EPA publishes final regulation on oil-spill rule amendments

The US Environmental Protection Agency published a final regulation on Nov. 10 that amends certain requirements for facilities subject to its Oil Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) rule.
EPA said the amendments clarify regulatory requirements, tailor requirements to particular industry sectors, and streamline certain requirements for a facility owner or operator subject to the rule. The action completes the SPCC action, which was proposed on Oct. 15, 2007; finalized on Dec. 5, 2008; and for which the agency received public comments on Feb. 3, 2009.

The amendments do not remove any regulatory requirement for owners and operators of facilities in operation before Aug. 16, 2002, to develop, implement, and maintain an SPCC plan in accordance with regulations which were in effect at that time, EPA said. Such facilities continue to be required to maintain their plans during the interim until the applicable date for revising and implementing their plans under the new amendments.
More information about the SPCC rule is available online at www.epa.gov/emergencies/content/spcc/index.htm.