EPA’s Oil Spill Prevention, Preparedness and Response Program FY 2023 action plan
The EPA’s Oil Spill Prevention, Preparedness and Response Program (Program) protects the public by preventing, preparing for, responding to, and monitoring inland oil spills. The agency is the lead federal responder for inland oil spills, including transportation-related spills from pipelines, trucks, railcars, and other transportation systems. The Program provides technical assistance, assets, and outreach to industry, states, and local communities as part of the Agency’s effort to prevent, prepare for, and respond to oil incidents. According to the agency’s FY 2022 - 2026 EPA Strategic Plan there are approximately 550,000 Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) facilities, including a subset of 3,840 Facility Response Plan (FRP) facilities identified as high risk due to their size and location. Inspections are targeted to 0.12 percent of facilities that pose the highest risk. During the COVID-19 pandemic the agency utilized off-site compliance monitoring activities to expand the compliance evaluation tools available to inspectors. EPA plans to continue to use off-site compliance monitoring to complement on-site inspections during FY 2023 and future years.
What to expect from the Program in FY 2023
In FY 2023 the Program plans to continue inspections while incorporating unannounced exercises at FRP facilities with the goal to test the facility owner/operator’s ability to put preparedness and response plans into action. They plan to increase inspections and compliance assistance at SPCC and FRP regulated facilities, focusing on those in communities with environmental justice concerns and communities with increased climate-related risks (e.g., extreme weather, flooding, wildfires, etc.). At a minimum, they have announced an expectation to conduct an additional 150 inspections at SPCC and FRP-regulated facilities. Also, on the agenda for FY 2023 are target exercises aimed to increase incorporation of environmental justice into preparedness activities. Along with appropriating requested funds for the development of inspector training materials and methods for inspectors to best assess SPCC and FRP facilities’ incorporation of risks from natural hazards and climate change into their oil spill prevention and response plans.