Useful information on Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure (SPCC)

EPA’s SPCC rule covers your jobsite if

 (1) your above ground oil storage containers (in tanks of 55 gallons* or greater, including asphalt cement tanks) have a total capacity of more than 1,320 gallons and

(2) a spill could reach navigable waters of the United States or adjoining shorelines.

It is important to note that EPA revised the definition of “navigable waters” of the United States, as the term applies to the Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure rule, to comply with a court decision.

The rule requires all regulated jobsites to have a comprehensive SPCC plan detailing how the owner/contractor will store oil and both control and clean up any spills that may occur on the jobsite. Basic requirements call for appropriate secondary containment and/or diversionary structures, security measures, inspections and record keeping and employee SPCC training. EPA rules also impose certain reporting requirements.

Once you have a Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) plan in place it is critical to conduct site inspections, personnel training and periodic review and renewal of the plan. Severe penalties have been assessed against companies who had SPCC plans in place but failed to conduct proper training and implementation of the plan. If an inspector determines that site personnel do not know how to respond to a spill, you could face penalties, regardless of whether there has been a spill incident.

Following is an example of the type of information you could include in your Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) plan:

·         A list of the oil containers at the jobsite (including their contents and location);

·         A brief description of the procedures that you will use to prevent oil spills. For example, the steps that you use to prevent fuel spills when you transfer fuel from a storage tank to your construction equipment;

·         A brief description of the measures you installed to prevent oil from reaching water;

·         A brief description of the measures you will use to contain and cleanup an oil spill to water; and

·         A list of emergency contacts and first responders.

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If you have an oil spill, you should activate your SPCC plan procedures to prevent the oil spill from reaching a waterway. Immediately implement the spill cleanup and mitigation procedures outlined in your plan. Also, you must review your plan every five years to make sure it includes any changes in oil storage at your facility/jobsite. You also must amend and update your SPCC plan when changes are made to your facility/jobsite; for example, if you add new storage containers (e.g., tanks) that are 55 gallons or larger. To know more useful information about Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure, please visit www.questepa.com.