EPA Addresses Concerns On Oil Spill Regulations
US - The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last week announced final extension plans for its oil spill regulations, giving milk and milk product containers an indefinite extension from the rule and bringing International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) members closer to a desired exemption for those containers.
19 October 2010
1 minute read
In response to IDFA's continued requests for clarification, EPA specifically stated that the extension will apply equally to milk product containers, associated piping and appurtenances, as well as milk containers, which received an extension earlier this year.
The term "milk products" includes cheese, cream, yogurt and ice cream mix, as well as other dairy-related products.
"IDFA is pleased that EPA is taking action on our long-standing concern about the unnecessary inclusion of milk and milk product containers in the SPCC rule, and that it clarified that the extension applies to milk product containers as well as milk containers," said Clay Detlefsen, IDFA vice president of regulatory affairs. "We continue to urge that these containers be permanently excluded from the final regulation because milk and milk products are not oil, and they do not present a risk of creating an oil spill to waters of the United States."
While most facilities subject to the rule received a one-year extension to the compliance date for EPA's Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure Rule (SPCC) to November 10, 2011, the application of the rule to all milk and milk product containers will be extended until one year after a final rule is issued. EPA originally had proposed an exemption for dairy in January 2009.
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