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SPCC Compliance Manager™

Develop and evaluate SPCC plans, strengthen facility oil storage compliance, and prepare for EPA inspections with this hands-on workshop. Aarcher has been guiding environmental professionals through this actively enforced program for nearly 20 years and has re-developed the course for 2026.

Learn about discounted rates here.

Danny P.
Danny P. Compliance Professional, Upstream/Midstream Oil
Class was great & informative. 10/10 would recommend to others in my company.
Anjelia M.
Anjelia M. Consultant, City of Westminster
Thanks! The class was awesome and I appreciated your knowledge and training techniques.
Rich S.
Rich S. Fuel Program Manager, Leading Fuel Supplier
I think I'm ready to manage SPCC compliance for our facilities.

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Upcoming Course Dates

The SPCC Compliance Manager™ course is offered at locations across the United States and online via live virtual attendance. All sessions run three days and the course fee is $1,750, with discounts available for early registration, groups of three or more, government employees, students, and veterans. Corporate partnership discounts are also available. 

Browse upcoming dates below and register early—early bird pricing and seats are limited.

Course Dates
Location
Course Fee
Course Details
Registration
September 29 - October 1, 2026
Annapolis, MD
$1,750
View Detail Sheet
Register Now >
Annapolis, MD

September 29 - October 1, 2026

$1,750 September 29 - October 1, 2026
Annapolis, MD
View Details
Register Now >

Course Description

Facilities subject to SPCC regulations must develop and implement SPCC plans. Those managing compliance must understand applicable requirements well beyond the basic regulatory language of 40 CFR I 12. Because facilities differ in terms of oil storage and site configuration, SPCC planning is intentionally flexible, but that flexibility also presents risks of improper oil discharge prevention planning and regulatory compliance. Current interpretations, agency guidance, and practical on-the-ground applications pose a challenge to both new and experienced environmental professionals.

This course has guided students through SPCC regulations for nearly 20 years. Participants immerse themselves in requirements applicable to oil storage, including tank features and design, tank integrity inspections, secondary containment design and inspection, required facility features, plan contents and updates, and all other provisions of this important and actively enforced USEPA Federal regulatory program. You can learn the regulations from “the guy that wrote the rule”, Mr. Mark W. Howard, of Ounce of Prevention Consulting, who now works with Aarcher as their SPCC regulatory expert. 

Class exercises apply new information to real-life, including evaluations and critiques of facility SPCC plans. Students are requested to bring copies of SPCC plans for in-class participation, resulting in a valuable action plan for improving the plan or simplifying implementation. Your plan will not be collected or submitted to Aarcher or shared with other attendees. 

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Topics Covered

The SPCC Compliance Manager™ course covers the full range of SPCC regulatory requirements, plan development and implementation, secondary containment, inspections, contingency planning, and compliance strategies in focused training modules and hands-on exercises.

  • Legal Basis for Regulation
  • Regulatory Development
  • Applicability
  • Regulation-Specific Definitions
  • Regulated Containers
  • Exemptions and Exclusions Adminstrative Provisions
  • Overfill Prevention
  • Container and Equipment Inspections
  • Transfer Operations and Piping
  • Personnel Training
  • Oil Discharge Reporting
  • Security Requirements
  • Impracticability Claims
  • Deviations from Regulation
  • Secondary Containment Details
  • Aboveground Storage Tank Fundamentals Features
  • Common Oil Container Deficiencies
  • USEPA Inspection Practices
  • Plan Best Practices
  • Plan Amendments
  • Contingency Plans - Oil Spill Contingency Plans, Facility Response Plans, and Integrated Contingency Plans
  • Discussions on Plan Implementation

You Will Receive

Every participant leaves the SPCC Compliance Manager™ course prepared to lead SPCC compliance programs. Course binder and links to supporting materials, including SPCC inspection checklists and guidance, will serve the attendee in the future as a useful reference for your continued use. You will also have the presenter's contact information for any future questions.

book

Printed Materials

Binder of presentation materials for later reference

laptop

Reference Materials

Electronic copies of key reference materials

notebook

Notes

Your notes from class discussions

certificate

Printed Certificate

Certificate of accomplishment to display and share

Presenters

All Aarcher Institute presenters are exclusive and present Aarcher Institute proprietary course content.

The SPCC Compliance Manager™ course is presented by presenters who have authored, evaluated, and approved SPCC plans for facilities in nearly every state. The Aarcher Institute adheres to strict presenter selection and approval procedures, choosing only highly qualified, practicing EHS professionals and compliance experts based on their regulatory knowledge, relevant perspectives, practical experience, professionalism, and demonstrated training ability.

Mark Howard

Mark Howard

EPA National SPCC Program Lead (Retired 2026)
Mark Howard served 27 years as the national EPA SPCC program lead with the EPA Office of Emergency Management (OEM), Regulation Implementation Division (RID). He was the Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) National Technical Subject Matter Expert (SME) and serves as the national project manager for the Inspector’s Training Program, the Oil Program representative/instructor for the OSC academy, and the lead for the Oil Program Technical Workgroup. He also was the lead technical member of the SPCC rulemaking workgroup and is one of the authors of the SPCC rule (40 CFR part 112). Mr. Howard served as the OEM lead for reviewing the Keystone Pipeline Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Agency Hydraulic Fracturing Study. Mr. Howard was consulted by the National Academy of Sciences on their diluted bitumen paper. Mr. Howard is an active voting member of the STI SP001 committee. Mark was also the EPA executive Committee representative for the International Oil Spill Conference. EPA awarded Mr. Howard with a 2018 National Notable Achievement Award for inspector training, a silver medal and several bronze medals. Prior to his Federal service he worked ten years as a State oil/HAZMAT responder and AST inspector with the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Department of Environmental Quality. Mr. Howard holds a Master of Science Degree in Biology (Specializing in Environmental Science and Policy) from George Mason University. He holds Virginia Emergency Services certifications as a Hazardous Materials Specialist and Incident Manager. He is most proud of his relationship with his wife Christine and daughter Hope.
Mark Howard

Mark Howard

EPA National SPCC Program Lead (Retired 2026)
Mark Howard served 27 years as the national EPA SPCC program lead with the EPA Office of Emergency Management (OEM), Regulation Implementation Division (RID). He was the Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) National Technical Subject Matter Expert (SME) and serves as the national project manager for the Inspector’s Training Program, the Oil Program representative/instructor for the OSC academy, and the lead for the Oil Program Technical Workgroup. He also was the lead technical member of the SPCC rulemaking workgroup and is one of the authors of the SPCC rule (40 CFR part 112). Mr. Howard served as the OEM lead for reviewing the Keystone Pipeline Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Agency Hydraulic Fracturing Study. Mr. Howard was consulted by the National Academy of Sciences on their diluted bitumen paper. Mr. Howard is an active voting member of the STI SP001 committee. Mark was also the EPA executive Committee representative for the International Oil Spill Conference. EPA awarded Mr. Howard with a 2018 National Notable Achievement Award for inspector training, a silver medal and several bronze medals. Prior to his Federal service he worked ten years as a State oil/HAZMAT responder and AST inspector with the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Department of Environmental Quality. Mr. Howard holds a Master of Science Degree in Biology (Specializing in Environmental Science and Policy) from George Mason University. He holds Virginia Emergency Services certifications as a Hazardous Materials Specialist and Incident Manager. He is most proud of his relationship with his wife Christine and daughter Hope.

Have Questions?

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