Proposed Revisions to the Spill Prevention,
Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) Rule
EPA Finalizes and Signs Amendment to the SPCC Rule
On February 10, 2006, EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson signed a final rule amending the Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) Rule. This action extends the SPCC compliance dates for all facilities until October 31, 2007.
On February 17, 2006 the final rule was published in the Federal Register at page 8462. Click here to view the rule.
If you have questions about this final action please call the Superfund, TRI, EPCRA, RMP and Oil Information hotline at 1-800-424-9346. If the hotline is unable to answer your specific questions, your question will be forwarded to an EPA staff member for a response.
On Monday, December 12, 2005, EPA proposed two separate amendments to the Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) Rule in the Federal Register. The first streamlines the regulatory requirements for qualified facilities and equipment regulated under 40 CFR part 112 ( FR EPA-HQ-OPA-2005-0001). The second extends the SPCC compliance dates for all facilities ( FR EPA-HQ-OPA-2005-0003). In proposing these changes, EPA is streamlining the SPCC regulatory requirements, while maintaining protection of human health and the environment.
See the proposed rule at http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-WATER/2005/December/Day-12/w23917.htm
EPA is proposing to extend the compliance dates in §112.3 for both Plan amendment and implementation to October 31, 2007, for all regulated facilities.
How is EPA proposing to revise the provisions of the SPCC Rule?
This proposed rule provides two streamlining options under the SPCC regulation for qualifying facilities/equipment and two exemptions from SPCC regulation. The proposal provides:
- An option that would allow owners/operators of facilities that store 10,000 gallons or less of oil and meet other qualifying criteria, to self-certify their SPCC Plan, in lieu of review and certification by a Professional Engineer;
- An alternative to the secondary containment requirement, without requiring a determination of impracticability, for facilities that have certain types of oil-filled equipment;
- A definition and an exemption for motive power containers; and
- An exemption for airport mobile refuelers from the specifically sized secondary containment requirements for bulk storage containers.
In addition, the Agency is also proposing to:
- Remove and reserve certain SPCC requirements for animal fats and vegetable oils; and
- Provide a separate extension of the compliance dates for farms.
New EPA Inspectors Guidance
On November 28, 2005 the EPA published a SPCC Guidance for Regional Inspectors . The 200 page document is intended to assure consistent inspection results among the EPA Regions. To review the document go to http://www.epa.gov/oilspill/guidance.htm.
| 
