Oil Pollution Act and SPCC Regulations

A written document outlining how a facility prevents, contains, and cleans up oil spills to protect navigable waters and shorelines.

An SPCC plan must be certified by a registered professional engineer.

To prevent oil spills into navigable waters and adjoining shorelines, minimizing environmental damage.

An SPCC plan must be reviewed within 90 days before the five-year anniversary of its preparation date.

Amendments to an SPCC plan require certification by a registered professional engineer.

Facilities must conduct oil spill response training for staff at least once a year.

Facilities storing less than 42,000 gallons of oil underground or 1,320 gallons above ground are exempt from having an SPCC plan.

An SPCC plan includes assessments of potential spills, spill control measures, response procedures, notification requirements, disposal procedures, and contingency planning.

The SPCC plan assesses potential spill quantities and how they could reach surface waters.

The SPCC plan outlines measures for controlling spills, such as containment structures or other methods.

A law passed in response to the Exxon Valdez oil spill that aims to prevent and respond to oil spills in U.S. waters. It establishes strict liability for responsible parties and creates a trust fund for cleanup.

When a person or entity is held responsible for damages caused by their actions, even if they didn't intend for the harm to happen. It doesn't matter if they were careless, they are still responsible.

The OPA establishes a trust fund to pay for cleanup when the responsible party cannot or won't, requires oil storage facilities and vessels to have spill response plans, and promotes area contingency plans for regional response.

Clean Water Act. It is a federal law that aims to protect the quality of American waterways. This includes measures like preventing oil and hazardous substance discharges.

The U.S. Coast Guard enforces the regulations specifically related to oil tankers, while the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) enforces regulations for above-ground storage facilities.

In 1988, a pipeline carrying oil ruptured in Floreffe, Pennsylvania, releasing oil into the environment. This spill impacted the waters and the surrounding ecosystem.

The initial compliance deadlines for farms were extended to 2013 because of the potential impact on small farmers and the need to provide more time for implementation.

These plans help prepare for regional oil spills by coordinating resources and response strategies across different communities and agencies.