EPA strengthened certain provisions of the Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) rule in November, 2009. Drilling, production or workover facilities that are offshore or that have an offshore component, or onshore facilities required to have and submit facility response plans (FRPs), due to the threats these facilities could pose of significant oil spills to navigable waters or adjoining shorelines must have implemented these changes in their SPCC plans by November 10, 2010.
Other facilities have until November 10, 2011 to update or prepare their SPCC Plans. EPA is also delaying the compliance date to address SPCC milk and milk product containers. Facilities in operation before August 16, 2002 must maintain and continue implementing an SPCC plan according to the SPCC regulations then in effect. For details, see http://www.epa.gov/emergencies/content/spcc/compliance_dates.htm. For more information on the SPCC rule, see http://www.epa.gov/emergencies/content/spcc/index.htm.