EI has been providing SPCC plans and related services for 20 years and is eminently qualified in this area. Our specialists have written papers, presented at conferences, and participated in national seminars on the topic. We have provided services to utilities, municipalities, major industries, and commercial property owners. With that, EI’s professionals have the background and experience to provide any service associated with SPCC Rule compliance, including:
- SPCC Development
- Facility Response Plan (FRP) development per 40 CFR 112.20
- Compliance Reviews
- Tank Inspections per the STI Standard
- Expert Consultation and Opinions
History of SPCC
The Federal Government first developed rules in 1974 regulating above ground oil storage tanks. The Exxon Valdez accident prompted the United States Congress to pass the Oil Pollution Control Act of 1990. Following the Ashland oil spill in Floreffe, Pennsylvania, where 750,000 gallons of oil discharged into the Monongahela River, the EPA, not waiting for Congress, began making significant changes to the “Spill Prevention, Control and Counter-Measure (SPCC) Rule.”
The major 2010 changes to the SPCC Rule include the following:
- Broadening of the definition of “oil.”
- Including oil-filled operational equipment, e.g., transformers, lube systems.
- Including requirements for loading/unloading areas and racks.
- Clarification on secondary containment requirements.
- Allowing exemptions for “Qualified Facilities.”
- Required formal inspections and testing as prescribed by API, STI, or others.
Our Experience
The Steel Tank Institute (STI) wrote the standard for testing shop-fabricated tanks. EI’s tank inspectors are STI-Certified and are ready to assist with storage tank inspection and testing compliance
In addition to SPCC requirements, 40 CFR 112 also contains regulations for the applicability, development, and implementation of Facility Response Plans (FRP) for facilities that pose a particular oil spill risk, e.g., a total storage capacity of 1,000,000 gallons. EI is well versed in this area as well having prepared and updated dozens of FRPs.
EI’s SPCC experts can answer any SPCC questions or provide the required services to ensure your compliance with the rules.
IN NEED OF OUR SERVICES?
Will the Adoption of the ASTM E1527-21 Standard Practice Result in an Increased Phase I ESA Cost?
EPA’s Final Rule approving the ASTM E-1527-21 became effective on February 13, 2023, meaning that the updated standard may now be used to satisfy the All Appropriate Inquiry (AAI). This is a critical development for property purchasers seeking to qualify for the bona fide prospective purchaser (BFPP) safe-harbor defense to property liability under Federal and some state Superfund laws. EPA’s approval of the ASTM E1527-21 Standard came by a notice of Final Rule published December 15, 2022, following an extended review process.
