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Countermeasures On Water Interactive Training

28 minutesENSafety TrainingClean Water Act / OPA 90 / 40 CFR Part 112 - SPCC Oil Spill Response
Quick Answer

Countermeasures On Water is a 28-minute online course that trains responders and environmental personnel on the factors affecting oil spill response on water, including weather conditions, sea states, currents, and containment and recovery techniques. It is designed for spill response teams, environmental compliance staff, and facility personnel at operations near waterways and includes a downloadable certificate of completion.

Course Overview

Oil and chemical spills on waterways pose significant environmental and regulatory consequences for responsible parties. Under the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1321) and the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, facilities that store oil near navigable waters must have Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) plans in place, and responsible parties face strict liability for cleanup costs and natural resource damages. EPA enforcement actions for Clean Water Act violations can result in civil penalties up to $59,973 per day of violation under the 2024 adjusted penalty schedule, with criminal penalties for negligent or knowing violations reaching $50,000 per day and imprisonment.

This course trains your team on the specific challenges of responding to oil spills on water. Your employees will learn how weather, wind, sea conditions, and currents affect spill behavior and response operations, and how to apply appropriate containment and recovery techniques in water-based environments. The course prepares responders to make effective decisions during the critical early hours of a water spill when conditions change rapidly and environmental damage expands with every delay.

What You'll Learn

  • How weather, wind, sea conditions, and currents affect oil spill behavior on water
  • Containment strategies for water-based oil spills including boom deployment
  • Recovery and removal techniques for oil on water surfaces
  • Factors that challenge responders during water-based spill events
  • Decision-making for selecting appropriate countermeasures based on conditions
  • Coordination with federal and state response agencies during water spill events

Who Needs This Training

  • Spill response team members at waterfront or near-water facilities
  • Environmental compliance officers at oil storage and transfer facilities
  • Port and marine terminal workers involved in spill prevention and response
  • Water/wastewater treatment plant operators near navigable waterways
  • Facility managers at operations subject to SPCC plan requirements
  • Emergency response coordinators for facilities near rivers, lakes, or coastal waters

Regulatory Background

The Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1321) and the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA 90) establish the federal framework for oil spill prevention and response on navigable waters. Under EPA's SPCC rule (40 CFR Part 112), facilities that store more than 1,320 gallons of oil aboveground or 42,000 gallons underground near navigable waters must maintain written SPCC plans that include countermeasure procedures. The National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (40 CFR Part 300) governs the federal response framework. Responsible parties face strict liability for cleanup costs, natural resource damages, and civil penalties. EPA civil penalties under the Clean Water Act can reach $59,973 per day of violation. Criminal penalties for negligent discharge include fines up to $50,000 per day and imprisonment. Coast Guard and EPA enforcement in this area has remained active, with facilities near waterways subject to SPCC inspections and compliance verification.

Frequently Asked Questions

Under EPA's SPCC rule (40 CFR Part 112), non-transportation-related facilities that store more than 1,320 gallons of oil in aboveground containers or more than 42,000 gallons in underground storage, and that could reasonably be expected to discharge oil into navigable waters or adjoining shorelines, must prepare and implement SPCC plans. These plans must include countermeasure procedures, containment methods, and response protocols.
Under the Clean Water Act and OPA 90, responsible parties face strict liability for all cleanup costs and natural resource damages regardless of fault. Civil penalties can reach $59,973 per day of violation under the current EPA penalty schedule. Criminal penalties for negligent discharge include fines up to $50,000 per day and potential imprisonment. Knowing violations carry penalties up to $250,000 per day and up to 15 years imprisonment.
Weather conditions dramatically affect both spill behavior and response effectiveness. Wind drives oil across the water surface and can push it beyond containment booms. Wave action breaks oil into smaller droplets that are harder to recover. Temperature affects oil viscosity, changing how it spreads and whether it sinks. Currents carry oil away from the spill source, expanding the affected area. Responders must continuously assess changing conditions and adapt their countermeasure strategy accordingly.
This course covers water-based spill countermeasures that support the response component of an SPCC plan. However, a complete SPCC training program must also address facility-specific prevention measures, containment infrastructure, reporting procedures, and plan implementation details. Employers should use this course as part of a broader SPCC compliance training program tailored to their facility's specific plan.
Under the Clean Water Act and OPA 90, the responsible party includes the owner or operator of the vessel or facility from which oil is discharged. Strict liability applies, meaning the responsible party is liable for cleanup costs and damages regardless of fault or negligence. This includes facility owners, operators, and in some cases, parent companies and corporate officers with operational control.
$29.95
per person
Volume Pricing
Team Size Price per Person
1 - 9$29.95
10 - 24$23.95
25 - 49$21.55
50 - 99$17.50
Subtotal $29.95

Certificate of completion included. Downloadable upon passing the final assessment.

$29.95
per person