To minimize the potential for costly oil and gasoline discharges the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requires many facilities to post and implement a written Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasures Plan (SPCC). SPCC plans give the EPA assurance the facility has a process in place to prevent spills from above ground tanks and details countermeasures used to prevent spills. SPCC plans are not spill contingency plans which focus solely on the actions taken AFTER a spill has occurred. Failure to comply with these regulations can subject your facility to extensive fines from the EPA. SPCC requirements have changed many times through the last 10 years. Here we outline the new tiered requirements.
TIER I: SMALL – Plan Requirements: Owner or operator may complete and self-certify plan template
• A Facility Has 10,000 gallons or less aggregate above ground petroleum storage capacity.
• Any individual above ground petroleum storage container may be no greater than 5,000 gal.
• Within any 12 month period, 3 years prior to the Plan certification date, there has been:
• No single discharge of petroleum to navigable waters/shorelines exceeding 1,000 gal
• No two discharges of petroleum to navigable waters/shorelines each exceeding 42 gal
TIER II: MEDIUM – Plan Requirements: Owner or operator may prepare self-certified Plan in accordance with requirements of 40 CFR, §112.7, in lieu of a Professional Engineer certified plan or may also prepare an SPCC plan according to all other facilities’ requirements.
• Has 10,000 gallons or less aggregate above ground petroleum storage capacity.
• Has individual above ground petroleum storage container greater than 5,000 gallons.
• Must meet all other Tier I discharge conditions.
LARGER FACILITIES – Plan Requirements: Must prepare a Professional Engineer certified Plan in accordance with all the applicable requirements of §112.7.
• Has more than 10,000 gallons aggregate above ground petroleum storage capacity
• Must meet all other Tier I and Tier II discharge conditions.
