The purpose of the Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) rule is to help facilities prevent a discharge of oil into navigable waters or adjoining shorelines.

This rule is part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s oil spill prevention program and was published under the authority of Section 311(j)(1)(C) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (Clean Water Act) in 1974. The rule may be found at Title 40, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 112 (EPA).

A facility is covered by the SPCC rule if it has an aggregate above ground oil/fuel storage capacity greater than 1,320 U.S. gallons or a below ground storage capacity greater than 42,000 U.S. gallons.

The SPCC Plan does not replace the required Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan, but is an additional document that includes directives and Best Management Practices for the containment and/or possible spillage of oil/fuel.

The preparation of a SPCC Plan is the responsibility of the facility owner or operator. The owner or operator may be eligible to self-certify the SPCC Plan if the facility meets the following eligibility criteria for a qualified facility:

1. Total aboveground oil storage capacity of 10,000 U.S. gallons or less, and

2. In the 3 years prior to the date the SPCC Plan is certified, the facility has had no single discharge of oil to navigable waters or adjoining shorelines exceeding 1,000 U.S. gallons, or no two discharges of oil to navigable waters or adjoining shorelines each exceeding 42 U.S. gallons within any 12-month period.

If the facility does not meet the above criteria, the SPCC Plan must be certified by a licensed Professional Engineer (PE).