Oil Pollution and Prevention regulation overview
A ship maneuvers and sprays water near a rig in heavy surface oil in this aerial view over the Gulf of Mexico May 18, 2010, as oil continues to leak from the Deepwater Horizon wellhead. Credit: REUTERS/Daniel Beltra/Greenpeace/Washington Department of Eco
Contents
- 1 Overview
- 2 Key Provisions
- 2.1 Subpart A - Applicability, Definitions, and General Requirements For All Facilities and All Types of Oil
- 2.2 Subpart B - Requirements for Petroleum Oils and Non-Petroleum Oils, Except Animal Fats and Oils and Greases, and Fish and Marine Mammal Oils; and Vegetable Oils (Including Oils from Seeds, Nuts, Fruits, and Kernels)
- 2.3 Subpart C - Requirements for Animal Fats and Oils and Greases, and Fish and Marine Mammal Oils; and for Vegetable Oils, Including Oils from Seeds, Nuts, Fruits, and Kernels
- 2.4 Subpart D - Response Requirements
- 2.5 Appendices
- 3 Full Text
Overview
 A destroyed tank at the Ashland Oil Facility in Floreffe, PA. Credit:NOAA OR&R
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Originally published in 1973 under the authority of the Clean Water Act, the Oil Pollution Prevention regulation sets forth requirements for prevention of, preparedness for, and response to oil discharges at specific non-transportation-related facilities. To prevent oil from reaching navigable waters and adjoining shorelines, and to contain discharges of oil, the regulation requires these facilities to develop and implement Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) Plans and establishes procedures, methods, and equipment requirements (Subparts A, B, and C). In 1990, the Oil Pollution Act amended the Clean Water Act to require some oil storage facilities to prepare Facility Response Plans. On July 1, 1994, EPA finalized the revisions that direct facility owners or operators to prepare and submit plans for responding to a worst-case discharge of oil (Subpart D).
Following the Floreffe, Pennsylvania oil spill in 1988, EPA formed the SPCC Task Force to examine federal regulations governing oil spills from aboveground storage tanks. The SPCC Task Force recommended that EPA clarify certain provisions in the Oil Pollution Prevention regulation, establish additional technical requirements for regulated facilities, and require the preparation of facility-specific response plans. In response to the Task Force recommendation, EPA proposed revisions to the Oil Pollution Prevention regulation in the 1990s and finalized the amendments in 2002. EPA has since amended the SPCC requirements of the Oil Pollution Prevention regulation to extend compliance dates and clarify and/or tailor specific regualtory requirements.
Key Provisions
Subpart A - Applicability, Definitions, and General Requirements For All Facilities and All Types of Oil
Section 112.1 General applicability
Section 112.2 Definitions
Section 112.3 Requirement to prepare and implement a Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure Plan
Section 112.4 Amendment of Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure Plan by Regional Administrator
Section 112.5 Amendment of Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure Plan by owners or operators
Section 112.6 Qualified Facility Plan requirements
Section 112.7 General requirements for Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure Plans
Subpart B - Requirements for Petroleum Oils and Non-Petroleum Oils, Except Animal Fats and Oils and Greases, and Fish and Marine Mammal Oils; and Vegetable Oils (Including Oils from Seeds, Nuts, Fruits, and Kernels)
Section 112.8 Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure Plan requirements for onshore facilities (excluding production facilities)
Section 112.9 Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure Plan requirements for onshore oil production facilities
Section 112.10 Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure Plan requirements for onshore oil drilling and workover facilities
Section 112.11 Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure Plan requirements for offshore oil drilling, production, or workover facilities
Subpart C - Requirements for Animal Fats and Oils and Greases, and Fish and Marine Mammal Oils; and for Vegetable Oils, Including Oils from Seeds, Nuts, Fruits, and Kernels
Section 112.12 Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure Plan requirements
Subpart D - Response Requirements
Section 112.20 Facility response plans
Section 112.21 Facility response training and drills/exercises
Appendices
Appendix A Memorandum of Understanding Between the Secretary of Transportation and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency
Appendix B Memorandum of Understanding Among the Secretary of the Interior, Secretary of Transportation, and Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency
Appendix C Substantial Harm Criteria
Appendix D Determination of a Worst Case Discharge Planning Volume
Appendix E Determination and Evaluation of Required Response Resources for Facility Response Plans
Appendix F Facility-Specific Response Plan
