N
The Daily Insight

What is considered oil under SPCC regulations?

Author

Sarah Duran

Updated on May 07, 2026

What is considered oil under SPCC regulations?

Under the SPCC rule (40 CFR 112.2), “Oil means oil of any kind or in any form, including, but not limited to: fats, oils, or greases of animal, fish, or marine mammal origin; vegetable oils, including oils from seeds, nuts, fruits, or kernels; and, other oils and greases, including petroleum, fuel oil, sludge.

What is an oil SPCC?

The purpose of the Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) rule is to help facilities prevent a discharge of oil into navigable waters or adjoining shorelines. The SPCC rule requires facilities to develop, maintain, and implement an oil spill prevention plan, called an SPCC Plan.

What types of oil are covered in the SPCC plan?

Oil of any type and in any form is covered, including, but not limited to: petroleum; fuel oil; sludge; oil refuse; oil mixed with wastes other than dredged spoil; fats, oils or greases of animal, fish, or marine mammal origin; vegetable oils, including oil from seeds, nuts, fruits, or kernels; and other oils and …

What is not regulated under SPCC?

Animal fats and vegetable oils (AFVO)—include fats, oils and grease from animals, fish or marine mammals, and vegetable oils from seeds, nuts, fruits, or kernels. Hazardous wastes that are not oils or are not mixed with oils are not included under the SPCC rule.

Is Diesel considered oil?

Diesel fuel is refined from crude oil and from biomass materials. One of the fuels that Rudolf Diesel originally considered for his engine was vegetable seed oil, an idea that eventually contributed to biodiesel production and use today.

Who requires an SPCC plan?

If you are operating a facility unrelated to transportation which contains more than 1,320 gallons of aggregate aboveground petroleum storage, and that aggregate is stored in containers with a capacity of 55 gallons or larger, you are required by law to maintain an SPCC plan.

What causes oil spills?

Oil spills often happen because of accidents, when people make mistakes or equipment breaks down. Other causes include natural disasters or deliberate acts. Oil spills have major environmental and economic effects. Oil spills can also affect human health.

What is FRP plan?

The Facility Response Plan (FRP) rule requires certain facilities that store and use oil are required to prepare and submit an FRP. An FRP demonstrates a facility’s preparedness to respond to a worst case oil discharge.

What are the requirements for secondary containment?

Secondary containment needs to be at least the capacity of the container and sufficient freeboard1 for precipitation. For indoor storage, the industry standard is 110 percent of the container’s capacity. For a single drum, that would be 66 gallons of containment capacity.

How much oil is considered a spill?

They are for the most part more stringent than federal reportable quantities. Generally, all spills over five gallons must be reported. Although the requirements relate to hazardous waste, the department considers any material when spilled to be a waste.

Who is required to have an SPCC plan?

Are transformers included in SPCC?

Question – Are transformers covered under SPCC compliance? Answer – Electrical transformers and similar equipment are covered by the SPCC regulation provided that they contain sufficient quantities of oil, and due to location, can reasonably be expected to spill their oil into navigable waters or adjourning shorelines.

What is the SPCC definition of oil?

The SPCC definition of oil is taken from the Clean Water Act: “Oil of any kind in any form, including, but not limited to, petroleum, fuel oil, sludge, oil refuse, and oil mixed with wastes other than dredged spoil.” More specifically, Part 112.2 of the SPCC rule breaks oils into specific types.

What does the SPCC rule apply to?

The SPCC rule applies to both petroleum oils and non-petroleum oils. Petroleum oils include, but are not limited to, crude and refined petroleum products, asphalt, gasoline, fuel oils, mineral oils, naphtha, sludge, oil

How do you calculate SPCC for oil storage containers?

Use the shell capacity of the container (maximum volume) and not the actual amount of product stored in the container (operational volume) to determine whether the SPCC rule applies to you. Count only containers with storage capacity equal to or greater than 55 U.S. gallons. Simply add up the container oil storage capacities and

What is a spill prevention control and counter measures plan (SPCC)?

As a refresher, a Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasures (SPCC) plan is required for facilities storing oil with an aggregate storage capacity greater than 1,320 gallons in containers greater than 55 gallons. The plan is a requirement under the Oil Pollution Act (OPA), an amendment made to the Clean Water Act (CWA) in 1990.