The Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (or SPCC) Regulation, enforced by the EPA, controls oil pollution into U.S. water bodies. Oil Pollution Prevention Regulation (40 CFR 112) requires entities to develop and implement SPCC plans that outline efforts to prevent, respond, and mitigate oil spills into or near navigable waters.
Regulatory Requirements
A facility is required to have a SPCC Plan when they have any of the following:
- The potential to discharge harmful amounts of oil into navigable waters or shorelines of the USA
- An above-ground oil storage capacity >1,320 gallons
- An underground oil storage capacity >42,000 gallons
SPCC regulation requires UT to:
- Prepare an SPCC Plan
- Includes annual employee training requirement
- Routinely inspect units and proactively prevent discharges from oil storing units
Inspections
If you are a UT student, staff, or faculty member using oil or petroleum products on campus OR managing oil filled equipment, you are required to submit an inspection report based on the below schedule:
- Monthly
- Bulk storage >55 gallons
- Above ground storage tanks
- Fuel tanks
- Quarterly
- Equipment (transformers, generators) without secondary containment
- Annually
- Elevators
- Equipment with secondary containment
Submit inspections and report inventory updates to EHS-EnvironmentalOps@austin.utexas.edu
Construction Site Oil Storage
SPCC inspection reports are not required for temporary oil storage at construction sites; however good housekeeping must be practiced in compliance with the TCEQ Construction General Permit and Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans as applicable. Best management practices are as follows:
- All containers should be consistently monitored for signs of significant rusting, pitting, or other evidence of deterioration or damage.
- All containers should be stored with secondary containment and under cover (tarp or covered building).
- Containers of fuel and oil should be located on stable ground and not in close proximity to storm sewer inlets or in the pathway of vehicular/equipment traffic.
- All containers must be clearly labeled and tightly sealed unless directly in use.
- Oil spill kits should be left onsite near storage locations.
- Container storage areas must be easy to locate and navigate through in case of accidental spills.
Resources
*Note: Submit buttons on forms may not work unless the form is opened using Acrobat or Foxit.
- SPCC Plan, Main Campus (PDF), annual update (2023)
- SPCC Plan, JJ Pickle Research Campus (PDF), annual update (2023)
- SPCC Container Storage Area Inspection Report (PDF)
- SPCC Containment Drainage Report (PDF)
- SPCC Fuel Delivery Checklist (PDF)
- SPCC Fuel Petroleum Storage Tanks Inspection Form (PDF)
- SPCC Generators Inspection Report (PDF)
- SPCC Inspection Frequency Exemption Request (PDF)
- SPCC Operational Oil-Filled Equipment Inspection Report (PDF)
- SPCC Yellow Grease Tank Inspection Report (PDF)
Reporting an Oil Spill
UT can be subject to fines and violations if oil is discharged to local waterbodies. Report an oil spill here:
Hotline: (512) 471-3511