Technology surrounds us in today’s world. In fact, it is hard to work, play, shop, travel and live without it. Businesses that operate technology centers for data storage, cloud support, software or hardware support/development, and banking are considered critical operations. Technology centers typically operate diesel-powered emergency generators for maintaining these critical operations in the event of a power interruption.
Aboveground Storage Tanks (ASTs) and/or Portable Containers (drums/totes) are used for oil or fuel storage critical to these operations. If these facilities meet the criteria indicated below, then the facility owner/operator must prepare and implement a Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) Plan according to the Federal Oil Pollution Prevention regulation 40 CFR part 112.
The SPCC Rule applies to facilities that:
- Have an aboveground oil storage capacity of more than 1,320 U.S. gallons (in containers which are 55 gallons or greater), or a completely buried oil storage capacity of more than 42,000 U.S. gallons;
- Could reasonably expect to discharge oil to navigable waters or adjoining shorelines in quantities that may be harmful; and
- Are non-transportation related.
Preparing Your SPCC Plan
Do you have an emergency generator at your data center or critical mission facility in the US? Then you're probably required to prepare and implement a Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) Plan. While each SPCC Plan is unique to the facility, there are four major elements that must be included in all plans.
Learn more about the four elements specific to SPCC Plans:
1. Oil Handling Operations at Tech Industry Facilities:
Emergency Power Generation - Emergency power for critical operations is typically provided by operation of diesel-powered generators. Most often these generators are Genset configurations in which the engine and generator sit on top of the diesel fuel tank. The tank is specifically designed for this purpose and has sized secondary containment provided by a double-wall outer shell. It is critical to check the space between the primary and outer tank wall periodically for leaks. A leak monitor wired into the generator alarm panel provides a means to check this interstitial space for leaks.
There are typically two oil containers associated with a generator:
- A fuel tank - regulated as bulk storage; and
- The working oil volume to lubricate the engine crank case - regulated as oil-filled equipment (OFE) if capacity is 55 gallons or greater.
Day Tanks - Some facilities may also operate day tanks for generator fuel when a larger AST or UST is used for bulk storage at a location distant from the generator. The fuel is pumped to a day tank via piping to be more readily available at the generator. In these instances, or where a fuel tank may have a remote fill location, the piping must also be included in the SPCC plan. Piping must have general secondary containment. General containment must only provide spill control for the most likely spill scenario, whereas sized secondary containment must provide spill control for the entire contents of the largest bulk storage container within the oil storage area.
Waste Handling - Oil wastes often found at these facilities include cafeteria/waste grease containers at offices or large technology campuses and used oil drums for maintenance of generators and other equipment. Cooking grease containers and oil drums are regulated as bulk and portable oil storage containers under the SPCC rule and must be provided with sized secondary containment.
Transformers - Electrical transformers with an oil (dielectric/mineral) capacity of 55 gallons or greater are commonly found with the emergency generators. These transformers can be either facility owned, or public utility owned. If they are facility owned, then the transformers must be included in the SPCC plan as oil-filled electrical equipment and general containment provided.
Elevators - Technology offices may have elevators with hydraulic operation. The hydraulic oil reservoirs associated with elevator equipment are SPCC regulated as oil-filled equipment if they have a capacity of 55 gallons or larger. These reservoirs are usually located in equipment rooms which provide sufficient general secondary containment by concrete floor and walls.
2. Spill Prevention Practices at Technology Industry Facilities:
The SPCC plan should discuss spill prevention control and countermeasure practices such as secondary containment installed to prevent oil spills from entering navigable waters or adjoining shorelines. Spill prevention at technology centers is most commonly provided by double-walled tanks with overfill protection and spill pallets for drums.
3. Discharge or drainage controls:
Discharge and drainage controls at these facilities can include both passive (containment dikes, double-walled tanks) and active (spill kits) containment measures as well as a description of drainage pathways that lead to navigable waterways. Spill prediction pathways must be interpreted as if the containment measures did not exist and consider precipitation runoff.
4. Personnel, equipment, and resources at the facility used to prevent oil spills:
Personnel – The facility management personnel responsible for SPCC plan implementation and day-to-day operations involving oil storage at the facility must be identified by name, title, and phone within the SPCC plan.
Equipment and Resources - Countermeasures to contain, clean up, and mitigate the effects of an oil spill that has impacted navigable waters or adjoining shorelines must also be included in a facilities’ SPCC plan. This equipment and resources are most often provided by a spill contractor who would be called on to respond in the event of a spill. The spill contractor’s contact information must be provided in the SPCC plan.
Annual SPCC Training - SPCC regulations require, “At a minimum, train your oil-handling personnel in the operation and maintenance of equipment to prevent discharges; discharge procedure protocols; applicable pollution control laws, rules, and regulations; general facility operations; and, the contents of the facility SPCC Plan. (40 CFR 112.7 (f)(1)).” This training must be completed annually. Training must be documented and records must be maintained for three years.
SPCC Plan Amendments
The owner/operator of a SPCC regulated facility, and as part of the associated SPCC Plan, “shall amend the SPCC Plan whenever there is a change, which materially affects the facility’s potential for discharge. Such amendments shall be prepared within six months, and implemented as soon as possible, but not later than six months following preparation of the amendment. (40 CFR 112.5(a))."
Common ‘technical’ changes that occur at a technology industry facility include:
- Replacing a generator with a larger unit and tank.
- New construction typically resulting in the addition of additional generators.
- Addition or removal of waste cooking grease containers or maintenance oil drums.
- Major campus refresh resulting in the removal of several buildings and construction of new facilities over several years including adding new generators. This brings about the need for more frequent SPCC plan amendments.
