Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) compliance is among the most complicated requirements for oil and gas facilities. Adhering to these standards is crucial for protecting the environment and public health, meeting federal regulations, and avoiding severe financial consequences. Therefore, selecting the most effective solutions for SPCC compliance is essential for preventing spills and ensuring safety excellence.
Depending on whether you want to bolster your SPCC plan or upgrade existing containment systems, the following providers offer reliable equipment and regulatory mastery to help you make informed decisions.
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Solidification Products International
Solidification Products International (SPI) offers free consultations to discover its line of patented oil containment products. This veteran-owned company with 30 years of operations has delivered solutions designed to prevent hydrocarbon leaching worldwide. Its inventory includes petro plugs, pipes and barriers.
In particular, the Petro-Liner Wall Box enables quick installation and complete water and oil sealage. Made entirely from aluminum, the wall box comes with a water sump for immediate drainage with a high flow rate of eight to 10 gallons per minute.
SPI’s research and development team has continuously improved its innovations. It currently has over 100,000 product applications in use globally and maintains a clean record for avoiding oil leaks with its systems. Technicians also conduct ongoing tests to provide proper seals in case a spill occurs with any of the products.
This provider especially stands out for its patented filtering technologies. For instance, the Petro-Pipe creates a seal to prevent spills while enabling rainwater flow. The Petro-Plug prevents hydrocarbon leaching through small floor drains. You can fill out the online form for a quote or call the office to speak with a representative about your specific containment requirements for SPCC compliance.
Key Features
- 30 years in operation
- Veteran-owned company
- Free consultations and estimates
- Patented filtering technology
- Ongoing research and development for product improvements
Justrite
Justrite offers several secondary spill containment products to help your facility comply with SPCC regulations. Options include the following:
- Spill containment pallets: Stores drums, barrels, and hazardous material containers using patented EcoPolyBlend construction and sumps
- Berms: Portable and flexible berms for drums, tanks, totes, and other equipment, available for customization
- Drum storage: Comprises drum funnels and collection systems for safely storing drums, allowing you to contain spills and leaks throughout storage and handling
- Absorbents: Offers pads and other absorbent materials as an added component for permanent containment
- Outdoor storage: Weather-resistant drum sheds and lockers for leak-proofing sumps and averting groundwater pollution
A Justrite team member can provide expert guidance to ensure you invest in the most effective solutions for your organization’s SPCC plan. If you are unsatisfied with your purchase, you can request a refund within 30 days.
Schedule a complimentary site visit with an experienced technician to avoid violating Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations, costly fines, and high insurance premiums. Justrite’s assessments help you mitigate risks before they occur, making the workplace safer for your employees.
Key Features
- Broad inventory of products aimed at SPCC compliance
- Superior customer service and expert guidance
- 30-day refunds, no questions asked
- Complimentary site risk assessments
PolyStar Containment
PolyStar Containment has spent over 20 years developing and testing containment solutions to ensure oil and gas facilities are as safe for the environment as possible. The enterprise builds its products using fiberglass and composite materials, guaranteeing corrosion protection and long-lasting durability. They are also chemical-resistant and designed for handling hazardous materials.
You might prefer PolyStar Containment’s surface-mounted systems that do not require excavation and allow for rapid installation. Equipment like the Envirohut Spill Containment System is relocatable, too, making it a flexible option for facilities with evolving operations.
An experienced team member can guide you through the purchasing process and recommend the most suitable products for your facility. They can also configure secondary spill containment solutions for various industry needs. For instance, you can tailor products to meet stringent military standards or optimize truck containment to mitigate spills during transportation.
Contact a representative to discuss various selections and receive a quote. You can also explore its resource library online to learn more about how PolyStar can help you meet SPCC compliance, whether your business is an oil refinery, railcar company, hydraulic fracturing and drilling enterprise, or government entity.
Key Features
- Products made from corrosion-resistant fiberglass and composite materials
- Chemical-resistant materials ideal for hazard material handling
- Customizations available according to industry requirements
- Expert guidance for product recommendations and selections
SafeRack
SafeRack has numerous equipment to help your facility achieve SPCC compliance. It concentrates on secondary containment measures for bulk storage and transportation with products like spill containment berms and walls, truck and railcar containment systems, drum and bulk container spill pallets, and railcar track pans.
In addition to its inventory, SafeRack offers the following services:
- Design support to meet regulatory requirements and decrease operational downtime
- Collaboration with team members for large-scale projects and solutions
- Complimentary on-site safety assessments to determine risks, guarantee compliance and increase efficiency
- Same-day three-dimensional rendering and quotes
Consult with professionals to understand how your facility can meet specific regulatory benchmarks with customized solutions that effectively mitigate hazards. SafeRack constantly seeks innovation and works tirelessly to find new ways of creating unique products for specialized needs. This supplier is also committed to environmental stewardship, achieving ISO14001 certification, determining and reducing energy, waste, and water consumption, and lowering its carbon footprint through various initiatives.
Key Features
- Focused on secondary containment solutions for SPCC compliance
- Comprehensive design support with customizations
- Complimentary on-site risk assessments
- Commitment to environmental sustainability
Ready Containment
Ready Containment has several spill containment products to help you adhere to your SPCC plan, including berms, bladder tanks and onion tanks. The products have a reputation for being reliable and easy to use, with trusted partners like 3M, U.S. military branches, Siemens Energy, Bechtel and FPL.
The UAV bladder tanks are a standout solution because of their lightweight design, durability and unique features. They are made from Grade-A materials and can withstand extreme conditions on land or at sea. Berms also come in various sizes and chemical-resistant materials to help your facility contain hazardous leaks at industrial sites, transportation hubs, and emergency response locations.
This provider of oil containment solutions is certified by ASTM International and manufactures products at its cutting-edge production plant. It is also an ISO 9001:2015 certified company. When working with Ready Containment, you gain access to a knowledgeable, customer-centric team that is honest, ethical and transparent.
It also aims to improve its environmental responsibility by creating products that reduce risk and enhance sustainability. Contact a representative by phone or email, or visit its Florida-based headquarters to learn more about its innovations.
Key Features
- Berms, bladder tanks and onion tanks designed for SPCC compliance
- ASTM International and ISO 9001:2015-certified company
- Experienced team that upholds ethical practices and integrity
- Promotes sustainability with its product line
Choosing the Most Effective Solutions for SPCC Compliance
Choosing the most effective solutions for SPCC compliance requires careful research to understand each entity’s offerings. Your best approach is to create a chart to compare each of their products and services to ensure they align with your facility’s needs and SPCC plan. Consider these important factors during the decision-making process.
| Solutions | Businesses should offer wide-ranging solutions for oil and gas containment systems, inspections and SPCC plan development services. |
| Customizations | You should be able to tailor solutions to your facility’s needs, leveraging scalability for future growth and operational changes. |
| Technology Integrations | Look for solutions that integrate cutting-edge technologies to improve efficiency and reliability. |
| Compliance | Ensure companies have a long-standing reputation for SPCC compliance, with verified expertise and certifications demonstrating industry best practices. |
| Cost Effectiveness | Cost-benefit analyses consider product life cycles against savings from spill prevention. |
| Reputation | Companies respond to customer needs, offer superior support and have a proven track record for excellence. |
Types of Containment Structures
Compliant SPCC solutions for oil and gas include physical structures that prevent discharge, such as secondary berms, spill pallets, drip pans and containment walls. In particular, berms are barriers made from durable materials that store waste at storage or industrial sites. Containment walls are similar but usually constructed around machines and containers for extra protection.
Oftentimes, these structures come with additional coatings and liner systems to deliver a tighter barrier. These solutions meet EPA regulations, enabling oil and gas enterprises to maintain compliance with federal and industry standards at the spill source.
Why Is SPCC Compliance Important for the Oil and Gas Industry?
The oil and gas industry must comply with SPCC regulations to prevent harmful discharges that cause severe environmental damage. Even minor spills can significantly pollute water and soil, endanger wildlife, and upend crucial ecological processes. The U.S. EPA requires facilities to enact plans and procedures for controlling, storing, and averting oil discharges.
The April 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico was the largest marine oil spill in U.S. history. One hundred and thirty-four million gallons of crude oil leaked from an underwater well for three months, which was enough to fill over 200 Olympic-sized swimming pools before technicians could cap it.
In addition to protecting the environment, oil and gas companies will want to comply with SPCC safeguards to maintain their reputations and financial standing. Defiance of such standards can result in significant legal repercussions, exorbitant fines and a compromised public perception. Enterprises that follow SPCC plans demonstrate their commitment to responsible business practices and environmental stewardship.
Who Must Comply With SPCC Regulations?
Facilities are required to comply with SPCC regulations if they have aboveground storage capacity exceeding 1,320 gallons of oil or an underground storage tank capacity of 42,000 gallons. Exemptions apply to various transportation activities, containers holding less than 55 gallons and containers classified as permanently closed. Those required to adhere to SPCC rules must deliver suitable containment of oil and petroleum products for storage and transport and prepare a written SPCC plan.
What Does an SPCC Plan Include?
Those subject to SPCC compliance must write a comprehensive plan detailing their facility’s measures for preventing oil and gas discharges. The plan should cover the following criteria:
- Explanation of operations, including staffing, security, historical records of prior spills and documentation of employee training for handling oil
- Oil release risk assessment estimating potential spill volume and flow directions
- Notification protocols, including communication modes, emergency response lists and alerts to nearby facilities that may be impacted
- A detailed map indicating oil storage and transfer locations
- Descriptions of containment structures and equipment used to avert discharges
- Measures companies will take to cease, contain and remediate spills
- A list of storage inspection procedures
- Formal written pledge to control and remove discharge immediately
- Guidelines for testing leakage of tanks, pipes, valves and containers
Management or a qualified professional engineer has to sign off on your SPCC plan before you begin operations, unless you are eligible to self-certify. You must also update the plan every five years — even if there are no changes — to comply with requirements. All oil and gas-handling employees must undergo extensive training on the plan’s contents.
The most effective solutions for SPCC compliance provide physical safeguards to prevent oil and gas discharges in the natural world. They back up written frameworks by containing and diverting industry pollutants from waterways.
What Are the Penalties for SPCC Noncompliance?
Oil and gas companies that do not comply with SPCC regulations face steep fines. The EPA may issue up to $37,500 in penalties daily per violation. Although the total cannot exceed $295,000, it and the Department of Justice can cite higher fines if the situation warrants them.
In some cases, the federal government might sanction employees in oversight roles for noncompliance-related criminal liabilities. Punishment could include imprisonment for specific violations.
Safety Starts With SPCC Compliance
SPCC compliance is crucial to environmental and public safety in the oil and gas industry. The most effective solutions allow you to uphold the provisions of your SPCC plan and safeguard the planet from potential spills. Explore various solutions to help you prevent and mitigate hazards and maintain your reputation.
