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March 19, 2010

Oklahoma marinas fined for violating the Clean Water Act

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has fined four Oklahoma marinas $7,000 for violating federal Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) regulations outlined under the Clean Water Act. Two of those marinas are in the area.

The marinas fined were:

• Duchess Creek Marina, Route 1, Porum, $1,800.

• Snake Creek Marina, 18576 West Snake Creek Road, Cookson, $1,400.

• Thunder Bay Marina, 450780 Thunder Bay Road, Afton, $1,700.

• Arrowhead Yacht Club and Marina, 32888 South 4507 Road, Afton, $2,100.

Federal inspections at the marinas’ bulk storage facilities in December 2009, found numerous violations including:

• The facilities had no SPCC plans and inspections and tests required by federal regulations were not in accordance with written procedures and were not maintained for three years. 

• Personnel working at the marinas had no training on the operation and maintenance of equipment to prevent discharges, discharge procedure protocols, and applicable pollution control laws, rules and regulations. 

• The inspections also found spill prevention briefings were not scheduled and conducted periodically. 

As part of an Expedited Settlement Agreement with EPA, the marinas have provided certification that all identified deficiencies have been corrected.

SPCC regulations require bulk storage facilities to provide oil spill prevention, preparedness and responses to prevent oil spills. The SPCC program helps protect the nation’s water quality. A spill of only one gallon of oil can contaminate one million gallons of water.

Additional information on SPCC regulations: www.epa.gov/oilspill.

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