40 CFR 112.20 – Facility response plans
(a) The owner or operator of any non-transportation-related onshore facility that, because of its location, could reasonably be expected to cause substantial harm to the environment by discharging oil into or on the navigable waters or adjoining shorelines shall prepare and submit a facility response plan to the Regional Administrator, according to the following provisions:
(1) For the owner or operator of a facility in operation on or before February 18, 1993 who is required to prepare and submit a response plan under 33 U.S.C. § 1321(j)(5), the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (Pub. L. 101-380, 33 U.S.C. § 2701 et seq.) requires the submission of a response plan that satisfies the requirements of 33 U.S.C. § 1321(j)(5) no later than February 18, 1993.
(i) The owner or operator of an existing facility that was in operation on or before February 18, 1993 who submitted a response plan by February 18, 1993 shall revise the response plan to satisfy the requirements of this section and resubmit the response plan or updated portions of the response plan to the Regional Administrator by February 18, 1995.
(ii) The owner or operator of an existing facility in operation on or before February 18, 1993 who failed to submit a response plan by February 18, 1993 shall prepare and submit a response plan that satisfies the requirements of this section to the Regional Administrator before August 30, 1994.
(2) The owner or operator of a facility in operation on or after August 30, 1994 that satisfies the criteria in paragraph (f)(1) of this section or that is notified by the Regional Administrator pursuant to paragraph (b) of this section shall prepare and submit a facility response plan that satisfies the requirements of this section to the Regional Administrator.
(i) For a facility that commenced operations after February 18, 1993 but prior to August 30, 1994, and is required to prepare and submit a response plan based on the criteria in paragraph (f)(1) of this section, the owner or operator shall submit the response plan or updated portions of the response plan, along with a completed version of the response plan cover sheet contained in appendix F to this part, to the Regional Administrator prior to August 30, 1994.
(ii) For a newly constructed facility that commences operation after August 30, 1994, and is required to prepare and submit a response plan based on the criteria in paragraph (f)(1) of this section, the owner or operator shall submit the response plan, along with a completed version of the response plan cover sheet contained in appendix F to this part, to the Regional Administrator prior to the start of operations (adjustments to the response plan to reflect changes that occur at the facility during the start-up phase of operations must be submitted to the Regional Administrator after an operational trial period of 60 days).
(iii) For a facility required to prepare and submit a response plan after August 30, 1994, as a result of a planned change in design, construction, operation, or maintenance that renders the facility subject to the criteria in paragraph (f)(1) of this section, the owner or operator shall submit the response plan, along with a completed version of the response plan cover sheet contained in appendix F to this part, to the Regional Administrator before the portion of the facility undergoing change commences operations (adjustments to the response plan to reflect changes that occur at the facility during the start-up phase of operations must be submitted to the Regional Administrator after an operational trial period of 60 days).
(iv) For a facility required to prepare and submit a response plan after August 30, 1994, as a result of an unplanned event or change in facility characteristics that renders the facility subject to the criteria in paragraph (f)(1) of this section, the owner or operator shall submit the response plan, along with a completed version of the response plan cover sheet contained in appendix F to this part, to the Regional Administrator within six months of the unplanned event or change.
(3) In the event the owner or operator of a facility that is required to prepare and submit a response plan uses an alternative formula that is comparable to one contained in appendix C to this part to evaluate the criterion in paragraph (f)(1)(ii)(B) or (f)(1)(ii)(C) of this section, the owner or operator shall attach documentation to the response plan cover sheet contained in appendix F to this part that demonstrates the reliability and analytical soundness of the alternative formula.
(4) Preparation and submission of response plans—Animal fat and vegetable oil facilities. The owner or operator of any non-transportation-related facility that handles, stores, or transports animal fats and vegetable oils must prepare and submit a facility response plan as follows:
(i) Facilities with approved plans. The owner or operator of a facility with a facility response plan that has been approved under paragraph (c) of this section by July 31, 2000 need not prepare or submit a revised plan except as otherwise required by paragraphs (b), (c), or (d) of this section.
(ii) Facilities with plans that have been submitted to the Regional Administrator. Except for facilities with approved plans as provided in paragraph (a)(4)(i) of this section, the owner or operator of a facility that has submitted a response plan to the Regional Administrator prior to July 31, 2000 must review the plan to determine if it meets or exceeds the applicable provisions of this part. An owner or operator need not prepare or submit a new plan if the existing plan meets or exceeds the applicable provisions of this part. If the plan does not meet or exceed the applicable provisions of this part, the owner or operator must prepare and submit a new plan by September 28, 2000.
(iii) Newly regulated facilities. The owner or operator of a newly constructed facility that commences operation after July 31, 2000 must prepare and submit a plan to the Regional Administrator in accordance with paragraph (a)(2)(ii) of this section. The plan must meet or exceed the applicable provisions of this part. The owner or operator of an existing facility that must prepare and submit a plan after July 31, 2000 as a result of a planned or unplanned change in facility characteristics that causes the facility to become regulated under paragraph (f)(1) of this section, must prepare and submit a plan to the Regional Administrator in accordance with paragraph (a)(2)(iii) or (iv) of this section, as appropriate. The plan must meet or exceed the applicable provisions of this part.
(iv) Facilities amending existing plans. The owner or operator of a facility submitting an amended plan in accordance with paragraph (d) of this section after July 31, 2000, including plans that had been previously approved, must also review the plan to determine if it meets or exceeds the applicable provisions of this part. If the plan does not meet or exceed the applicable provisions of this part, the owner or operator must revise and resubmit revised portions of an amended plan to the Regional Administrator in accordance with paragraph (d) of this section, as appropriate. The plan must meet or exceed the applicable provisions of this part.
(b)(1) The Regional Administrator may at any time require the owner or operator of any non-transportation-related onshore facility to prepare and submit a facility response plan under this section after considering the factors in paragraph (f)(2) of this section. If such a determination is made, the Regional Administrator shall notify the facility owner or operator in writing and shall provide a basis for the determination. If the Regional Administrator notifies the owner or operator in writing of the requirement to prepare and submit a response plan under this section, the owner or operator of the facility shall submit the response plan to the Regional Administrator within six months of receipt of such written notification.
(2) The Regional Administrator shall review plans submitted by such facilities to determine whether the facility could, because of its location, reasonably be expected to cause significant and substantial harm to the environment by discharging oil into or on the navigable waters or adjoining shorelines.
(c) The Regional Administrator shall determine whether a facility could, because of its location, reasonably be expected to cause significant and substantial harm to the environment by discharging oil into or on the navigable waters or adjoining shorelines, based on the factors in paragraph (f)(3) of this section. If such a determination is made, the Regional Administrator shall notify the owner or operator of the facility in writing and:
(1) Promptly review the facility response plan;
(2) Require amendments to any response plan that does not meet the requirements of this section;
(3) Approve any response plan that meets the requirements of this section; and
(4) Review each response plan periodically thereafter on a schedule established by the Regional Administrator provided that the period between plan reviews does not exceed five years.
(d)(1) The owner or operator of a facility for which a response plan is required under this part shall revise and resubmit revised portions of the response plan within 60 days of each facility change that materially may affect the response to a worst case discharge, including:
(i) A change in the facility’s configuration that materially alters the information included in the response plan;
(ii) A change in the type of oil handled, stored, or transferred that materially alters the required response resources;
(iii) A material change in capabilities of the oil spill removal organization(s) that provide equipment and personnel to respond to discharges of oil described in paragraph (h)(5) of this section;
(iv) A material change in the facility’s spill prevention and response equipment or emergency response procedures; and
(v) Any other changes that materially affect the implementation of the response plan.
(2) Except as provided in paragraph (d)(1) of this section, amendments to personnel and telephone number lists included in the response plan and a change in the oil spill removal organization(s) that does not result in a material change in support capabilities do not require approval by the Regional Administrator. Facility owners or operators shall provide a copy of such changes to the Regional Administrator as the revisions occur.
(3) The owner or operator of a facility that submits changes to a response plan as provided in paragraph (d)(1) or (d)(2) of this section shall provide the EPA-issued facility identification number (where one has been assigned) with the changes.
(4) The Regional Administrator shall review for approval changes to a response plan submitted pursuant to paragraph (d)(1) of this section for a facility determined pursuant to paragraph (f)(3) of this section to have the potential to cause significant and substantial harm to the environment.
(e) If the owner or operator of a facility determines pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of this section that the facility could not, because of its location, reasonably be expected to cause substantial harm to the environment by discharging oil into or on the navigable waters or adjoining shorelines, the owner or operator shall complete and maintain at the facility the certification form contained in appendix C to this part and, in the event an alternative formula that is comparable to one contained in appendix C to this part is used to evaluate the criterion in paragraph (f)(1)(ii)(B) or (f)(1)(ii)(C) of this section, the owner or operator shall attach documentation to the certification form that demonstrates the reliability and analytical soundness of the comparable formula and shall notify the Regional Administrator in writing that an alternative formula was used.
(f)(1) A facility could, because of its location, reasonably be expected to cause substantial harm to the environment by discharging oil into or on the navigable waters or adjoining shorelines pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of this section, if it meets any of the following criteria applied in accordance with the flowchart contained in attachment C-I to appendix C to this part:
(i) The facility transfers oil over water to or from vessels and has a total oil storage capacity greater than or equal to 42,000 gallons; or
(ii) The facility’s total oil storage capacity is greater than or equal to 1 million gallons, and one of the following is true:
(A) The facility does not have secondary containment for each aboveground storage area sufficiently large to contain the capacity of the largest aboveground oil storage tank within each storage area plus sufficient freeboard to allow for precipitation;
(B) The facility is located at a distance (as calculated using the appropriate formula in appendix C to this part or a comparable formula) such that a discharge from the facility could cause injury to fish and wildlife and sensitive environments. For further description of fish and wildlife and sensitive environments, see Appendices I, II, and III of the “Guidance for Facility and Vessel Response Plans: Fish and Wildlife and Sensitive Environments” (see appendix E to this part, section 13, for availability) and the applicable Area Contingency Plan prepared pursuant to section 311(j)(4) of the Clean Water Act;
(C) The facility is located at a distance (as calculated using the appropriate formula in appendix C to this part or a comparable formula) such that a discharge from the facility would shut down a public drinking water intake; or
(D) The facility has had a reportable oil discharge in an amount greater than or equal to 10,000 gallons within the last 5 years.
(2)(i) To determine whether a facility could, because of its location, reasonably be expected to cause substantial harm to the environment by discharging oil into or on the navigable waters or adjoining shorelines pursuant to paragraph (b) of this section, the Regional Administrator shall consider the following:
(A) Type of transfer operation;
(B) Oil storage capacity;
(C) Lack of secondary containment;
(D) Proximity to fish and wildlife and sensitive environments and other areas determined by the Regional Administrator to possess ecological value;
(E) Proximity to drinking water intakes;
(F) Spill history; and
(G) Other site-specific characteristics and environmental factors that the Regional Administrator determines to be relevant to protecting the environment from harm by discharges of oil into or on navigable waters or adjoining shorelines.
(ii) Any person, including a member of the public or any representative from a Federal, State, or local agency who believes that a facility subject to this section could, because of its location, reasonably be expected to cause substantial harm to the environment by discharging oil into or on the navigable waters or adjoining shorelines may petition the Regional Administrator to determine whether the facility meets the criteria in paragraph (f)(2)(i) of this section. Such petition shall include a discussion of how the factors in paragraph (f)(2)(i) of this section apply to the facility in question. The RA shall consider such petitions and respond in an appropriate amount of time.
(3) To determine whether a facility could, because of its location, reasonably be expected to cause significant and substantial harm to the environment by discharging oil into or on the navigable waters or adjoining shorelines, the Regional Administrator may consider the factors in paragraph (f)(2) of this section as well as the following:
(i) Frequency of past discharges;
(ii) Proximity to navigable waters;
(iii) Age of oil storage tanks; and
(iv) Other facility-specific and Region-specific information, including local impacts on public health.
(g)(1) All facility response plans shall be consistent with the requirements of the National Oil and Hazardous Substance Pollution Contingency Plan (40 CFR part 300) and applicable Area Contingency Plans prepared pursuant to section 311(j)(4) of the Clean Water Act. The facility response plan should be coordinated with the local emergency response plan developed by the local emergency planning committee under section 303 of Title III of the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (42 U.S.C. § 11001 et seq.). Upon request, the owner or operator should provide a copy of the facility response plan to the local emergency planning committee or State emergency response commission.
(2) The owner or operator shall review relevant portions of the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan and applicable Area Contingency Plan annually and, if necessary, revise the facility response plan to ensure consistency with these plans.
(3) The owner or operator shall review and update the facility response plan periodically to reflect changes at the facility.
(h) A response plan shall follow the format of the model facility-specific response plan included in appendix F to this part, unless you have prepared an equivalent response plan acceptable to the Regional Administrator to meet State or other Federal requirements. A response plan that does not follow the specified format in appendix F to this part shall have an emergency response action plan as specified in paragraphs (h)(1) of this section and be supplemented with a cross-reference section to identify the location of the elements listed in paragraphs (h)(2) through (h)(10) of this section. To meet the requirements of this part, a response plan shall address the following elements, as further described in appendix F to this part:
(1) Emergency response action plan. The response plan shall include an emergency response action plan in the format specified in paragraphs (h)(1)(i) through (viii) of this section that is maintained in the front of the response plan, or as a separate document accompanying the response plan, and that includes the following information:
(i) The identity and telephone number of a qualified individual having full authority, including contracting authority, to implement removal actions;
(ii) The identity of individuals or organizations to be contacted in the event of a discharge so that immediate communications between the qualified individual identified in paragraph (h)(1) of this section and the appropriate Federal officials and the persons providing response personnel and equipment can be ensured;
(iii) A description of information to pass to response personnel in the event of a reportable discharge;
(iv) A description of the facility’s response equipment and its location;
(v) A description of response personnel capabilities, including the duties of persons at the facility during a response action and their response times and qualifications;
(vi) Plans for evacuation of the facility and a reference to community evacuation plans, as appropriate;
(vii) A description of immediate measures to secure the source of the discharge, and to provide adequate containment and drainage of discharged oil; and
(viii) A diagram of the facility.
(2) Facility information. The response plan shall identify and discuss the location and type of the facility, the identity and tenure of the present owner and operator, and the identity of the qualified individual identified in paragraph (h)(1) of this section.
(3) Information about emergency response. The response plan shall include:
(i) The identity of private personnel and equipment necessary to remove to the maximum extent practicable a worst case discharge and other discharges of oil described in paragraph (h)(5) of this section, and to mitigate or prevent a substantial threat of a worst case discharge (To identify response resources to meet the facility response plan requirements of this section, owners or operators shall follow appendix E to this part or, where not appropriate, shall clearly demonstrate in the response plan why use of appendix E of this part is not appropriate at the facility and make comparable arrangements for response resources);
(ii) Evidence of contracts or other approved means for ensuring the availability of such personnel and equipment;
(iii) The identity and the telephone number of individuals or organizations to be contacted in the event of a discharge so that immediate communications between the qualified individual identified in paragraph (h)(1) of this section and the appropriate Federal official and the persons providing response personnel and equipment can be ensured;
(iv) A description of information to pass to response personnel in the event of a reportable discharge;
(v) A description of response personnel capabilities, including the duties of persons at the facility during a response action and their response times and qualifications;
(vi) A description of the facility’s response equipment, the location of the equipment, and equipment testing;
(vii) Plans for evacuation of the facility and a reference to community evacuation plans, as appropriate;
(viii) A diagram of evacuation routes; and
(ix) A description of the duties of the qualified individual identified in paragraph (h)(1) of this section, that include:
(A) Activate internal alarms and hazard communication systems to notify all facility personnel;
(B) Notify all response personnel, as needed;
(C) Identify the character, exact source, amount, and extent of the release, as well as the other items needed for notification;
(D) Notify and provide necessary information to the appropriate Federal, State, and local authorities with designated response roles, including the National Response Center, State Emergency Response Commission, and Local Emergency Planning Committee;
(E) Assess the interaction of the discharged substance with water and/or other substances stored at the facility and notify response personnel at the scene of that assessment;
(F) Assess the possible hazards to human health and the environment due to the release. This assessment must consider both the direct and indirect effects of the release (i.e., the effects of any toxic, irritating, or asphyxiating gases that may be generated, or the effects of any hazardous surface water runoffs from water or chemical agents used to control fire and heat-induced explosion);
(G) Assess and implement prompt removal actions to contain and remove the substance released;
(H) Coordinate rescue and response actions as previously arranged with all response personnel;
(I) Use authority to immediately access company funding to initiate cleanup activities; and
(J) Direct cleanup activities until properly relieved of this responsibility.
(4) Hazard evaluation. The response plan shall discuss the facility’s known or reasonably identifiable history of discharges reportable under 40 CFR part 110 for the entire life of the facility and shall identify areas within the facility where discharges could occur and what the potential effects of the discharges would be on the affected environment. To assess the range of areas potentially affected, owners or operators shall, where appropriate, consider the distance calculated in paragraph (f)(1)(ii) of this section to determine whether a facility could, because of its location, reasonably be expected to cause substantial harm to the environment by discharging oil into or on the navigable waters or adjoining shorelines.
(5) Response planning levels. The response plan shall include discussion of specific planning scenarios for:
(i) A worst case discharge, as calculated using the appropriate worksheet in appendix D to this part. In cases where the Regional Administrator determines that the worst case discharge volume calculated by the facility is not appropriate, the Regional Administrator may specify the worst case discharge amount to be used for response planning at the facility. For complexes, the worst case planning quantity shall be the larger of the amounts calculated for each component of the facility;
(ii) A discharge of 2,100 gallons or less, provided that this amount is less than the worst case discharge amount. For complexes, this planning quantity shall be the larger of the amounts calculated for each component of the facility; and
(iii) A discharge greater than 2,100 gallons and less than or equal to 36,000 gallons or 10 percent of the capacity of the largest tank at the facility, whichever is less, provided that this amount is less than the worst case discharge amount. For complexes, this planning quantity shall be the larger of the amounts calculated for each component of the facility.
(6) Discharge detection systems. The response plan shall describe the procedures and equipment used to detect discharges.
(7) Plan implementation. The response plan shall describe:
(i) Response actions to be carried out by facility personnel or contracted personnel under the response plan to ensure the safety of the facility and to mitigate or prevent discharges described in paragraph (h)(5) of this section or the substantial threat of such discharges;
(ii) A description of the equipment to be used for each scenario;
(iii) Plans to dispose of contaminated cleanup materials; and
(iv) Measures to provide adequate containment and drainage of discharged oil.
(8) Self-inspection, drills/exercises, and response training. The response plan shall include:
(i) A checklist and record of inspections for tanks, secondary containment, and response equipment;
(ii) A description of the drill/exercise program to be carried out under the response plan as described in § 112.21;
(iii) A description of the training program to be carried out under the response plan as described in § 112.21; and
(iv) Logs of discharge prevention meetings, training sessions, and drills/exercises. These logs may be maintained as an annex to the response plan.
(9) Diagrams. The response plan shall include site plan and drainage plan diagrams.
(10) Security systems. The response plan shall include a description of facility security systems.
(11) Response plan cover sheet. The response plan shall include a completed response plan cover sheet provided in section 2.0 of appendix F to this part.
(i)(1) In the event the owner or operator of a facility does not agree with the Regional Administrator’s determination that the facility could, because of its location, reasonably be expected to cause substantial harm or significant and substantial harm to the environment by discharging oil into or on the navigable waters or adjoining shorelines, or that amendments to the facility response plan are necessary prior to approval, such as changes to the worst case discharge planning volume, the owner or operator may submit a request for reconsideration to the Regional Administrator and provide additional information and data in writing to support the request. The request and accompanying information must be submitted to the Regional Administrator within 60 days of receipt of notice of the Regional Administrator’s original decision. The Regional Administrator shall consider the request and render a decision as rapidly as practicable.
(2) In the event the owner or operator of a facility believes a change in the facility’s classification status is warranted because of an unplanned event or change in the facility’s characteristics (i.e., substantial harm or significant and substantial harm), the owner or operator may submit a request for reconsideration to the Regional Administrator and provide additional information and data in writing to support the request. The Regional Administrator shall consider the request and render a decision as rapidly as practicable.
(3) After a request for reconsideration under paragraph (i)(1) or (i)(2) of this section has been denied by the Regional Administrator, an owner or operator may appeal a determination made by the Regional Administrator. The appeal shall be made to the EPA Administrator and shall be made in writing within 60 days of receipt of the decision from the Regional Administrator that the request for reconsideration was denied. A complete copy of the appeal must be sent to the Regional Administrator at the time the appeal is made. The appeal shall contain a clear and concise statement of the issues and points of fact in the case. It also may contain additional information from the owner or operator, or from any other person. The EPA Administrator may request additional information from the owner or operator, or from any other person. The EPA Administrator shall render a decision as rapidly as practicable and shall notify the owner or operator of the decision.