Oil Pollution Prevention Regulation Overview 

 Overview

 Key Provisions of the Oil Pollution Prevention Regulation

 Full Text 

 Related Federal Register Notices 

 For More Information 

Overview

Originally published in 1973 under the authority of §311 of the Clean Water Act, the Oil 

Pollution Prevention regulation sets forth requirements for prevention of, preparedness for, 

and response to oil discharges at specific non-transportation-related facilities. To prevent oil

from reaching navigable waters and adjoining shorelines, and to contain discharges of oil, 

the regulation requires these facilities to develop and implement Spill Prevention, Control, 

and Countermeasure (SPCC) Plans and establishes procedures, methods, and equipment 

requirements (Subparts A, B, and C). In 1990, the Oil Pollution Act amended the Clean 

Water Act to require some oil storage facilities to prepare Facility Response Plans. On July 1, 

1994, EPA finalized the revisions that direct facility owners or operators to prepare and 

submit plans for responding to a worst-case discharge of oil (Subpart D).

Following the Floreffe, Pennsylvania oil spill in 1988, EPA formed the SPCC Task Force to 

examine federal regulations governing oil spills from aboveground storage tanks. The SPCC 

Task Force recommended that EPA clarify certain provisions in the Oil Pollution Prevention 

regulation, establish additional technical requirements for regulated facilities, and require 

the preparation of facility-specific response plans. In response to the Task Force 

recommendation, EPA proposed revisions to the Oil Pollution Prevention regulation in the 

1990s and finalized the amendments in 2002. EPA has since amended the SPCC 

requirements of the Oil Pollution Prevention regulation to extend compliance dates and 

clarify and/or tailor specific regualtory requirements.

Key Provisions 

Subpart A - Applicability, Definitions, and General Requirements For All Facilities and All 

Types of Oil

Section 112.1 General applicability

Section 112.2 Definitions
Section 112.3 Requirement to prepare and implement a Spill Prevention, Control, and 

Countermeasure Plan

Section 112.4 Amendment of Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure Plan by 

Regional Administrator

Section 112.5 Amendment of Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure Plan by owners 

or operators

Section 112.6 Qualified Facility Plan requirements 

Section 112.7 General requirements for Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure Plans

Subpart B - Requirements for Petroleum Oils and Non-Petroleum Oils, Except Animal Fats 

and Oils and Greases, and Fish and Marine Mammal Oils; and Vegetable Oils (Including Oils 

from Seeds, Nuts, Fruits, and Kernels)

Section 112.8 Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure Plan requirements for onshore 

facilities (excluding production facilities)

Section 112.9 Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure Plan requirements for onshore 

oil production facilities

Section 112.10 Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure Plan requirements for 

onshore oil drilling and workover facilities

Section 112.11 Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure Plan requirements for 

offshore oil drilling, production, or workover facilities

Subpart C - Requirements for Animal Fats and Oils and Greases, and Fish and Marine 

Mammal Oils; and for Vegetable Oils, Including Oils from Seeds, Nuts, Fruits, and Kernels

Section 112.12 Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure Plan requirements

Subpart D - Response Requirements

Section 112.20 Facility response plans

Section 112.21 Facility response training and drills/exercises
Appendices

Appendix A Memorandum of Understanding Between the Secretary of Transportation and 

the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency 

Appendix B Memorandum of Understanding Among the Secretary of the Interior, Secretary 

of Transportation, and Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency 

Appendix C Substantial Harm Criteria 

Appendix D Determination of a Worst Case Discharge Planning Volume 

Appendix E Determination and Evaluation of Required Response Resources for Facility 

Response Plans 

Appendix F Facility-Specific Response Plan