Learn the Issues
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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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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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Facility classification as "substantial harm facility"
How do I know if my facility may be classified as a substantial harm facility? The flowchart of criteria for substantial harm (see Attachment C-1, Appendix C to 40 CFR Part 112) shows the questions you must answer to determine if your facility can be classified as a substantial harm…
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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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SPCC requirements for transfer areas associated with exempt USTs
Gas stations typically are not subject to the SPCC Rule because completely buried storage tanks subject to 40 CFR Part 280 or 281 are exempt per §112.1(d)(4). However, a gas station would be subject to the SPCC Rule if it has more than 1,320 gallons of oil in aggregate above…
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Availability of electronic SPCC Plan template
Part 112, Appendix G to prepare an SPCC Plan. Is the Tier I qualified facility SPCC Plan template available in an electronic version? EPA has made available electronic versions of the Tier I qualified facility Plan template to help the owner or operator of a Tier I qualified facility develop…
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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 to…
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Navigating Salt Marsh Restoration in Massachusetts: Challenges, Strategies, and Opportunities
Learn more about the 2023 SNEP Workshop: Navigating Salt Marsh Restoration in Massachusetts: Challenges, Strategies, and Opportunities.
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What is a complex?
Some facilities must meet the requirements of two or more federal agencies, because they engage in activities that fall under the jurisdiction of those agencies. These agencies include the U.S. Coast Guard, the Department of Transportation's (DOT) Office of Pipeline Safety, and EPA. A 1971 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between…
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What is a harmful quantity of discharged oil?
A harmful quantity is any quantity of discharged oil that violates state water quality standards, causes a film or sheen on the water's surface, or leaves sludge or emulsion beneath the surface. For this reason, the Discharge of Oil regulation is commonly known as the "sheen" rule. Note that a…
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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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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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Examples of an agent of a Professional Engineer
Except as provided in 40 CFR §112.6 for qualified facilities, a Professional Engineer (PE) or an agent of the PE must visit and examine the facility before the PE certifies an SPCC Plan (40 CFR §112.3(d)). What are some examples of an agent of a PE? An agent of a…
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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 is a field-constructed container?
What are the types of containers or equipment containing oil reservoirs that would be considered field-constructed containers and thus subject to the brittle fracture evaluation of 40 CFR §112.7(i)? As found in the Preamble language provided on page 47112 of the July 17, 2002 SPCC final rule, EPA provides a…
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How often does a facility need to complete an oil spill response training under the FRP requirements?
Facilities subject to the Facility Response Plan (FRP) regulations in 40 CFR Part 112, Subpart D are required to develop a facility response training program to train those personnel involved in oil spill response activities (§112.21(b)). How often does a facility need to complete an oil spill response training under…
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Eligibility for qualified oil-filled operational equipment in event of a discharge
Does a facility automatically lose eligibility for the option for qualified oil-filled operational equipment if the equipment has an oil discharge? No. Facilities that choose this alternative and later have a reportable oil discharge from qualified oil-filled operational equipment do not automatically lose eligibility. However, the spill reporting requirements would…
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FRP certification for SPCC facilities
Does a facility need to fill out Attachment C-II in 40 CFR Part 112, Appendix C if the facility is only subject to the SPCC regulations and is not subject to the Facility Response Plan (FRP) requirements? If the owner or operator of a facility determines that the facility is…
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2020 Federal Green Challenge Awards
We are pleased to recognize the following participants in the FGC for their significant efforts in improving the sustainability of their facilities and for their leadership in reducing the environmental footprint of federal government activities.
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2020 Federal Green Challenge Award Winners in the Northeast Region
Recognition is an important part of the Federal Green Challenge (FGC). Awards were given in the categories of Electronics, Energy, Waste and Water in the Northeast region.