Is Your Facility a Good Fit for Remote SPCC Plan Development?

Virtual SPCC Plan Development Can Save Your Facility Time and Money - But Is It Right for Your Operation? 📙

When it comes to Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) plans, ensuring your facility is in full compliance with federal regulations is crucial for protecting the environment and avoiding costly fines.

Traditionally, developing an SPCC plan requires a site visit from an environmental consultant to assess your facility layout, operational practices, oil storage, control measures, and potential spill risks. However, many facilities may benefit from a more modern and cost-effective approach - and no, we're not talking about artificial intelligence, we already tried that! We're talking about remote SPCC development.

But what exactly is a remote SPCC plan, how does it work, and is it the right solution for your facility? Let's take a closer look!

What Is Remote SPCC Plan Development? 💻📝

Remote SPCC development is an innovative way to create a fully compliant SPCC plan without requiring a physical site visit from a consultant. Instead, the process is conducted virtually, using digital communication tools like forms, photos, videos, and virtual site tours to gather the necessary information. After all, if you can get SPCC training online, why not an SPCC plan itself?

By eliminating the need for travel and on-site assessments, remote SPCC development is often less expensive and more efficient - allowing facilities to get into compliance cheaper and faster while still receiving a comprehensive, accurate plan.

What Types of Facilities Should Consider a Remotely Developed SPCC Plan? 🏭

Sounds like a win-win, right? So what's the catch? Well, depending on your operation, remote SPCC development could be a perfect fit for you - but that's not always the case!

So, who's this for? The short, wishy-washy answer: this is going to depend on a handful of factors and will be totally based on the details of your operation. To get a straightforward answer, let's talk - we'll let you know if we think remote SPCC development is a good choice for you! 

For now, here’s a closer look at the types of facilities that benefit most from this service:

Facilities with Low Oil Storage ✅

If your facility has relatively low oil storage, such as one 1,000-gallon tank and a few 55-gallon drums, you likely qualify for a Tier I SPCC plan. Tier I plans are designed for facilities with limited oil storage, which tends to mean that they are smaller, simpler operations (psst - click here for a breakdown of all the types of SPCC plans!). 

For facilities like these, remote SPCC development can be an excellent option. Rather than paying for a consultant to visit your site, you can provide the necessary information virtually. Using a combination of forms, photos, and videos, we can assess your oil storage setup and potential spill risks without stepping foot on-site. This streamlined process can speed up compliance, getting your SPCC plan in place much faster than traditional methods, while still meeting all federal requirements.

Facilities with More Oil Storage, But Simple Storage Conditions ✅

Even facilities with larger oil storage can benefit from remote SPCC development if the storage setup is relatively simple. For example, you might have 100,000 gallons of oil storage, but if your facility stores all that oil in just four 25,000-gallon tanks with straightforward containment and site features, a remote plan may be just as effective as an on-site visit.

So, even if you store higher volumes of oil on your site, if your setup is relatively simple, a virtually-developed SPCC plan can still be the right option for you. By providing detailed photos, videos, and virtual video-call site tours, we may still be able to evaluate your facility’s storage, spill prevention measures, and overall compliance without the need for a physical inspection. 

Facilities with Large Oil Storage Volumes and Complex Storage Conditions ❌

For facilities with large oil storage volumes and complex storage conditions, remote SPCC development is generally not recommended. For example, large refineries or manufacturing plants that store tens of thousands of gallons of oil across multiple locations and types of containers or involve intricate operations need an on-site visit to ensure every potential risk is properly identified and addressed.

These complex setups require a more in-depth, hands-on evaluation that virtual tools, photos, or video calls can’t fully capture. If your operations involve significant environmental risk or you have a history of regulatory challenges, a traditional on-site visit will give you the comprehensive assessment necessary for compliance. In these cases, remote SPCC development may not provide the level of detail and accuracy needed to ensure full regulatory compliance. No worries though, we'd be happy to come check out your site in person - reach out to us to get started!

Does My Facility's Location and Industry Matter? 🚞

Yes! When deciding whether remote SPCC development is right for your facility, two critical factors to consider are the nature of your industry and the characteristics of your location (also, the state you're in can make a huge difference as well!).

Some facilities, due to their clean, controlled environments and minimal environmental concerns, are ideal candidates for virtual plan development. Others, particularly those in higher-risk industries (environmentally) or with complex operational challenges, may still require an on-site visit to ensure full compliance. 

Again, for the best answer, get an expert's recommendation on SPCC development for you. For now, let's take a closer look at these factors:

Lower-Risk Locations & Industries ✅

If your facility is a well-maintained, largely indoor setup with few environmental concerns, remote SPCC development could be the perfect solution for you.

Here's an example: consider a squeaky-clean, newly-built indoor warehousing facility, situated in an inland, industrial office park with a diesel-powered backup generator and minimal outdoor operations. A facility like this has less to benefit from an on-site inspection, since the operation is relatively straightforward and poses relatively low risk to the environment of releasing oil to a navigable waterbody.

The absence of outdoor operations, large tanks, or complicated site features makes it easier to assess virtually, reducing the time and expense involved in getting your SPCC plan ready.

Higher-Risk Locations & Industries ❌

Here's the flip-side.

Picture a large-scale chemical refinery situated along a river, with extensive outdoor operations, dozens of large oil storage tanks, and a history of environmental issues. In this case, a remote SPCC plan probably won't cut it. Operations like this are often complex, with multiple environmental permits & regulations to navigate, a range of equipment spread across different areas, and significant outdoor activities that increase the risk of oil spills or environmental hazards.

These higher-risk operations often require a more hands-on assessment. A consultant needs to be physically present to inspect the equipment, assess the storage conditions, and identify potential risks that may not be obvious from photos or virtual tours. Additionally, facilities with a history of environmental concerns or violations may need extra attention to ensure that all spill-prevention measures are in place and up to federal standards.

What If I Have More Than One Facility That Needs an SPCC Plan? ✅

If your organization operates multiple facilities that all require SPCC plans, a remote approach could be a great option—especially if those facilities are similar in scope. For instance, if you have several warehouses or plants with similar oil storage setups and environmental considerations, we can streamline the process by handling the majority of the plans virtually.

We’ll take extra time with the first one or two facilities, ensuring that we fully understand the nuances of your operations. This may even involve an in-person visit to get a clearer picture of your typical site layout and storage conditions. Once we've established a solid understanding of your operation, we can then rely on remote SPCC development for the remaining facilities. Since the setups are likely to be quite similar, a virtual process will allow us to create fully compliant plans efficiently and cost-effectively, while maintaining the same level of thoroughness.

This approach not only saves time but also reduces costs, making it an ideal solution for companies with multiple similar locations. If you've got multiple locations needing SPCC plans, let's talk about your best path forward!

Is Remote SPCC Compliance Right for Your Facility?

Ultimately, the decision to pursue remote SPCC development comes down to the specifics of your facility. If you have low oil storage or larger but simpler storage conditions, a virtual SPCC plan can save you time, reduce costs, and get you into compliance more quickly.

At the same time, it’s essential to ensure that your storage setup is straightforward enough to benefit from this service. If your facility has more complex storage conditions or unique challenges, a traditional on-site visit may still be the better option.

By choosing remote SPCC development, you can streamline compliance while still receiving the expert guidance and thoroughness you need. Contact us today to find out if a virtual SPCC plan is the right choice for your facility.