The Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) rule is a federal regulation enforced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) governing how certain facilities manage and store oil to prevent spills. The primary purpose of the SPCC rule is to prevent oil from discharging into navigable waters of the United States or their adjoining shorelines, safeguarding public health and the environment. This regulation (40 CFR Part 112) establishes requirements for developing, implementing, and maintaining a plan that outlines the procedures, equipment, and countermeasures a facility will use to prevent and respond to a potential oil discharge.
Defining the Regulated Substances
The definition of “oil” under the SPCC rule is much broader than just crude or refined petroleum products. The regulation encompasses oil of any kind or in any form, including petroleum, fuel oil, sludge, and oil refuse. This broad definition also includes oils mixed with wastes, provided the mixture is not considered dredged spoil.
The rule specifically regulates non-petroleum oils, such as fats, oils, and greases of animal, fish, or marine mammal origin. Vegetable oils derived from seeds, nuts, fruits, or kernels (like corn, soybean, and coconut oils) are also covered. Synthetic oils and mineral oils are explicitly included, meaning a wide range of industrial lubricants, hydraulic fluids, and heat transfer oils fall under the regulation.
Facility Applicability and Thresholds
The SPCC rule applies only to non-transportation-related facilities that store oil and have a reasonable expectation that a spill could reach navigable waters or their shorelines. This “reasonable expectation” is interpreted broadly and includes pathways like storm sewers, ditches, and other drainage systems. The rule applies to facilities that drill, produce, gather, store, process, refine, transfer, distribute, use, or consume oil.
A facility must prepare and implement an SPCC plan if its total aggregate oil storage capacity exceeds specific thresholds. For aboveground storage, the threshold is 1,320 U.S. gallons or more, counting only containers with a shell capacity of 55 gallons or greater. A separate threshold applies to completely buried oil storage tanks, which triggers the rule if the aggregate capacity is over 42,000 U.S. gallons.
Essential Elements of a Spill Prevention Plan
The SPCC plan is a facility-specific document detailing the procedures and methods used to prevent a discharge. A foundational requirement is the clear demonstration of management commitment, often including signing off on the plan and providing necessary resources.
The plan must document several essential elements:
- A detailed facility diagram that maps out the location of all oil containers, transfer areas, and drainage pathways.
- Security measures, such as fencing, lighting, and locking mechanisms, to prevent unauthorized access and vandalism.
- A personnel training program, ensuring all employees involved in oil handling or response activities receive annual instruction.
- Regular inspections and integrity testing of tanks, piping, and other equipment to identify potential points of failure.
Containment Structures and Response Actions
Physical control and countermeasure elements are a major focus of the SPCC plan, designed to manage a release should prevention fail. A primary requirement is the provision of secondary containment structures for bulk storage containers and oil-filled equipment. This containment (e.g., earthen dikes, concrete berms, or double-walled tanks) must be capable of holding the volume of the largest single container within the area.
Secondary containment must also include sufficient freeboard, which is extra capacity to contain precipitation. The EPA suggests this allowance should be enough to contain the volume from a 25-year, 24-hour storm event. The plan must also detail specific immediate response actions, including the location of spill response equipment like spill kits and sorbents, and establish clear notification procedures for reporting significant spills to the National Response Center and the EPA regional office.