Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasures (SPCC)

Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure Rule

The Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) rule includes requirements for oil spill prevention, preparedness, and response to prevent oil discharges to navigable waters and adjoining shorelines. The rule requires specific facilities to prepare, amend, and implement SPCC Plans. The SPCC rule is part of the Oil Pollution Prevention regulation.

Oil spills can cause significant impact to human health, the environment, and the economy. The Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure rule was promulgated under EPA’s Clean Water Act in 1974. The rule may be found in 40 CFR 112.

Under SPCC, oil is very widely defined and includes, but is not limited to, petroleum, fuel oil, oil refuse and sludge, animal fats, oils or greases, vegetable oils and greases and other oils and greases including synthetic and mineral oils. A facility is subject to SPCC and required to prepare and implement an SPCC plan if it has an aggregate aboveground capacity greater than 1320 gallons in containers 55-gallons or greater or an underground capacity greater than 42,000 gallons and there is a reasonable expectation of a discharge into a navigable waterway or adjoining shoreline. Plans must be reviewed and amended every five years or when facility information (personnel, oil sources, etc.) change.

APSU’s SPCC Plan

Austin Peay State University is subject to the SPCC rule because the university stores more than 1,320 gallons of petroleum products on campus, including gasoline, diesel, hydraulic oils, mineral oil, etc. Our plan identifies areas where there is a potential for an oil release, spill controls that are in place, response activities for the university in the event of an oil spill, inspection forms, etc. We are required to train appropriate personnel in spill response activities, document and report spills and corrective actions, maintain spill kits at key locations on campus, and conduct monthly and/or quarterly inspections on all oil-containing tanks, drums, and equipment that are not exempt from this rule.

In the Event of an Oil Spill

Contact the Physical Plant at 7424 and see the information on environmental releases.