EPA Extends Oil Spill Preparedness Paperwork Through 2026
Published Date: 11/17/2025
Notice
Summary
The EPA wants to keep collecting info from facilities about their oil spill response plans to keep everyone safe and ready. They’re asking for public feedback by January 16, 2026, before renewing this paperwork, which helps prevent pollution disasters. This renewal won’t add new costs but keeps the current rules going through May 2026 and beyond.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 3 costs, 0 mixed.
Which facilities must file FRPs
If you own or operate a facility that transfers oil over water to or from a vessel and has total storage capacity ≥ 42,000 gallons, or if your facility has total oil storage ≥ 1,000,000 gallons plus one or more listed harm factors, you must prepare and submit a Facility Response Plan (FRP) to EPA. This obligation is mandatory under section 311(j)(5) of the Clean Water Act and the rules at 40 CFR 112.20 and 112.21.
National paperwork burden and cost
EPA estimates 16,752 respondents will file FRPs annually, with a total estimated burden of 321,984 hours per year and total estimated costs of $17,348,480 per year (including $20,369 in annualized capital/operation and maintenance costs). The frequency of response is annual.
No confidentiality assurances for FRP data
EPA states that information collected under the FRP rule is not expected to be confidential and that EPA provides no assurances of confidentiality when facilities file their FRPs. Businesses must assume FRP data can be used by EPA, and may be available to state and local governments for emergency planning.
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Key Dates
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