Overview

Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (or SPCC) is a method for preventing oil pollution into U.S. water bodies. Published in 1973 under the Clean Water Act, the Oil Pollution Prevention Regulation (40 CFR 112) requires facilities that store greater than 1,320 gallons of oil to develop and implement SPCC plans. Oregon State University’s SPCC plan meets requirements for prevention, preparedness, and response to oil discharges. The goal of the SPCC plan is to prevent oil from reaching navigable waters and to contain discharges of oil. 

Compliance

SPCC requirements based on facility type:

  • Tier 1 Facilities: between 1,320 gallons and 10,000 gallons of aboveground oil storage, with no tanks greater than 5,000 gallons 

    • Self-certified SPCC Plan

  • Tier 2 facilities: over 10,000 gallons of aboveground oil storage with a storage container of at least 5,000 gallons or greater

    • SPCC plan from a licensed Professional Engineer (PE)

The following measures are taken in order to meet compliance with SPCC Regulations:

  • Routine inspections and maintenance of aboveground oil storage containers equal or greater than 1,320 gallons:

    • Visual inspection of equipment to ensure no leaks or spills are present

  • Tank integrity testing on aboveground oil storage tanks greater than or equal to 1,320 gallons

Farms

Farms are defined under the SPCC Rule as a facility on a tract of land devoted to the production of crops or raising of animals, including fish, which produced and sold, or normally would have produced and sold, $1,000 or more of agricultural products during a year. Farms are not required to have an SPCC if they have no reportable discharge history and an aggregate aboveground storage of less than 6,000 gallons of oil.

Farms can self-certify their SPCC Plan based on the following: 

  • Aggregate aboveground storage less than 20,000 gallons

  • No individual aboveground tank with a storage capacity greater than 10,000 gallons

  • No reportable discharge history

Farms require an SPCC plan from a licensed Professional Engineer (PE) if:

  • An individual tank with an aboveground storage capacity is greater than 10,000 gallons

  • Aggregate aboveground storage capacity is greater than or equal to 20,000 gallons

  • They have a reportable discharge history

Resources

Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) Template 

  • This document is intended to assist in developing an SPCC Plan, as required by the SPCC Regulation. If you have questions about your facility’s requirements or need assistance developing an SPCC plan, please contact us.

  • Please send all SPCC drafts to EHS.

Training for Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure (SPCC)

  • Training on SPCC is administered through EH&S, intended for university employees who work with petroleum products. For questions about content or training requirements, please contact EHS.

Farms and Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA)

Regulatory Information

Oil Pollution Prevention guidelines found in Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part 112 creates a framework to help facilities prevent discharge of oil into navigable waters or adjoining shorelines.