This subpart establishes size classifications and associated liability limits for small onshore oil storage facilities with fixed capacity of 1,000 barrels or less.
This subpart applies to all onshore oil storage facilities with fixed capacity of 1,000 barrels or less. When a discharge to the waters of the United States occurs from such facilities and when removal of said discharge is performed by the United States Government pursuant to the provisions of subsection 311(c)(1) of the Act, the liability of the owner or operator and the facility will be limited to the amounts specified in § 113.4.
As used in this subpart, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated below:
(a) Aboveground storage facility means a tank or other container, the bottom of which is on a plane not more than 6 inches below the surrounding surface.
(b) Act means the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended, 33 U.S.C. 1151, et seq.
(c) Barrel means 42 United States gallons at 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
(d) Belowground storage facility means a tank or other container located other than as defined as “Aboveground”.
(e) Discharge includes, but is not limited to any spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying or dumping.
(f) Onshore Oil Storage Facility means any facility (excluding motor vehicles and rolling stock) of any kind located in, on, or under, any land within the United States, other than submerged land.
(g) On-Scene Coordinator is the single Federal representative designated pursuant to the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan and identified in approved Regional Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plans.
(h) Oil means oil of any kind or in any form, including but not limited to, petroleum, fuel oil, sludge, oil refuse, and oil mixed with wastes other than dredged spoil.
(i) Remove or removal means the removal of the oil from the water and shorelines or the taking of such other actions as the Federal On-Scene Coordinator may determine to be necessary to minimize or mitigate damage to the public health or welfare, including but not limited to, fish, shellfish, wildlife, and public and private property, shorelines, and beaches.
Additionally, the terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned them by section 311(a) of the Act.
Unless the United States can show that oil was discharged as a result of willful negligence or willful misconduct within the privity and knowledge of the owner or operator, the following limits of liability are established for fixed onshore facilities in the classes specified:
(a) Aboveground storage.
| Size class
| Capacity (barrels)
| Limit (dollars)
|
|---|
| I | Up to 10 | 4,000
|
| II | 11 to 170 | 60,000
|
| III | 171 to 500 | 150,000
|
| IV | 501 to 1,000 | 200,000 |
(b) Belowground storage.
| Size class
| Capacity (barrels)
| Limit (dollars)
|
|---|
| I | Up to 10 | 5,200
|
| II | 11 to 170 | 78,000
|
| III | 171 to 500 | 195,000
|
| IV | 501 to 1,000 | 260,000 |
This subpart does not apply to:
(a) Those facilities whose average daily oil throughout is more than their fixed oil storage capacity.
(b) Vehicles and rolling stock.
Nothing herein shall be construed to limit the liability of any facility under State or local law or under any Federal law other than section 311 of the Act, nor shall the liability of any facility for any charges or damages under State or local law reduce its liability to the Federal Government under section 311 of the Act, as limited by this subpart.