California Spill Prevention - Response - SPCC Plan

Spill Prevention, Control & Countermeasure – SPCC Rule Compliance 40 CFR 112
SPCC Plans and State Spill Control and Spill Reporting Requirements

Caltha LLP provides technical support to facilities nationwide to comply with US EPA Spill Prevention, Control & Countermeasure (SPCC) Rules (40 CFR 112) and State-specific spill prevention, spill preparedness and spill reporting requirements. Caltha provides SPCC Plan services in a number of flexible formats, ranging from turn-key services where we provide a complete SPCC Plan, to ad hoc technical guidance to facility or corporate staff as they prepare Plans and compliance programs. Caltha also provides technical support in developing and implementing SPCC Inspection programs, and in developing and presenting annual SPCC Training.

Caltha specializes in assisting smaller to medium sized facilities that qualify for self certification of their SPCC Plan and/or qualify to use the SPCC Template Plan format. The SPCC Rule (40 CFR 112) now allows SPCC Plans to be self-certified (no PE certification required) by facilities, if they meet a certain conditions. Some facilities, “Tier I Facilities”, can also use a streamlined SPCC Plan format, the SPCC Template Plan. For Tier I Qualifying facilities, the facility must also certify that it meets all the requirements necessary to use the SPCC Template Plan format. All "self-certified" SPCC Plans, including those using the SPCC Template Plan format, will still need to be signed by a responsible person on behalf of the facility.

Caltha LLP provides expert environmental consultant services in California to obtain environmental permits, evaluate regulatory requirements, and to develop cost effective compliance programs.

For further information or to request a quote contact Caltha LLP at info@calthacompany.com or Caltha LLP Website

Pesticide Application General Permit

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released a proposed new permit with requirements that would regulate the amount of pesticides discharged to Waters of the US. This proposed general permit is in response to an April 9, 2009 court decision that found that pesticide discharges to U.S. waters were pollutants, and therefore requiring an NPDES permit.

The proposed permit would require all operators to reduce pesticide discharges by using the lowest effective amount of pesticide, prevent leaks and spills, calibrate equipment and monitor for and report adverse incidents. Additional controls, such as integrated pest management practices, are built into the permit for operators who exceed an annual treatment area threshold.

The agency plans to finalize the permit in December 2010, and have it take effect April 9, 2011. Once finalized, the pesticide general permit will be used in states, territories, tribal lands, and federal facilities where EPA is the authorized permitting authority. In the remaining 44 states, states will issue the pesticide general permits. EPA has been working closely with these states to concurrently develop their permits.

EPA will hold three public meetings, a public hearing and a webcast on the draft general permit to present the proposed requirements of the permit, the basis for those requirements and to answer questions. EPA will accept written comments on the draft permit for 45 days after publication in the Federal Register.

Caltha LLP provides expert consulting services to public and private sector clients nationwide to address water quality standards, wastewater permitting and assessing potential impacts of chemicals in the aquatic environment.

Caltha LLP Aquatic Toxicology / WQ Standards Services Website