Oil Pollution Prevention Regulation Overview 

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Overview

Originally published in 1973 under the authority of §311 of the  
HYPERLINK "http://epa.gov/oem/content/lawsregs/cwaover.htm"  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   HYPERLINK
"http://epa.gov/oem/content/lawsregs/opaover.htm"  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   HYPERLINK
"http://epa.gov/oem/content/learning/floreffe.htm"  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 

