This week the U.S. House of Representatives approved legislation that ensures EPA’s spill prevention, control and countermeasure rules adequately recognizes the low risk of spills on farms and ranches. The measure exempts producers with above ground oil storage tanks with a capacity of less than 10,000 gallons. South Dakota Farm Bureau President Scott Vanderwal says this change makes sense and the rule more workable for farmers and ranchers.
The House measure also exempts producers with above ground storage of 2500 gallons or less. Vanderwal says what’s significant about that is that producer’s don’t want leaks to happen because they’re costly.
Vanderwal says now they hope to get this through the Senate although that may be a tougher lift.
Under the House’s version of the SPCC rule, farmers who are regulated and have less than 42,000 gallons of above ground storage capacity may self certify their own plans.
