Oil Pollution Prevention and SPCC Plans

TABLE OF CONTENTS

OVERVIEW

17.1 What is the purpose of this chapter? This chapter helps U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) personnel prevent discharges of oil into navigable waters or adjoining shorelines, and assists in the development and maintenance of Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) Plans.

17.2 What is the scope of this chapter?

A. This chapter applies to all Service facilities that store, or have the capacity to store, oil (see section 17.6J for the definition of oil).

B. This chapter does not apply to non-Federal oil and gas operations (see section 17.6I), which are subject to the provisions of 50 CFR Part 29.

17.3 What is the Service’s policy on preventing oil spills?

A. Employees must protect the quality of navigable waters and adjoining shorelines by maintaining oil storage containers and tanks at Service facilities to ensure their continued integrity to prevent leaks and spills.

B. The Service ensures the integrity of oil equipment by:

(1) Providing training to personnel involved with the operation of oil equipment (see section 17.19);

(2) Performing inspections and integrity testing according to the requirements in section 17.20 and Exhibit 1, Tables 17-2 and 17-3, and using the checklists in Exhibit 2;

(3) Developing SPCC Plans for facilities with an aggregate aboveground oil storage capacity of 1,320 gallons or more (see section 17.10 to help you determine if your facility must have an SPCC Plan); and

(4) Complying with the requirements of section 17.8 at facilities with an oil storage capacity of less than 1,320 gallons.

17.4 What should Service personnel do if an oil spill occurs?

A. Service personnel should use spill containment materials to contain small spills and stem the flow of oil to surface water without coming in contact with the oil or inhaling oil fumes. Remediation beyond these measures requires use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and only Service personnel who have completed special training using PPE may respond to an oil spill (see 241 FW 3). In most cases we use contractors to address oil spills.

(1) Spill containment materials should be available and adjacent to potential sources of oil spills. 

(2) The amount and type of containment materials needed must be determined on a site-specific basis (see SPCC Plan template on the Division of Engineering (DEN) website).

B. If an oil spill occurs, Service personnel should follow the reporting procedures in 560 FW 3, Reporting Releases of Hazardous Substances, Oil Discharges, and Contaminated Sites.

17.5 What are the authorities for this chapter?

A. Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1301 et. seq.).

B. Oil Pollution Control Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 2701 et seq.).

C. Oil Pollution Prevention (40 CFR 112).

D. Standard for the Inspection of Aboveground Storage Tanks, SP001, Sixth Edition, January 2018 (as revised), Steel Tank Institute (STI).

17.6 What terms do you need to know to understand this chapter?

A. Aggregate aboveground storage capacity. Determined by adding a facility’s storage capacities in Aboveground Storage Tanks (ASTs) and all containers that can store oil that have a capacity of 55 gallons or more.

B. Bulk storage container. Containers used for storing oil prior to use, while it is being used, or before it is distributed in commerce. Oil filled electrical, operating, and manufacturing pieces of equipment are not classified as bulk storage containers.

C. Completely buried tank. Any container below grade and covered with earth, sand, gravel, asphalt, or other material. Containers in vaults, bunkered tanks, or partially buried tanks are considered aboveground storage containers (see 561 FW 7 for the Service’s policy on underground storage tanks).

D. Discharge. Any spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, or dumping of oil.

E. Environmental equivalence. If an SPCC requirement cannot be met due to site-specific conditions, a Professional Engineer (PE) who is qualified as a petroleum professional may certify an installation that, in the PE’s judgement, performs in a manner that is equivalent to applicable Federal, state, or local SPCC regulations. These alternative methods must provide environmental protection that is equivalent to the applicable SPCC provisions.

F. Facility. A specific Service site, such as a refuge, hatchery, campus, or building. The regulations give us latitude for determining how to define a facility for purposes of SPCC implementation based on operation limits. For example, if a complex has multiple locations spread miles apart along both sides of a river or a state boundary, we most likely would identify the sites as separate facilities for SPCC planning purposes.  

G. Facility Manager. For this policy, the Facility Manager is the highest-level manager responsible for on-site administration of the facility (e.g., the Complex Manager, Refuge Manager, Fish and Wildlife Office Supervisor, Project Leader, etc.). Some facilities may have a Building Operations Manager, which is not the same as a Facility Manager.

H. Mobile refueler. A bulk storage container on board a vehicle or towed that is designed solely to store and transport fuel for transfer into or from an aircraft, motor vehicle, locomotive, vessel, ground service equipment, or other oil storage container.

I. Non-Federal oil and gas operation. I. Non-Federal oil and gas operation. Oil and gas activities associated with a private, state, or tribally-owned mineral interest where the Service administers the surface estate as part of the National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS).

J. Oil. Oil means oil of any kind or in any form, including, but not limited to fats, oils, or greases of animal, fish, or marine mammal origin; vegetable oils, including oils from seeds, nuts, fruits, or kernels; and other oils and greases, including petroleum, fuel oil, sludge, synthetic oils, mineral oils, oil refuse, or oil mixed with wastes other than dredged spoil.

K. Oil equipment. All oil-filled operational apparatus or machinery, oil containers and tanks, used oil containers, and bulk oil storage containers.

L. Oil-filled operational equipment. Equipment that includes an oil storage container (or multiple containers) in which the oil is present solely to support the functions of the apparatus or the device. Examples of oil-filled operational equipment include hydraulic systems, lube or transfer boxes, and electrical switching or transformers containing oil.

M. Partially buried tank. A storage container that is inserted or constructed in the ground, but is not entirely below grade and not completely covered with earth, sand, gravel, asphalt, or other material. A partially buried tank is considered an aboveground storage container.

N. Permanently closed. Any container or facility with the following characteristics:

(1) All liquid and sludge have been removed from each container and connecting line; and

(2) All connecting lines and piping have been disconnected from the container and blanked off, all valves (except for ventilation valves) have been closed and locked, and signs have been posted on each container stating that it is a permanently closed container and noting the date of closure.

O. Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) Plan. A document, required by 40 CFR 112.3, that describes the equipment, workforce, procedures, and steps necessary to prevent and control discharges of oil and provide initial spill countermeasures. You can get a copy of the Service’s SPCC Plan template on DEN’s website, through the link in Exhibit 3, or by contacting your Regional Environmental Compliance Coordinator (RECC).  

RESPONSIBILITIES

17.7 Who is responsible for the oil pollution prevention program? See Table 17-1.

Table 17-1: Responsibilities for Operating the Oil Pollution Prevention Program

REQUIREMENTS THAT APPLY TO FACILITIES WITH OIL STORAGE CAPACITY LESS THAN 1,320 GALLONS

17.8 What requirements apply to Service facilities with an oil storage capacity of less than 1,320 gallons? Facilities with oil equipment with an aggregate storage capacity less than 1,320 gallons (see section 17.10B to determine capacity) are exempt from the SPCC Plan requirements, but are subject to the:

A. Inspection provisions in section 17.20, using the checklists in Exhibit 2;

B. Training requirements described in section 17.19; and

C. Provisions for preparing and retaining an Oil Sheen Log as described in Section 17.20F.

D. See Exhibit 1, Section I for a detailed description of requirements that apply to all Service facilities.

SERVICE SPCC PLANS - REQUIREMENTS THAT APPLY TO FACILITIES WITH OIL STORAGE CAPACITYOF 1,320 GALLONS OR MORE

17.9 What is an SPCC Plan? SPCC Plans (see 40 CFR 112, Oil Pollution Prevention) describe the site-specific requirements pertaining to the operation, maintenance, and inspection of oil equipment at Service facilities. The Project Leader/Facility Manager assigns oil management duties to facility personnel, which may include ordering, receiving, or dispensing oil, and inspecting oil storage and dispensing equipment. The SPCC Plan’s requirements are based on the facility’s location and oil storage and dispensing equipment.

17.10 What Service facilities are required to have an SPCC Plan?

A. Service facilities are required to prepare, maintain, and implement an SPCC Plan if they have:

(1) An aggregate aboveground storage capacity of 1,320 U.S. gallons or more (see section 17.6A for the definition of “aggregate aboveground storage capacity”); or

(2) A completely buried storage capacity greater than 42,000 U.S. gallons.

B. To determine if a facility has a 1,320-gallon storage capacity, include the following oil containers with a capacity of 55 gallons or more, as defined in 40 CFR 112:

(1) Any aboveground container (including ASTs);

(2) Any container that is used for standby storage, for seasonal storage, or for temporary storage, or not otherwise permanently closed, including used oil storage;

(3) Mobile onboard bulk storage containers used to store or transfer oil for further distribution;

(4) Any bunkered tank, partially buried tank, or container in a vault, all of which are considered to be aboveground storage containers; and

(5) Empty containers that can contain oil.

C. The aggregate aboveground storage capacity of a facility excludes the capacity of:

(1) A container that is permanently closed as defined in 40 CFR 112.2 (see section 17.6N for the definition);

(2) Any container for holding hot-mix asphalt;

(3) Any container for heating oil used solely at a single-family residence; and

(4) Pesticide application equipment and related mix containers.

D. If a facility exceeds the 1,320-gallon aboveground storage capacity threshold, the SPCC Plan must then include any completely buried storage tanks, even if they have a storage capacity less than 42,000 U.S. gallons. The SPCC Plan requirements apply to the facility, and once a threshold is exceeded, the requirements apply to all bulk storage containers present at the facility.

17.11 What is included in an SPCC Plan? SPCC Plans are spill prevention plans, not response plans, although they do contain a description of actions that Service personnel may take immediately after a spill to stem the flow of oil to surface water. The Plan describes the physical layout of the facility, including a site diagram, a description of each piece of oil equipment, and emergency contact information. It also includes oil equipment inspection checklists (available in Exhibit 2), the inspection schedule, and a training syllabus. You can get a copy of the Service’s SPCC Plan template on DEN’s website, by using the link in Exhibit 3, or by contacting your RECC.  

17.12 What is a Certification of Substantial Harm Determination, and when is it required?  At facilities that must have an SPCC Plan, the Project Leader/Facility Manager must determine under the provisions of 40 CFR 112, Appendix C whether the facility poses substantial harm to the environment if an oil spill occurs. The Certification of Substantial Harm Determination form includes a checklist to help the Project Leader/Facility Manager make this determination.

A. You can get a copy of the form from the Service’s SPCC Plan template on DEN’s website, by using the link in Exhibit 3, or by contacting your RECC.  

B. If your facility has an SPCC Plan that was developed without using the Service’s template, use the certification form from the template and insert it in the existing Plan as an amendment. 

17.13 What qualifications are required to prepare an SPCC Plan? The qualifications required for preparation of an SPCC Plan depend on the storage capacity and spill history at the site.

A. The REN/RECC, qualified DEN personnel, or an authorized contractor may prepare an SPCC Plan when:

(1) The total aboveground storage capacity of the facility is less than 10,000 gallons;

(2) In the 3 years prior to the date the SPCC Plan is certified, the facility has not had a single discharge of oil to navigable waters or adjoining shorelines exceeding 1,000 U.S. gallons; and

(3) In the 12 months prior to the date the SPCC Plan is certified, the facility has not had two discharges of oil to navigable waters or adjoining shorelines, either of which exceed 42 U.S. gallons.

B. A registered PE must prepare or change the SPCC Plan when:

(1) A tank is installed with a total storage capacity of 10,000 gallons or more;

(2) The total aboveground storage capacity of the Service facility is 10,000 gallons or more;

(3) The REN/RECC determines that preparation and certification by a PE is required based on the complexity of operations; or

(4) The Plan includes a claim of environmental equivalence as described in 40 CFR 112.6(c) and (d) (see section 17.6E).

17.14 Who reviews and approves the SPCC Plan? Review, approval, and acceptance of the SPCC Plan requires involvement of the REN/RECC and the Project Leader/Facility Manager.

A. The REN/RECC reviews the Plan to ensure compliance with applicable regulations and requirements. If the REN/RECC wrote the Plan, it must be reviewed by another REN/RECC, qualified DEN personnel, or an authorized contractor.

B. The Project Leader/Facility Manager approves and accepts the Plan by signing the “Acceptance and Certifications” page after confirming that the Plan is an accurate representation of the oil equipment present at the facility.

CHANGING THE SPCC PLAN

17.15 What if facility operations were not in compliance with the SPCC Plan at the time the Plan was initiated? If the Plan includes recommendations that would bring the facility into compliance, the Plan is not final until those recommendations are completed.

17.16 What are the requirements for updating an SPCC Plan?

A. SPCC Plans must be amended to reflect any changes made to the oil equipment within 6 months of completing the change.

B. Within 90 days before each 5-year anniversary of the effective date of an SPCC Plan, the Plan must be recertified as accurately representative of the facility and its oil equipment. The facility site diagram must be a completely accurate representation of the infrastructure at the facility (see section 17.11), and must be amended if necessary. The Project Leader/Facility Manager signs the recertification page and sends a copy of the page to the RECC.

17.17 What is considered a major change to an existing SPCC Plan, and what is the review and approval process?

A. Major changes occur when a modification to the facility site diagram is required (e.g., a new tank is added or an old tank is removed and not replaced, the identification number of a piece of equipment is changed, a major natural disaster has occurred, etc.).

B. When major changes occur, the SPCC Plan must be modified by the REN/RECC, qualified DEN personnel, or an authorized contractor (see section 17.13 for qualifications.)

C. The Project Leader/Facility Manager accepts and signs the modified Plan after confirming that it accurately reflects conditions at the facility.

17.18 How are minor revisions made to an existing SPCC Plan?

A. The REN/RECC, qualified DEN personnel, authorized contractor, or Project Leader/Facility Manager may make minor revisions such as changes to the emergency contact information, which can be amended by inserting a new sheet into the Plan with current contact information, or overwriting the old contact information in pencil. 

B. Any changes to the equipment that the Project Leader/Facility Manager certifies (i.e., does not require a change to the facility site diagram) should be described in a “Plan Amendment Statement and Review Log” form so that the Plan continues to be an accurate description of the oil equipment and the site. You can get a copy of the form from the Service’s SPCC Plan template on DEN’s website, by using the link in Exhibit 3, or by contacting your RECC. The Plan Amendment Statement and Review Log should include:

(1) A brief description of the change, including a reference to the Plan section that is being revised;

(2) The date the change was made to the equipment; and

(3) The Project Leader/Facility Manager’s signature and date.

C. Copies of the amended pages of the Plan should be:

(1) Added to all copies of the Plan at the facility, and

(2) Sent to the RECC as an electronic file within 3 months of the amendment. The RECC will amend the Plan copy in EFCATS using the copy of the changes.

IMPLEMENTING THE SPCC PROGRAM AT THE FACILITY

17.19 What training is required for Service personnel under the SPCC program? All personnel involved with the operation of oil equipment must be trained to prevent discharges. Training should include proper operation procedures; the content of any required SPCC Plan; and applicable pollution control laws, regulations, and rules. 

A. An oil equipment operation training plan is included as the “SPCC Training Lesson Plan and Log” in the Service’s SPCC Plan template on DEN’s website, and through the link in Exhibit 3. The training plan includes a space to record each training session and provides a suggested training agenda.

B. The instructor or a designee should sign training records when the course is complete and retain the records permanently. 

C. The training should be presented:

(1) Annually to all personnel who manage, operate, maintain, or inspect oil equipment;

(2) Within 3 months of an employee’s assignment to duties that involve the management of oil equipment; and

(3) At the time of appointment for those Project Leaders/Facility Managers and others who supervise employees responsible for managing, operating, maintaining, or inspecting oil equipment using the checklists in Exhibit 2.

17.20 What are the requirements for inspecting ASTs and demonstrating tank integrity, and when is this required?

A. We have adopted the Steel Tank Institute (STI) Standard SP001, 6^th Edition, January 2018 or as amended. Exhibit 1, Tables 17-2 and 17-3 and sections II.B through D provide detailed information about STI tank categories and related inspection and integrity testing requirements. Most tanks managed by the Service are included in STI Category 1 because they have spill control and a Continuous Release Detection Mechanism (CRDM), such as secondary containment or double-walled construction. For these tanks, periodic inspections using the checklists in Exhibit 2 fulfill the requirements and if properly conducted, tank integrity testing is not required. Some tanks may meet the STI Categories 2 and 3 criteria and require integrity testing.

B. Tank integrity tests are complicated and expensive procedures, so it is very important that Project Leaders/Facility Managers ensure oil equipment inspections are conducted as required so that we can avoid the need to conduct integrity testing for STI Category 1 tanks.

C. To confirm tank integrity the Project Leader/Facility Manager must:

(1) Determine the STI category of tanks and related requirements outlined in Exhibit 1, section IID. and Table 17-3, AST Integrity Testing and Inspection Schedules. 

(2) Ensure that inspections are conducted according to the schedules in Exhibit 1, Table 17-2, Facility Inspection Schedule, and Table 17-3, AST Integrity Testing and Inspection Schedules.

(3) Ensure that inspection checklists in Exhibit 2 are signed and records maintained permanently as evidence of confirming tank integrity under STI Standard SP001.

(4) Comply with the requirements for STI Categories 2 or 3, if applicable (shown in Exhibit 1, Table 17-3, AST Integrity Testing and Inspection Schedules).

D. If inspections are not conducted per the inspection schedule and records are not properly maintained, we may be required to perform tank integrity tests per the requirements described in Exhibit I, Table 17-3, AST Integrity Testing and Inspection Schedules.

E. Tank integrity tests include procedures such as tank pressure testing, testing the integrity of tank walls, and measuring corrosion damage.

(1) Tests must be performed according to the protocols in STI Standard SP001.

(2) The Project Leader/Facility Manager must keep records of:

     (a) Integrity tests that are performed after maintenance until the next integrity test, and 

     (b) Required periodic integrity tests as described in Exhibit 1, Table 17-3.

F. If an oil sheen is discovered at any time:

(1) The source of the sheen must be discovered and eliminated, and

(2) An Oil Sheen Log must be prepared and permanently retained.  A copy of the Oil Sheen Log is available on DEN’s website or from your RECC.

17.21 What must a Project Leader/Facility Manager do before purchasing any oil equipment? Project Leaders/Facility Managers and their staff must consult the REN or RECC before purchasing additional or replacement oil equipment to determine whether:

A. Proposed new or replacement oil equipment meets applicable technical and regulatory requirements,

B. A new SPCC Plan is required, or

C. Regional or other assistance is required for any needed modifications to an existing SPCC Plan.