Oil Storage Plans

Any oil spill can pose a serious threat to human health and the environment. Did you know that a single pint of oil released into the water can cover one acre of water surface and can seriously damage an aquatic habitat. Major oil spills (and sometimes small spills) can extend beyond the facility's boundaries resulting in exorbitant remediation and cleanup costs. Additionally, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) may levy fines and penalties, especially if you were negligent. As a result of the possible damage to human health and the environment, EPA published the Oil Pollution Prevention Rule.

The EPA's Oil Pollution Prevention Rule became effective January 10, 1974. It was published under the authority of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (or the Clean Water Act). The regulation may be found at Title 40, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 112 (40 CFR 112). The prevention rule was revised on July 17, 2002. Facilities subject to the rule must prepare and implement a plan to prevent any discharge of oil into or upon navigable waters of the United States or adjoining shorelines. The plan is called a Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) Plan.

As a result of several major oil spills in the late 1980's, such as the Exxon Valdez in Prince William Sound, Alaska, the U.S. Congress passed the Oil Pollution Act of1990 (commonly referred to as OPA 90). This legislation required the President of the United States to issue regulations that require owners and operators of tank vessels, offshore facilities or certain onshore facilities to prepare and submit response plans (to applicable agencies) for responding to the discharge and/or the substantial threat of a discharge of oil. The U.S. Coast Guard regulates vessel response plans and marine transportation-related (MTR) facilities, because of their location, could reasonably be expected to cause "substantial harm" to the environment by discharging oil. Payne Environmental Services is knowledgeable of the regulations and experienced in the preparation of response plans that accurately reflects facility operations. We would appreciate the opportunity to work with your team on the preparation (or revision) of your VRP or FRP. Payne Environmental Services provides consulting and plan preparation for the following documents:

• Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) Plans
• Facility Response Plan (FRP)
• Vessel Response Plan (VRP)