Maintaining Aboveground Storage Tanks in Accordance With SPCC Requirements

Dec 23, 2020 9:40 AM ET
aboveground storage tanks

Maintaining Aboveground Storage Tanks in Accordance with SPCC Requirements

Aboveground Storage Tanks (ASTs) are ubiquitous across different industries today including transportation, manufacturing, oil & gas (exploration, production, refining, and distribution), mining, construction, technology, and food and beverage to name a few. If these ASTs contain oil (as defined by 40 CFR 112.2) and the facility meets the criteria indicated, then the ASTs must be managed according to the Federal Oil Pollution Prevention regulation 40 CFR part 112, which requires the facility owner/operator to prepare, amend, and implement a Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) Plan.

The SPCC Rule applies to facilities that: 

  • Have an aboveground oil storage capacity of 1,320 U.S. gallons or more in containers which are 55 gallons or greater, or a completely buried oil storage capacity of 42,000 U.S. gallons or greater; and
  • Could reasonably be expected to discharge oil to navigable waters or adjoining shorelines in quantities that may be harmful; and 
  • Are non-transportation related. 

As the owner/operator of an SPCC regulated facility and as part of your associated SPCC Plan, you must  “test or inspect each aboveground container for integrity on a regular schedule and whenever you make material repairs… in accordance with industry standards.” (40 CFR 112. 8(c)(6))

Why Inspect Your ASTs?

Besides the federal SPCC regulatory requirement to inspect ASTs (Yes, it is a BIG ONE! No one wants hefty EPA fines!), what other benefits are there to proper tank integrity inspection and maintenance? 

Learn more by reading the full post here on Antea Group's blog.

About Antea Group

Antea Group is an international engineering and environmental consulting firm specializing in full-service solutions in the fields of environment, health and safety, infrastructure, urban planning, and water. By combining strategic thinking and multidisciplinary perspectives with technical expertise and pragmatic action, we do more than effectively solve client challenges; we deliver sustainable results for a better future. With more than 3,200 employees in over 90 offices around the world, we serve clients ranging from global energy companies and manufacturers to national governments and local municipalities. Antea Group is a founding member of Inogen Alliance, a global network of independent consulting companies that are together by choice to collaborate around the world on EHS projects for a consistent client experience. Learn more at https://us.anteagroup.com.