Minnesota SPCC Requirements For Farms & Agricultural Facilities

EPA has extended the date that agricultural facilities must come into compliance with the new Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) rule to May 10, 2013. Agricultural facilities in Minnesota that began storing oil before August 16, 2002 must revise their SPCC plan to meet the 2002 changes by the May 2013 deadline.

The Federal SPCC program was developed to prevent oil spills. The rule requires agricultural operators have an SPCC Plan if:

1. The facility stores more than 1,320 gallons of oil or fuel in above ground tanks and/or other types of containers and oil-filled equipment; and
2. A release of oil could reasonably be expected to discharge into waters of the U.S.

Oil includes on-road and off-road diesel; gasoline; lubrication oils; hydraulic oils; crop oil; adjuvant oils; oil sludge; synthetic oils; oil refuse; oil mixed with wastes other than dredged spoil; animal fats; vegetable oils; and fish oils, and other oil-like materials.

There are several exemptions for agricultural operations. These include: milk and milk product containers, associated piping, and appurtenances; home heating oil tanks at single family homes; pesticide containers used to mix and load formulations; and pesticide application equipment.

The recent Rule changes also allow some agricultural operations that store 10,000 gallons of oil or less and meet the Tier 1 or 2 qualified facility requirements to prepare and self-certify their SPCC Plan using a streamlined SPCC Plan format.

Caltha LLP provides expert environmental consultant services in Minnesota to obtain air and wastewater permits, prepare and certify Minnesota SPCC Plans, and to develop cost effective SPCC compliance programs.

For further information, contact Caltha LLP at:
Email: info@calthacompany.com
Phone: (763) 208-6430
Website: http://www.calthacompany.com/
Two Minnesota offices - Minneapolis and Pine River