Environmental Protection Agency Spill Prevention Control & Countermeasure Plan

Tim Laughlin, P.E.

Course Outline

1. Learning objectives
2. Introduction
3. Course content
4. Course summary

This course includes a multiple-choice quiz at the end, which is designed to enhance the understanding of the course materials.

Learning Objective

At the conclusion of this course, the student will:

• Be familiar with 40 CFR Part 112- Oil Pollution Prevention regulations;
• Have a better understanding of the requirements and other regulatory provisions for preparing Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) plans for the storage of petroleum regulated substances;
• Be able to properly calculate the correct volume requirement for secondary containment structures;
• Understand tank integrity testing requirements;
• Know how to write a SPCC CONTINGENCY PLAN;
• Be able to list requirements for the CERTIFICATION OF SUBSTANTIAL HARM DETERMINATION FORM;
• Know what the term "sufficiently impervious" applies to;
• Know the EPA's Definition of the word "Oil"; and
• Understand engineer's requirements for development of SPCC Plan.
  

Course Introduction

The Oil Pollution Prevention regulation, also known as the SPCC regulation, was promulgated on December 11, 1973, under the authority of §311(j) (1)(C) of the Clean Water Act (CWA).

The regulation established procedures, methods, and equipment requirements for non-transportation-related facilities (see table below) with aboveground oil storage capacity greater than 1,320 gallons in a single tank or 1,320 gallons total aggregate capacity. The regulation also applies to underground aggregate storage capacity greater than 42,000 gallons not in compliance with Federal or State underground storage tank regulations.

The US EPA proposed revisions to the SPCC rule in 1991, 1993, and 1997. These revisions will become effective on October 31, 2007.

The regulation requires that all regulated facilities have a Registered PE develop a Spill Plan before the new facility begins operations or within six months of the effective date for existing facilities.

You should also refer to the US EPA's Oil Spill Web Site at: http://www.epa.gov/oilspill/. A copy of 40 CFR parts 112 can be found at:

http://www.epa.gov/oilspill/pdfs/0703_40cfr112.pdf. The American Petroleum Institute (API) Recommended Practice Bulletin D16 can also be helpful (See: http://api-ep.api.com/)

The US EPA Federal Regulation 40 CFR part 112 requires that a SPCC Plan be prepared for all onshore and offshore oil storage facilities that have discharged (spilled/leaked) oil or could reasonably be expected to discharge oil that would likely reach "navigable water" or adjoining shorelines. The requirement for the SPCC Plan applies to non-vehicle or non-pipeline facilities involving storage facilities where any single above ground tank is larger than 1,320 gallons or the aggregate total above ground storage is over 1,320 gallons. Amendments to the SPCC plan are required to be reviewed by a Registered PE when the facility adds or removes tanks, begins storing different oil products, other changes at the facility result in an increase in spill potential and when amendments are required by US EPA.

Course Content

The course content is in a PDF file (183 KB) EPA-SPCC-Plan. You need to open or download this document to study this course. The table of content of this course is as follows:

Table of Content

Contact List and Telephone Numbers
General Description of Physical Plant
General Spill Prevention Controls and Countermeasures
Spill Reporting Documentation
Prediction of Spill Characteristics
Containment and Drainage Control Structures
Alternative Oil Spill Contingency Plan
Inspections, Tests, Records
Precipitation Release Schedule
Personnel Training and Spill Prevention Procedures
Security
Loading/Unloading Facilities
Facility Drainage
Bulk Storage Tanks
Facility Transfer Operations

Certification of Substantial Harm Determination Form

APPENDIX
Plot Drawing of Facility
General Area Map, Facility Designated

Course Summary

To safeguard the waters of the United States, licensed professional engineers must fully understand the EPA requirements and provisions contained in 40 CFR Part 112, Oil Pollution Prevention Act (Spill Plan Regulation). Most oil and petroleum storage facilities are required to have on file a SPCC Plan.

A partial list of "oils" include: Cutting Oils, Transformer Oils, Animal & Vegetable Fats/Oils, Asphalts, Naphtha, Lacquer Base Paints/Varnishes, Jet Fuel, Heating Oils, Gasoline, Distillate/Residual Oils, and Mixes/Mixtures of Benzene, Toluene, & Xylene.

Quiz

Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.

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DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDHonline.com or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered professional engineer. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.

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