EPA finalizes SPCC rules…finally

On November 5, 2009, EPA Administrator signed off on the final amendments to the SPCC (Spill Prevention and Control Countermeasures) rules. These final revisions are made to the December 2008 amendments. The final rules modify the December 2008 rule by removing the provisions to: exclude farms and oil production facilities from the loading/unloading rack requirements; exempt produced water containers at an oil production facility; and provide alternative qualified facilities eligibility criteria for an oil production facility.

For details, click here for the full text of the final rules.

By the way, the fact that these latest revisions “remove” certain exclusions and exemptions previously provided in the 2008 amendments is another example of the reversal of Bush rules undertaken by the Obama Administration.