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The Spill Control and Countermeasures Plan (SPCC) was adopted by Congress to protect people's health and well-being by preventing and mitigating environmental damage from unauthorized pollutant discharges. The plan provides a uniform notification and reporting procedure for such discharges while enabling appropriate emergency response to unauthorized discharge incidents. Information within the plan may be used to ensure compliance with permit terms and conditions. Most states follow the Federal 40 CFR 112 (EPA) regulations because they do not have their own spill laws in place.Who needs a SPCC Plan?
Any entity that could potentially discharge into "navigable" waters (waterways or seas capable of being sailed on by ships or boats). The exact definition of which waterways this includes remains vague and is still under debate in Congress. In the meantime, the laws apply to any operator storing over 1,320 cumulative gallons on site.
What Does a SPCC Plan Include?
A SPCC Plan is unique and site-specific. Each facility has a different set of buildings, tanks, discharge points, and other logistics to address. The SPCC Plan outlines the size, type, and maximum volume of each tank on site. It provides a site diagram showing the location of major components in relation to public waterways. The plan includes both topological and satellite maps to pinpoint the site's location. The plan clearly defines the company's and staff's obligations to prevent releases.
The SPCC Plan indicates where secondary containment and spill prevention materials (often known as BMPs) are located. It contains instructions on how to prepare for and protect the environment from spills, as well as how to report accidental releases. The plan specifies who to contact, when to make notifications, and what documentation must be completed if a release occurs.
Included in the plan are forms for regularly scheduled inspections. These document the condition of tanks, valves, and piping, along with scheduled integrity tests and the status of berms and other secondary containment. The plan also details loading and unloading procedures for materials.
Site security measures are documented, including overfill alarms, surveillance systems, gates, fences, police patrols, specialized spill materials, training requirements, and written procedures for various scenarios, including terrorism.
Additional forms are included for documenting tank filling or pumping operations, maintaining spill history records, and providing verbal and written incident notifications. Emergency response procedures and contact information for rapid response are specified. The plan also incorporates copies of applicable state and federal laws defining spill releases.
The SPCC Plan is considered a "living" document requiring constant reference, and action is necessary to meet the minimum standards it establishes. Many entities are uncertain about how an SPCC Plan will affect them. However, understanding how regulatory compliance, site cleanliness, and preventing the release of fuel, oil, chemicals, or other potentially hazardous materials into the environment (including ground, air, and water) benefits both the company and the community it serves.
When a major release occurs, it is thoroughly investigated. The SPCC and its contained records indicate whether a company is following the rules they have pledged to uphold. A good record of inspections, tank testing, training, and proper hygiene demonstrates corporate responsibility. However, if the SPCC Plan cannot be located or shows signs of neglect, regulatory action will follow. If negligence is determined after a release, the company must remediate the spill or leak. State-approved contractors, operating independently from the company, will perform the cleanup operation at the agencies' direction. Following remediation, company representatives must participate in an investigative procedure where state or federal entities determine innocence or guilt based on available evidence. This process results in either exoneration or substantial fines, sometimes from multiple agencies. A guilty verdict carries the negative consequence of strict monitoring until the relevant agencies are convinced the company has reformed its operations to be responsible and in good faith. Prevention of major releases is the responsibility of all company personnel, including supervisors, drivers, dispatchers, and operations staff.
A SPCC Plan is unique and site-specific. Each facility has a different set of buildings, tanks, discharge points, and other logistics to address. The SPCC Plan outlines the size, type, and maximum volume of each tank on site. It provides a site diagram showing the location of major components in relation to public waterways. The plan includes both topological and satellite maps to pinpoint the site's location. The plan clearly defines the company's and staff's obligations to prevent releases.
The SPCC Plan indicates where secondary containment and spill prevention materials (often known as BMPs) are located. It contains instructions on how to prepare for and protect the environment from spills, as well as how to report accidental releases. The plan specifies who to contact, when to make notifications, and what documentation must be completed if a release occurs.
Included in the plan are forms for regularly scheduled inspections. These document the condition of tanks, valves, and piping, along with scheduled integrity tests and the status of berms and other secondary containment. The plan also details loading and unloading procedures for materials.
Site security measures are documented, including overfill alarms, surveillance systems, gates, fences, police patrols, specialized spill materials, training requirements, and written procedures for various scenarios, including terrorism.
Additional forms are included for documenting tank filling or pumping operations, maintaining spill history records, and providing verbal and written incident notifications. Emergency response procedures and contact information for rapid response are specified. The plan also incorporates copies of applicable state and federal laws defining spill releases.
The SPCC Plan is considered a "living" document requiring constant reference, and action is necessary to meet the minimum standards it establishes. Many entities are uncertain about how an SPCC Plan will affect them. However, understanding how regulatory compliance, site cleanliness, and preventing the release of fuel, oil, chemicals, or other potentially hazardous materials into the environment (including ground, air, and water) benefits both the company and the community it serves.
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