Overview of Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) Regulations

The Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) regulations were implemented by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in order to establish requirements for spill prevention and a plan for cleanup if necessary. The SPCC establishes requirements for oil spill prevention, preparedness, and response in an effort to prevent oil discharges into navigable waters and adjoining shorelines.

Under the Clean Water Act, approximately 650,000 facilities are required to comply with SPCC regulations found at 40 CFR 112. These are non-transportation-related facilities with a total aboveground oil storage capacity of greater than 1,320 gallons (gal) or buried oil storage capacity greater than 42,000 gal. Because of their locations, many of these facilities are potential risks for discharging oil into navigable waters of the United States or adjoining shorelines.

According to an EPA estimate in the Revision of Information Collection Request (ICR) for the Oil Pollution Prevention Regulation for Certain Facilities to Prepare and Maintain an Oil Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) Plan (Final Rule) (EPA No. 0328.15, OMB No. 2050-0021), the SPCC-regulated community is mostly made up of oil production facilities (34%), farms (23%), and electric utilities (10%). The other one-third of regulated facilities is made up of about 25 different industries, including chemical and metal manufacturers, mining, and transportation equipment and maintenance facilities.

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Articles about Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) Regulations

How Facilities Can Better Ensure SPCC Compliance

May/June 2014 Inspectioneering Journal

By Kelly Lagana at BLR

Several catastrophic spills over the past few years have sparked significant interest in oil spill prevention across the industry. Not only do facilities with large amounts of oil want to prevent environmental damage, loss of product, and civil...

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SPCC Compliance Dates

July/August 2011 Inspectioneering Journal

On October 7, 2010, EPA maintained the November 10, 2010 compliance date for drilling, production or workover facilities that are offshore or that have an offshore component, and for onshore facilities required to have and submit Facility...

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The New SPCC Rule Incorporates Industry Standards and Best Practices

November/December 2002 Inspectioneering Journal

By Philip Myers at Chevron Texaco

The purpose of the new SPCC rule is two-fold; i.e. to prevent oil spills from occurring and to respond to them if they do occur. We believe that few will argue that prevention is far better and less costly than response in general. The focus of this...

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News related to Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) Regulations

EPA Cites WA Tank Operator for Spill Prevention and Control Violations

News

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, February 7, 2017

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has settled with Wilson Oil, Inc., (doing business as Wilcox & Flegel Oil Co.) for alleged Clean Water Act spill prevention violations at its Longview Terminal facility in Longview, Washington.

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