To consult the most up-to-date informaton SPCC Planning or Spill Planning is always on the EPA web address located at: http://www.epa.gov/oil-spills-prevention-and-preparedness-regulations.

At Spill Plan Reports, Inc. we can give you an overview of SPCC Planning and how it affects our clients in the Oil and Gas Industry. Most facilities that store oil (petroleum products) in aboveground storage tanks (ASTs) are required to have what is known as an SPCC Plan – a Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure Plan, because their storage tanks hold more than a specified amount determined by the EPA. The requirements for SPCC Plans come from the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations, 40 CFR 112. A plan is generally required for any facility with more than 1,320 gallons of aboveground oil storage capacity that holds any chemical which is on the Federal Hazardous Chemical List. Each state will also enforce its own regulations that might add to the burden of the oil producer or company. If a plan is required for a facility, it is the responsibility of the owner or operator to provide a plan. The plan can be drafted by the owner or operator, or by a professional preparer. In most cases the plan must be certified by a registered Professional Engineer.

Plans must contain a variety of information:

• Facility Description – Oil storage, handling, process/piping and security features.
• Certifications – Facility ownership or management must attest to their commitment to provide the resources needed to implement the plan.  A certifying engineer (PE) attests to the adequacy of the plan and its conformance with SPCC regulations.
• Discharge Predictions – Where will oil flow if a primary containment (tank or piping) fails?
• Release Prevention – Description of secondary containment features, and on-site spill response materials.
• Spill Response – Procedures and contacts for spill response, cleanup and reporting.
• Training and Inspection – Documentation of procedures used.

SPCC-Plan regulations include numerous requirements affecting the design, construction and operation of oil facilities. These requirements should be considered together with other applicable codes and standards in the implementation and management of oil and gas facilities.

Facilities that store oil (petroleum products) in aboveground storage tanks (ASTs) usually are stored in tanks where the mere size of the tanks require SPCC Plans. Because the contents of the tanks are something listed on the hazardous chemical list and the tank sizes are more than 31 barrels, then they are required to have what is known as an SPCC Plan – a Spill-Prevention, Control and Countermeasure Plan (Spill Plan).

Facilities that store oil (petroleum products) in aboveground storage tanks (ASTs) usually are stored in tanks where the mere size of the tanks require SPCC Plans. Because the contents of the tanks are something listed on the hazardous chemical list and the tank sizes are more than 31 barrels, then they are required to have what is known as an SPCC Plan – a Spill-Prevention, Control and Countermeasure Plan (Spill Plan).

"Oil" as defined under federal regulations includes petroleum oils, such as crude oil, gasoline, diesel, kerosene and heating oil, as well as non petroleum oils such as animal and vegetable oils, synthetic oils, and mineral oils. The requirements for SPCC Plans are in federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations, 40 CFR 112. A plan is generally required for any facility with more than 1,320 gallons of aboveground oil storage capacity. Each state will also enforce its own regulations that might add to the burden of the oil producer or company.

If a plan is required for a facility, it is the responsibility of the owner or operator to provide a plan. The plan can be drafted by the owner or operator, or by a professional preparer. In most cases the plan must be certified by a registered Professional Engineer.

Plans must contain a variety of required information. The following is an overview:

• Certifications – Facility ownership or management must attest to their commitment to provide the resources needed to implement the plan.  A certifying engineer (PE) attests to the adequacy of the plan and its conformance with SPCC regulations.
• Facility Description – Oil storage, handling, process/piping and security features.
• Discharge Predictions – Where will oil flow if a primary containment (tank or piping) fails?
• Release Prevention – Description of secondary containment features, and on-site spill response materials.
• Spill Response – Procedures and contacts for spill response, cleanup and reporting.
• Training and Inspection – Documentation of procedures used.

SPCC Plan regulations include numerous requirements affecting the design, construction and operation of oil facilities. These requirements should be taken together with other applicable codes and standards in the management of oil facilities.

What is an SPCC plan?

The Oil Pollution Prevention Regulation requires that the SPCC Plan be prepared in accordance with good engineering practices and be approved by a person with the authority to commit the resources necessary to implement the SPCC Plan. The SPCC Plan should clearly address the following three areas:

• Operating procedures that prevent oil spills;
• Control measures installed to prevent a spill from reaching navigable waters; and
• Countermeasures to contain, clean up, and mitigate the effects of an oil spill that reaches navigable waters.

Each SPCC Plan must be unique to the facility.

Development of a unique SPCC Plan requires detailed knowledge of the facility and the potential effects of any oil spill. Each SPCC Plan, while unique to the facility it covers, must include certain standard elements to ensure compliance with the regulations. These elements include:

• A description of the physical layout and a facility diagram.
• Contact list and phone numbers for the facility response coordinator, National Response Center, cleanup contractors, and all appropriate federal, state, and local agencies who must be contacted in case of a discharge.
• Predictions of the direction, rate of flow, and total quantity of oil that could be discharged where experience indicates a potential for equipment failure.
• A description of containment and/or diversionary structures or equipment to prevent discharged oil from reaching navigable waters. (For on-shore facilities, one of the following must be used at a minimum: dikes, berms, or retaining walls; curbing; culverting, gutters, or other drainage systems; weirs, booms, or other barriers; spill diversion ponds; retention ponds; sorbent materials.)
• Where appropriate, a demonstration that containment and/or diversionary structures or equipment are not practical; periodic integrity and leak testing of bulk containers and associated valves and piping; oil spill contingency plan; and a written commitment of manpower, equipment, and materials to quickly control and remove spilled oil.
• A complete discussion of the spill prevention and control measures applicable to the facility and/or its operations.

To be effective, the SPCC Plan must include a demonstration of management's approval, be certified by a licensed professional engineer under Federal Regulation 40 CFR 112, and contain a written commitment of manpower and materials.