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  • DEP Issue Profile: SPCC, Emergency Response and Integrated contingency Plans
    • SPCC Plans for Aboveground Oil Storage Tanks
      • Oil SPCC Plan Guidance Document for Aboveground Storage Tank Facilities
      • Model Oil SPCC Plan for Retail Facilities
        • Model Oil SPCC Plan for Bulk Plants
        • Notice for Professional Engineers who do SPCC Planning
          • A list of some Professional Engineers for SPCC Planning and Implementation Responding to Oil & Hazardous Materials Spills
          • 2006 Report to Legislature
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Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasures

• Introduction

• Contacts
• SPCC Statutory Section
• SPCC Federal Law
• SPCC Lists, Publications, Reports and Studies
• Related Programs

Introduction

 

The term "SPCC Plan," as used in federal regulations under the Clean Water Act, stands for "Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure Plan." An Oil SPCC plan is a plan prepared in accordance with good engineering practices to prevent and clean up spills from oil storage tanks. "Oil" as defined in the federal regulations includes petroleum oils such as gasoline, diesel and heating oil as well as non-petroleum oils such as animal or vegetable oils, synthetic oils, and mineral oils.

The federal SPCC plan requirements apply specifically to oil storage facilities with an aggregate storage capacity greater than 1,320 gallons and where a discharge could reach a navigable water body, either directly or indirectly. Any oil storage container or tank that is 55 gallons or larger in size counts towards the total aggregate storage capacity. Most areas in Maine are considered locations where a discharge could reach navigable waters.

In 2002, the Maine Legislature enacted 38 MRSA § 570-K(5), giving the Maine DEP authority to oversee compliance with the federal SPCC requirements for aboveground storage facilities that exceed the federal 1,320 gallon aggregate storage capacity threshold and are used to market and distribute oil.

An SPCC plan lists the containment equipment and structures used to prevent spills from reaching ground water or surface water, and it identifies the inspection, monitoring and oil transfer procedures that will be followed to prevent a spill. If a spill occurs, a well-developed Oil SPCC plan will identify whom to call, and will specify steps, or "countermeasures," to contain the spill and minimize environmental impacts. The specific SPCC requirements for oil storage facilities are found in federal regulation, 40 CFR Part 112. A qualified professional engineer must examine the plan and attest that it has been prepared in accordance with good engineering practices.

 

Contacts - Who to contact for more information regarding SPCC requirement

For information on Maine's SPCC program that applies to facilities with more than 1,320 gallons of aboveground oil storage and that market or distribute oil to others contact the Maine Department of Environmental Protection: Division of Technical Services, Dept. of Environmental Protection, 17 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0017; telephone: (207) 287-2651 or in-state toll free (800) 452-1942; e-mail: David McCaskill at (207) 287-7056 or e-mail: Butch Bowie or call (207) 287-4804.

For information on the federal SPCC plan requirements that apply to any facility with more than 1,320 gallons of aboveground oil storage contact the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Don Grant, EPA Region 1 (HBR), One Congress Street, Suite 1100, Boston, MA 02114-2023; telephone: (617) 918-1768; e-mail: grant.don@epa.gov

Maine SPCC Statutory Section

38 MRSA § 570-K(5): Aboveground Oil Storage Facilities, Spill Prevention and Control

32 MRSA § 3551: Professional Engineers doing work in Maine must be certified in Maine

SPCC Federal Laws

Federal Oil SPCC Regulation (Current)

SPCC Lists, Fact Sheets, Publications, Reports and Studies

Lists

Updated June 12, 2008 - Professional Engineers available for SPCC Planning and Implementation (pdf format)

Fact Sheets

June 2008 - Fact Sheet - Siting Aboveground Oil Storage Tanks and Other Facilities that Pose a Significant Risk to Drinking Water (pdf format)

Publications

Maine DEP Oil SPCC Guidance Document

Model Oil SPCC Plan for Retail Facilities (MS Word)

Model Oil SPCC Plan for Bulk Plants ( MS Word)

SPCC Guidance for Regional Investigators

Reports

2008 Annual Report to the Maine Legislature on the Maine DEP SPCC Program (MS Word format) (pdf format)

2006 Annual Report to the Maine Legislature on the Maine DEP SPCC Program (htm)

MDEP Report to the Maine Legislature, "Review of Maine's Oil Discharge Reporting Statutes and Regulations," March 2006

Oil Discharge Report Executive Summary - (pdf format)

Oil Discharge Report - (pdf format) - Due to the large file size, you may not be able to download - if you wish to obtain a hard copy, please contact George J. Seel at (207) 287-2651 to obtain a copy.

Oil Discharge Report Appendices - (pdf format) This file size is too large to download - please contact George J. Seel at (207) 287-2651 to obtain a copy.

 

Related Programs

For information on permitting for aboveground oil storage tanks and aboveground piping contact the Maine State Fire Marshal's Office: Stephen W. Dixon, Sr., Public Safety Inspector, State Fire Marshal's Office, 52 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0052; telephone: (207) 626-3890; e-mail: Stephen.W.Dixon@maine.gov

For information on the Maine's requirements for discharging stormwater from containment areas to surface waters contact the Maine Department of Environmental Protection: Erich D. Kluck, Environmental Specialist, Dept. of Environmental Protection, Division of Water Resource Regulation, 17 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0017; telephone: (207) 287-7814 or in-state toll free (800) 452-1942; e-mail: erich.d.kluck@maine.gov

For information on Maine's requirements for underground piping contact the Maine Department of Environmental Protection: Dept. of Environmental Protection, 17 State House Station, Augusta , ME 04333-0017 ; telephone: (207) 287-2651 or in-state toll free (800) 452-1942; e-mail: Butch.Bowie@maine.gov

For information on inventory reporting and emergency response planning requirements for facilities storing oil and/or hazardous materials contact the Maine Emergency Management Agency: Robert S. Gardner, Technological Hazards Specialist, 72 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0072; telephone: (207) 624-4400; e-mail: robert.s.gardner@maine.gov

For information on hazardous matter SPCC plans contact the Maine Department of Environmental Protection: John Dunlap, Environmental Specialist, Hazardous Waste Program, Dept. of Environmental Protection, 17 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0017; telephone: (207) 287-2651 or (207) 287-3547 or in-state toll free (800) 452-1942; e-mail: John.M.Dunlap@Maine.gov

For information regarding Marine Oil Terminals, please contact Rick Kaselis at (207) 287-6113 or (207) 287-2651.

Finance Authority of Maine (FAME) Low Interest Loan Program for Oil Storage Facilities

The Ground Water Oil Clean-Up Fund

 

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