The independent SPCC resource

Why this site exists

Search for "SPCC plan requirements" and you'll find articles from New Pig, Justrite, RMA Green, and AssetGuard. They're useful up to a point — then they end with "contact us for a quote" or "shop our containment products." That commercial agenda shapes what gets explained and what gets left out.

Facilities managers, EHS coordinators, farm operators, and anyone else responsible for oil storage compliance deserve a resource with no agenda. No containment products to sell. No consulting services to pitch. No software subscription to push.

That's what this site is. We explain what 40 CFR Part 112 actually requires, which violations get facilities cited most often, how to size containment correctly, and when you genuinely need to hire a professional versus when you can handle it yourself.

What we cover

The site is built around four compliance pillars:

• SPCC plan requirements — Who needs a plan, the three plan types (Tier I, Tier II, PE-certified), what the plan must contain, certification requirements, the 5-year review cycle, and amendment triggers.
• Secondary containment — How to calculate required containment volume under 40 CFR 112.8, why the "110% rule" is often misapplied, which products satisfy SPCC requirements for different container types, and the open drain valve problem that generates more inspection findings than anything else.
• Aboveground storage tanks — AST regulations, inspection requirements, when double-wall tanks satisfy SPCC secondary containment, and state-specific programs beyond federal requirements.
• Inspections, recordkeeping, and spill response — Monthly inspection obligations, the 3-year records retention requirement, discharge reporting thresholds, annual training requirements, and spill response documentation.

We also cover state-specific requirements for the five states that add obligations on top of federal SPCC: California (CUPA/HMBP), Texas (TCEQ), New York (PBS), New Jersey (DPRA), and Pennsylvania (Chapter 245).

Who this is written for

Three audiences with different SPCC situations, all served equally:

• EHS coordinators and environmental managers at manufacturing, distribution, fleet, and utility facilities who inherited SPCC responsibility without prior training and need to understand what they actually have to do.
• Facilities directors at hospitals, data centers, universities, schools, and municipalities who discovered that backup generators and transformers may put them over the 1,320-gallon threshold — and had no idea SPCC applied to them.
• Farm owners and agricultural operators with bulk diesel storage who need a direct answer on whether they qualify, what the farm self-certification pathway requires, and what a plan actually involves.

How we handle product recommendations and lead generation

This site earns revenue in two ways, and we're transparent about both.

Product affiliate links. When an article explains that a compliance requirement calls for a specific type of containment product — a spill pallet for drum storage, a containment berm for a fuel tank, an IBC containment station for totes — we recommend specific products and link to retailers. Those links may earn a commission at no cost to you. We compare products across manufacturers and recommend based on SPCC compliance fit, not commission rate.

Lead generation referrals. When an article establishes that you need a PE-certified SPCC plan or a qualified plan writer, we refer you to licensed consultants and PE firms. Those referrals may earn a fee. We refer based on geographic coverage and qualification, not because any firm sponsors this site.

Neither revenue stream influences editorial decisions. Articles about containment requirements don't recommend products unless the compliance situation calls for them. We don't insert product CTAs into compliance education articles.

What we are not

This site is not a law firm, an environmental consulting firm, or an engineering company. The guidance here is general compliance information based on publicly available EPA regulations and enforcement data. It is not legal advice, engineering advice, or a substitute for a site-specific assessment by a licensed professional.

When you need a PE-certified SPCC plan, we'll tell you so — and help you find one. When a compliance question requires a site-specific engineering judgment, we'll say that too.

Geographic scope

The federal SPCC program under 40 CFR Part 112 applies in all 50 states. This site covers federal requirements nationally and provides state-specific guidance for California, Texas, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania — the five states with documented additional requirements beyond the federal baseline. All other states follow federal rules and are covered under national content.