The Environmental EPA is once again delaying the effective date of certain final rule amendments that apply to the Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) regulations.
The delay refers to the rule promulgated in the Federal Register December 5, 2008. The amendments will now become effective January 14, 2010.
EPA also is requesting public comment on whether a further delay of the effective date may be warranted. The amendments clarified regulatory requirements, tailored requirements to particular industry sectors, and streamlined certain requirements for facility owners or operators subject to the rule. With these changes, EPA expects to encourage greater compliance with the SPCC regulations.
The amendments did not remove any regulatory requirement for owners or operators of facilities in operation before August 16, 2002, to develop, implement, and maintain an SPCC plan in accordance with the SPCC regulations then in effect. Such facilities are still required to maintain their plans during the interim until the applicable date for revising and implementing their plans under the new amendments.
More information is available online at epa.gov.