Learn the Issues
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Reviewing and updating a Facility Response Plan
What do I need to do to maintain my facility's Facility Response Plan? Your FRP must comply with 40 CFR Part 112 and any amendments. You must review relevant portions of the National Contingency Plan and applicable ACP annually and, if necessary, revise the FRP to ensure consistency with these…
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Criteria for significant and substantial harm facility designation
How do I know if my facility is a significant and substantial harm facility? Your facility may be a significant and substantial harm facility if it meets the over water transfer criterion, has a total oil storage capacity of one million gallons or more, and meets one or more of…
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When is a mobile refueler subject to SPCC requirements?
According to a 1971 Memorandum of Understanding between the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA regulates non-transportation-related facilities and DOT regulates transportation-related facilities: • Mobile refuelers that operate solely within the confines of a non-transportation-related facility subject to the SPCC rule must comply with the general…
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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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Oil-filled equipment capacity less than 55 gallons
Do the revised SPCC requirements apply to electrical substations that have transformers larger than 55 gallons and a total storage of 1,320 gallons? An owner/operator must prepare an SPCC Plan if the facility, due to its location could reasonable be expected to discharge oil into or upon a navigable water…
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How might determining impracticability under §112.7(d) affect a facility's FRP requirements under Part 112 Subpart D?
Pursuant to 40 CFR §112.7(d), if a facility owner or operator finds that secondary containment methods are not practicable, the SPCC Rule allows for alternative modes of protection to prevent and contain oil discharges if additional requirements are met. How might determining impracticability under §112.7(d) affect a facility’s FRP requirements…
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What is an oil spill contingency plan?
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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Visit and examination requirements for SPCC self-certification
Pursuant to 40 CFR §112.6, the owner or operator of a facility that meets the criteria in §112.3(g) for either a Tier I or Tier II qualified facility may self-certify the facility's SPCC Plan. As part of the self-certification, the owner or operator must certify that he or she has…
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What happens after a facility submits the information about an oil discharge to EPA?
The EPA Regional Administrator will review the information submitted by the facility and may require a facility to submit and amend its SPCC Plan. Facilities and equipment that qualified for the new streamlined requirements may lose eligibility for those options as determined by the Regional Administrator. A state agency may…
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Leasing out empty oil storage containers.
A facility leases out empty stationary tanks to other facilities that use the tanks to store oil (e.g., gasoline). The stationary tanks are empty while at the initial facility and eventually leased to other customers to be reused for oil storage. Is the facility that leases out the empty tanks…
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Do service tanks on service trucks or pickups count in the calculation of the total storage on the farm?
Yes, you should include fuel tanks mounted on trailers, fuel trucks used exclusively on the farm and tanks in pickups toward the overall threshold of 1,320 gallons. Also, count 55-gallon drums, but don’t count any container smaller than that.
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Ground water pathways related to reasonably expected to discharge
The SPCC Rule applies to facilities that could reasonably be expected to discharge into navigable waters (40 CFR §112.2(a)). Does a facility need to consider ground water pathways when determining if a discharge of oil could reasonably be expected to reach navigable waters? Owners and operators should consider whether on-site…
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How did EPA amend the requirements for animal fats and vegetable oils in 2006?
In December 2006, EPA removed the following SPCC requirements for the following specific types of animal fat and vegetable oil facilities: Requirements for onshore oil production facilities (Section 112.13) Requirements for onshore oil drilling and workover facilities (Section 112.14) Requirements for offshore oil drilling, production, or workover facilities (Section 112.15)…
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Richmond Benefits from EPA ‘Greening America’s Capitals’
EPA’s Greening America’s Capitals Program is helping to restore a key Richmond corridor and reduce pollution to the James River.
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Anaerobic digestion on swine farms
Provides information about AgSTAR collaboration with the Global Methane Initiative (GMI) to promote methane recovery (biogas) technologies around the world.
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Anaerobic digestion on dairy farms
Provides information about AgSTAR collaboration with the Global Methane Initiative (GMI) to promote methane recovery (biogas) technologies around the world.
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City of Loganville, GA
The EPA is providing notice of a proposed Administrative Penalty Assessment in the form of an Expedited Settlement Agreement (“ESA”) against the city of Loganville, Georgia, for alleged violations associated with the management of sewage sludge in or aroun
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City of Loganville, GA - Clean Water Act Public Notice
The EPA is providing notice of a proposed Administrative Penalty Assessment in the form of an Expedited Settlement Agreement (“ESA”) against the city of Loganville, Georgia, for alleged violations associated with the management of sewage sludge in or aroun
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Allied Services, LLC
The EPA is providing notice of a proposed Administrative Penalty Assessment in the form of an Expedited Settlement Agreement (“ESA”) against Allied Services, LLC for alleged violations at the Independence, Missouri facility.
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Report of the Chief FOIA Officer to the U.S. Department of Justice, 2021
FOIA CHief Officers Report 2021