CORE Environmental Consultants, Inc. provided environmental compliance and engineering support for a petroleum storage and distribution facility in Western New York requiring a facility-specific Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) Plan. The facility maintains multiple aboveground storage tanks used for the storage and distribution of petroleum products, including diesel fuel, gasoline, and heating fuels. As part of ongoing regulatory compliance efforts, CORE prepared a comprehensive SPCC Plan in accordance with the requirements of the federal Oil Pollution Prevention regulations under 40 CFR Part 112 and applicable New York State Petroleum Bulk Storage (PBS) regulations.
The project involved a detailed evaluation of storage infrastructure, operational practices, containment systems, stormwater pathways, and spill prevention measures. CORE worked closely with facility personnel to develop practical procedures that support regulatory compliance while integrating seamlessly into daily operations. The resulting plan established a framework for routine inspections, employee training, spill response actions, and long-term environmental risk management.
Developing a comprehensive Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) Plan to help a petroleum storage and distribution facility maintain compliance, reduce environmental risk, and strengthen spill response preparedness.
Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) Plan Preparation
CORE conducted a comprehensive review of facility operations and petroleum storage infrastructure to prepare a site-specific SPCC Plan. The assessment included documentation of aboveground storage tanks, ancillary containers, transfer areas, and operational procedures associated with petroleum handling activities.
The plan was developed to identify potential discharge scenarios and establish measures designed to prevent oil releases from reaching navigable waters or adjoining shorelines. Facility-specific operating procedures, inspection requirements, spill prevention practices, and emergency response measures were incorporated into the final document to create a practical and defensible compliance program. The completed SPCC Plan provides facility personnel with a clear roadmap for maintaining regulatory compliance while reducing environmental liability and operational risk.
Petroleum Bulk Storage Compliance
CORE evaluated the facility’s petroleum storage systems to verify compliance with applicable federal and state requirements. This effort included documentation of tank capacities, product inventories, storage configurations, and associated equipment used throughout the facility.
A detailed review of petroleum bulk storage operations helped identify compliance obligations and operational considerations relevant to spill prevention and response planning. By integrating federal SPCC requirements with New York State PBS regulations, CORE delivered a coordinated compliance approach that supports both regulatory readiness and effective facility management.
Secondary Containment Evaluation
An important component of the project involved evaluating secondary containment systems associated with petroleum storage areas. CORE assessed containment structures, drainage features, and potential release pathways to determine whether existing controls were sufficient to contain a worst-case discharge event.
Containment volume calculations, storage capacity evaluations, and freeboard analyses were performed to verify compliance with regulatory requirements. These evaluations help facility owners demonstrate that secondary containment systems can effectively capture and retain released petroleum products, reducing the potential for environmental impacts and regulatory violations.
Facility Inspections and Risk Assessment
CORE performed on-site inspections to document existing facility conditions and identify potential spill risks. The inspection process included evaluation of storage areas, transfer operations, drainage patterns, stormwater management features, and equipment associated with petroleum handling activities.
Information gathered during field inspections was used to develop facility mapping, drainage analyses, and discharge potential evaluations. These assessments provide a clear understanding of how a release could occur and establish the basis for prevention and response measures included within the SPCC Plan. By identifying potential vulnerabilities before an incident occurs, facility operators can take proactive steps to reduce environmental risk.
Environmental Compliance & Emergency Response Planning
The completed SPCC Plan included detailed inspection procedures, maintenance requirements, employee training protocols, spill response procedures, and emergency notification requirements. CORE developed monthly and annual inspection checklists, tank inspection forms, training records, and response equipment inventories to support long-term compliance efforts.
The plan was certified by a New York State licensed Professional Engineer and established procedures for ongoing compliance management, personnel preparedness, and periodic regulatory review. These tools provide facility operators with the resources needed to maintain compliance while ensuring a prompt and organized response should a release occur.
