All facilities with over 10,000 gallons of aggregate aboveground petroleum storage capacity must prepare a full SPCC Plan that is certified by a Professional Engineer. However, facilities with a total aboveground oil storage capacity of 10,000 gallons or less and that meet the Qualified Facility Applicability as listed under the SPCC Rule may self-certify their own Plan.
If a facility is eligible to self-certify its Plan, and has no aboveground container greater than 5,000 gallons in capacity, then it may use the Tier I Plan template that is found in Appendix G to 40 CFR part 112. Editable versions of the template in Microsoft Word, Word Perfect, and a pdf version are available on the US EPA website. Facilities that have a single aboveground container of oil exceeding 5,000 gallons but an aggregate aboveground oil storage capacity of 10,000 gallons or less, may self-certify their SPCC Plan.
Note: Since the definition of a Qualified Facility is a federal provision outlined in 40 CFR Part 112, oil of any kind rather than just petroleum must be considered in determining the aggregate aboveground oil storage capacity used to meet the 10,000-gallon threshold. This means that in addition to petroleum storage, oils of vegetable origin (i.e., corn, soybean or nut oil) or animal origin (i.e., fats and greases) as well as 100% synthetic oils must also be included in the total.