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  2. Oil Spills Prevention and Preparedness Regulations

Overview of the Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) Regulation

  • Rule Summary
    Basic Information

    Legal Authority:
    Section 311(j)(1)(C) of the Clean Water Act as amended by the Oil Pollution Act of 1990

    Federal Register:
    Related Federal Register Notices

    Code of Federal Regulations:
    40 CFR 112

  • Rule History
  • Additional Information

Rule Summary

Originally published in 1973 under the authority of §311 of the Clean Water Act, the Oil Pollution Prevention regulation sets forth requirements for:

  • the prevention of,
  • preparedness for, and
  • response to oil discharges at specific non-transportation-related facilities.

The goal of this regulation is to prevent oil from reaching navigable waters and adjoining shorelines, and to contain discharges of oil. The regulation requires these facilities to develop and implement Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) Plans and establishes procedures, methods, and equipment requirements (Subparts A, B, and C).

  • Full Text of the regulation is available through the U.S. Government Printing Office

Rule History

In 1990, the Oil Pollution Act amended the Clean Water Act to require some oil storage facilities to prepare Facility Response Plans. On July 1, 1994, EPA finalized the revisions that direct facility owners or operators to prepare and submit plans for responding to a worst-case discharge of oil (Subpart D).

Following the Floreffe, Pennsylvania oil spill in 1988, EPA formed the SPCC Task Force to examine federal regulations governing oil spills from aboveground storage tanks. The SPCC Task Force recommended that EPA:

  • clarify certain provisions in the Oil Pollution Prevention Regulation,
  • establish additional technical requirements for regulated facilities, and
  • require the preparation of facility-specific response plans.

In response to the Task Force recommendation, EPA proposed revisions to the Oil Pollution Prevention Regulation in the 1990s and finalized the amendments in 2002. EPA has since amended the SPCC requirements of the Oil Pollution Prevention Regulation to extend compliance dates and clarify and/or tailor specific regulatory requirements.

Amendments

  • Compliance Dates
  • Mobile Refuelers

Additional Information

  • Related Federal Register Notices
  • Related Rules: Discharge of Oil Regulation Overview
  • SPCC Applicability
  • A Facility Owner/Operator's Guide to Oil Pollution Prevention
  • Navigable Waters Protection Rule Overview

Oil Spills Prevention and Preparedness Regulations

  • About SPCC
    • SPCC Applicability
    • Qualified Facility Determination
    • SPCC for Agriculture
    • SPCC for the Upstream Sector
  • About FRP
    • FRP Applicability
    • Key Elements for an FRP
    • 2016 National Preparedness for Response Exercise Program Guidelines
    • Training Reference for Oil Spill Response
  • Guidance and References
  • Training Resources
  • Frequent Questions
Contact Us about Oil Spill Prevention and Preparedness Regulations
Contact Us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.
Last updated on February 18, 2025
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