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Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) Rule


SPCC Compliance Date Amendment

On June 19, 2009, EPA published in the Federal Register a SPCC compliance date extension for all facilities until November 10, 2010. Facilities must amend or prepare, and implement SPCC Plans by the compliance date in accordance with revisions to the SPCC rule promulgated since 2002. Farms must also amend or prepare their SPCC Plans, and implement those Plans by the same date.

Regulation: Oil Pollution Prevention; Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure Rule - Compliance Date Amendment


EPA Further Delays Effective Date of Oil Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure Requirements That Were Finalized in December 2008

On April 1, 2009, the Federal Register published EPA’s delay of the effective date of the December 5, 2008, Oil Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure final rule. This delay is in response to public comments and the Office of Management and Budget’s January 21, 2009, memorandum (PDF) (2 pp, 105K, About PDF) regarding regulatory review.

The December 5, 2008, amendments will now become effective on January 14, 2010.

The April 1, 2009, rule has no impact on the compliance date for SPCC. The amended compliance date for all facilities is November 10, 2010.

Neither this delay, nor the December 5, 2008, final rule remove any regulatory requirement for owners or operators of facilities in operation before August 16, 2002, to maintain an SPCC Plan in accordance with the SPCC regulations.

Regulation: Oil Pollution Prevention; Non-Transportation Related Onshore Facilities; Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure Rule--Final Amendments

Finalized Amendments to the SPCC Rule - December 2008

On December 5, 2008, the Federal Register published EPA's final rule to amend the SPCC rule in order to provide increased clarity, to tailor requirements to particular industry sectors, and to streamline certain requirements for those facility owners or operators subject to the rule, which should result in greater protection to human health and the environment.

Regulation: Oil Pollution Prevention; Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure Rule Requirements - Amendments


The Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) rule includes requirements for oil spill prevention, preparedness, and response to prevent oil discharges to navigable waters and adjoining shorelines. The rule requires specific facilities to prepare, amend, and implement SPCC Plans. 

The SPCC rule is part of the Oil Pollution Prevention regulation, which also includes the Facility Response Plan (FRP) rule.

December 2006 Amendments to the SPCC Rule

In December 2006, EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson signed a final rule to amend the Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) rule at 40 CFR part 112. EPA amended the SPCC rule to address a number of issues raised by its 2002 final rule, including those pertaining to facilities with smaller oil storage capacities, qualified oil-filled operational equipment, motive power containers, and mobile refuelers. EPA also removed sections of the rule that are not appropriate for facilities with animal fats and vegetable oils, and extended the compliance dates for farms. 

Compliance Dates

Following the 2002 revisions to the SPCC rule, EPA extended the compliance dates for facilities to update (or for new facilities to prepare) and implement an SPCC Plan that complies with the revised requirements. 

SPCC Guidance for Regional Inspectors

EPA has developed an SPCC Guidance Document to assist regional inspectors in implementing the SPCC program and in understanding its applicability.  The document is also available as a guide to owners and operators of facilities that may be subject to the requirements of the SPCC rule and the general public on how EPA intends the SPCC rule to be implemented.

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