Oil Pollution Prevention; Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) Rule-Compliance Date Amendment

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or the Agency) is promulgating a new compliance date of November 10, 2011 by which certain facilities must prepare or amend their Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) Plans, and implement those Plans, providing an additional year for certain facilities. This action allows additional time for those affected in the regulated community to understand the revisions to the SPCC rule finalized in December 2008 and November 2009. However, EPA is not extending the compliance date for drilling, production or workover facilities that are offshore or that have an offshore component, or for onshore facilities required to have and submit Facility Response Plans (FRPs). Additionally, the Agency is delaying the compliance date by which facilities must address milk and milk product containers, associated piping and appurtenances that are constructed according to the current applicable 3-A Sanitary Standards, and subject to the current applicable Grade "A" Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (PMO) or a State dairy regulatory requirement equivalent to the current applicable PMO. The date by which the owner or operator of a facility must comply with the SPCC requirements for these milk and milk product containers is delayed one year from the effective date of a final rule specifically addressing these milk and milk product containers, associated piping and appurtenances, or as specified by a rule that otherwise establishes a compliance date for these facilities. Both the extension and delay of the compliance date provide time for certain facilities to undertake the actions necessary to prepare or amend their SPCC Plans, as well as implement them.