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Consistent with the Office of Management and Budget's Jan..
21, 2009 memorandum regarding regulatory review, the EPA announced on Friday it
is extending by 60 days the effective date of the Dec. 5, 2008 Oil Spill
Prevention, Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) final rule.
The amendments will now become effective on April 4, 2009.
In addition to extending the effective date, in a press release Friday, the EPA announced it is also providing a 30-day public comment period for the SPCC final rule. While the agency will accept public comment on all aspects of this rule, the EPA noted it is particularly interested in comment on the requirements for produced water containers at oil production facilities, and the criteria for identification of qualified oil production facilities eligible to self-certify their SPCC plans. In addition, the EPA is requesting public comment on the 60-day extension of the effective date itself. Comments are due 30 days after the date of publication in the Federal Register.
The agency is also reviewing the dates by which owners or operators of facilities must prepare or amend their SPCC plans, and implement the plans. In its release, the EPA said it intends to address these compliance dates in a separate notice.
Neither this extension, nor the final rule remove any regulatory requirement for owners or operators of facilities in operation before Au. 16, 2002 to maintain an SPCC plan in accordance with the SPCC regulations.
The amendments will now become effective on April 4, 2009.
In addition to extending the effective date, in a press release Friday, the EPA announced it is also providing a 30-day public comment period for the SPCC final rule. While the agency will accept public comment on all aspects of this rule, the EPA noted it is particularly interested in comment on the requirements for produced water containers at oil production facilities, and the criteria for identification of qualified oil production facilities eligible to self-certify their SPCC plans. In addition, the EPA is requesting public comment on the 60-day extension of the effective date itself. Comments are due 30 days after the date of publication in the Federal Register.
The agency is also reviewing the dates by which owners or operators of facilities must prepare or amend their SPCC plans, and implement the plans. In its release, the EPA said it intends to address these compliance dates in a separate notice.
Neither this extension, nor the final rule remove any regulatory requirement for owners or operators of facilities in operation before Au. 16, 2002 to maintain an SPCC plan in accordance with the SPCC regulations.
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