Compliance Alert
Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure Regulations
The Rule
On April 1, 2009, EPA published a final rule to further
delay the effective date of the December 5, 2008, amendments
to the SPCC Regulations. The amendments will now become
effective on January 14, 2010.
However, it is important to note that this rule does not
change the compliance dates by which owners or operators
of facilities must prepare or amend their SPCC Plans and
implement those Plans in accordance with the 2002 SPCC Rule.
The current compliance date for the SPCC rule is July 1,
2009, for all facilities other than farms. Farms must prepare
or amend and implement a SPCC Plan when EPA establishes
by rule a compliance date for farms.
The amendments did not remove any regulatory requirement
for owners or operators of facilities in operation before
August 16, 2002, to develop, implement, and maintain an
SPCC Plan in accordance with the SPCC Regulations then in
effect. Such facilities are still required to maintain their
plans during the interim until the applicable date for revising
and implementing their plans under the new amendments. Additional
information about the 2008 amendments to the SPCC Rule is
available at www.epa.gov/emergencies/content/spcc.
Affected Facilities
The SPCC regulations apply to non-transportation-related
facilities with an aboveground oil storage capacity greater
than 1,320 gallons or USTs with an oil storage capacity
greater than 42,000 gal.
These EPA-mandated SPCC Plans ensure that facilities put
containment and other countermeasures in place that would
prevent oil spills that could reach navigable waters. Under
the EPA's Oil Pollution Prevention regulation, facilities
must detail and implement spill prevention and control measures
in their SPCC Plans. A spill contingency plan is also required
if a facility is unable to provide secondary containment
(for example, berms surrounding the storage tank).
Compliance Dates
| A facility (other than a farm) starting operation...
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Must... |
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| On or before August 16, 2002 |
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Maintain its existing Plan |
Amend and implement the Plan no later than July 1,
2009
After August 16, 2002 through July 1, 2009 |
|
Prepare and implement a Plan no later than July 1,
2009 |
| After July 1, 2009 |
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Prepare and implement a Plan before beginning operations |
SPCC Plan Preparation
At Coastal Ecology Group, we understand what it takes to
actually implement plans and comply with EPA mandated programs,
and that sustained compliance starts with practical plans.
Our staff is experienced compiling facility and project
data, generating complete plan applications, and if necessary,
preparing any additional required contingency plans.
Don’t let the new compliance regulations catch you
off-guard. Call us today to for a free, no obligation quote
to get your facility in compliance with the new SPCC Plan
requirements.
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