compliance with the §112.7(c) general secondary containment requirements? EPA does not require facilities to…

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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 are the specifications for bulk storage secondary containment systems?

    For purposes of the SPCC requirements, "secondary containment for bulk storage facilities must be constructed to at least provide for the capacity of the largest single tank with sufficient freeboard for precipitation. EPA believes that the proper standard of "sufficient freeboard" to contain precipitation is that amount necessary to contain…

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  • What is a Facility Response Plan?

    According to the Clean Water Act (CWA), as amended by the Oil Pollution Act (OPA), certain facilities that store and use oil are required to prepare and submit plans to respond to a worst case discharge of oil and to a substantial threat of such a discharge. EPA has established…

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  • What are the amended requirements for oil-filled operational equipment?

    Instead of providing secondary containment for qualified oil-filled operational equipment, an owner or operator may prepare an oil spill contingency plan and a written commitment of manpower, equipment, and materials to quickly control and remove discharged oil. He/she must also have an inspection or monitoring program for the equipment to…

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  • PE certification and applying PE's seal

    Except as provided in 40 CFR §112.6 for qualified facilities, a Professional Engineer (PE) must certify a facility’s SPCC Plan. In order to certify an SPCC plan, must a PE apply his seal to the plan, or is the PE’s signature on a certification statement sufficient for SPCC purposes? For…

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  • What types of oil does the SPCC Rule address?

    The term oil means oil of any kind or in any form, including, but not limited to: petroleum; fuel oil; sludge; oil refuse; oil mixed with wastes other than dredged spoil; fats, oils or greases of animal, fish, or marine mammal origin; vegetable oils, including oil from seeds, nuts, fruits…

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  • What are the requirements of EPA's Facility Response Plan Rule?

    According to OPA, an owner or operator of a “substantial harm” facility must develop and implement an FRP. A “substantial harm” facility is a facility that, because of its location, could reasonably be expected to cause substantial harm to the environment by discharging oil into or on navigable waters or…

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  • What is the purpose of a Facility Response Plan?

    The FRP helps an owner or operator develop a response organization and ensure the availability of response resources (i.e., response equipment, trained personnel) needed to respond to an oil discharge. The FRP should also demonstrate that the response resources are available in a timely manner, thereby reducing a discharge’s impact…

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