NATA Likes It
The Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) has extended an industry compliance deadline for its 2002
revisions to oil spill response and prevention rules, according to
an agency source familiar with the EPA's plans. The EPA
announcement, in today's Federal Register, is a result of key
industry groups, including NATA, pressuring the agency for
exemptions from the spill prevention, control and countermeasure
(SPCC) rule, which applies to a wide range of industry sectors,
including aircraft fueling.
The new proposed compliance dates are August 17, 2005, to amend
an existing SPCC plan, and February 18, 2006, to implement the
plan. Affected facilities that start operations between August 16,
2002, and February 18, 2006, must prepare and implement an SPCC
plan by February 18, 2006. Affected facilities that become
operational after February 18, 2006, must prepare and implement an
SPCC plan before starting operations.
"This delay is a great relief to our members as they will no
longer fear enforcement action while the EPA finally determines how
the standards actually apply," said Eric Byer, director of
government & industry affairs for NATA. "This is particularly
important for those companies involved in fueling operations."
According to the agency, the extension is intended to give more
time to those modifying and amending their existing SPCC
plans.
The EPA's plans to extend the deadline signify a reversal for
the agency, since officials had earlier favored allowing the rule
to take effect in August while providing enforcement discretion, or
"low enforcement priority," as the agency clarifies a host of
provisions industry officials say are too arduous or
complicated.
"We are pleased that the Aviation
Coalition's efforts to emphasize the need to resolve applicability
and compliance questions prior to implementation did not go
unnoticed, and we are especially appreciative of Senator Inhofe's
support to ensure that the EPA acts in a responsible manner," Byer
stated. "It would have simply been unacceptable and irresponsible
for the EPA to permit a regulation to take effect when no one in
industry or government can say what the regulations require."
The Aviation Coalition comprises NATA, the Air Transport
Association (ATA), the American Association of Airport Executives
(AAAE) and the Airports Council International - North America
(ACI-NA).