Federal
Aboveground Storage Tank Rules

In the early 1970's Congress passed the Clean Water Act. This Act created a program, called the Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure Program (SPCC), to regulate certain aboveground storage tanks. The program has expanded and currently applies to certain farming operations. This is a federal program, which can not be delegated to state. For specific information regarding this program you should contact Melissa Payan of federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at (303) 312-6511 or e-mail her at payan.melissa@epa.gov

South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR) routinely receives questions from farmers and ranchers regarding this federal program. To assist them DANR has provided the summary below regarding preparing SPCC plans and list of known firms who provide professional service in writing those plans.
 
EPA SPCC and Farm Tanks


Farms and the Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA)

The Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA) of 2014, was signed into law by the President on June 10, 2014. Section 1049 of the Act changes certain applicability provisions of the SPCC rule for farms, and modifies the criteria under which a farmer may self-certify an SPCC Plan.

 
Under WRRDA, a farm is not required to have an SPCC Plan if it has:
  • An aggregate aboveground storage capacity less than 2,500 gallons, or

  • An aggregate aboveground storage capacity greater than 2,500 gallons and less than 6,000* gallons; and No reportable discharge history.

 
A farmer can self-certify the SPCC Plan if the farm has:
  • An aggregate aboveground storage capacity greater than 6,000* gallons but less than 20,000 gallons;
  • No individual tank with a capacity greater than 10,000 gallons; and
  • No reportable discharge history.

(*This 6,000-gallon threshold may be adjusted by EPA, following a study to determine the appropriate exemption.)

 

A farmer must have a licensed Professional Engineer (PE) certify the SPCC Plan if the farm has:

  • An individual tank with an aboveground storage capacity greater than 10,000 gallons; OR
  • An aggregate aboveground storage capacity greater than or equal to 20,000 gallons; OR
  • A reportable discharge history.

Updates - Study Required by the Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA) and Future Rulemakings

WRRDA directed EPA to conduct a study to determine the appropriate applicability threshold for farms, based on a significant risk of discharge to water. EPA consulted with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to gather the most recent and complete information about the characteristics of farms, particularly with regard to oil storage.

EPA expects to promulgate a rule amending the SPCC requirements associated with the applicability thresholds and other WRRDA amendments.

Oil Storage on U.S. Farms: Risks and Opportunities for Protecting Surface Waters

Secondary Containment Calculation

 

Example and blank worksheets used to calculate secondary containment capacity are available below to help you to comply with the secondary containment requirements of the SPCC rule. These blank worksheets address four specific scenarios and may not be valid for every facility. Although the SPCC rule does not require you to show the calculations of sized secondary containment in your Plan, you should maintain documentation of secondary containment calculations to demonstrate compliance to an EPA inspector.

 

*Disclaimer: Please note that these are simplified calculations for qualified facilities that assume: 1) the secondary containment is designed with a flat floor; 2) the wall height is equal for all four walls; and 3) the corners of the secondary containment system are 90 degrees. Additionally, the calculations do not include displacement for support structures or foundations. For Professional Engineer (PE) certified Plans, the PE may need to account for site-specific conditions associated with the secondary containment structure which may require modifications to these sample calculations to ensure good engineering practice.

 

*Please note: Word versions are fill-in the blank only. PDF forms compute calculations.

 

Single Vertical Cylindrical Tank Inside a Rectangular or Square Dike or Berm
Example Calculations (based on sample Plan) (PDF)
Blank Worksheet (PDF)
 

Multiple Horizontal Cylindrical Tanks Inside a Rectangular or Square Dike or Berm
Example Calculations (based on sample Plan) (PDF)
Blank Worksheet (PDF)
 
 Construct New Secondary Containment
Example Calculations (PDF)
Blank Worksheet (PDF)

 

For more information

 Contact EPA or visit their web site at,
https://www.epa.gov/oil-spills-prevention-and-preparedness-regulations


Consulting firms in South Dakota for preparing PE certified plan

American Engineering Testing Inc.,
Contact Person: Robert Temme, P.E

1745 Samco Road
Rapid City
(605) 388-0029

Bargmann Engineering
Contact Person: Jon Bargmann
, P.E

1105 24th St S

Watertown
Phone: (605) 882-4454

 

Dakota Environmental
Contact Person: Brian Friedrichsen, P.E

1122 21st St SW

Huron
(605) 352-5610

Geotek Engineering
Contact Person: Dan Hanson, P.E

909 East 50th Street North

Sioux Falls

(605) 335-5512

 

Leggette, Brashears & Graham, Inc.
Contact Person: Mitch Kannenberg, P.E

140 East Hinks Lane 
Sioux Falls

(605) 334-6000

Scott Engineering
Contact Person: John J. Scott, P.E

312 9th Avenue SE, Suite C
Watertown
(605) 886-5725

 

 
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