SPCC plan template › SPCC plan cost
How much does an SPCC plan cost?
EPA's own estimate is that a Tier I facility spends about 4 hours ($490 in 2021 dollars) preparing its plan on the free template. A larger self-certified plan averages about 42 hours and $4,600. Where a Professional Engineer must certify, EPA puts the certification alone at $2,111 for a site under 10,000 gallons and $3,974 to $8,629 for larger ones.
Where these numbers come from
Every few years EPA must estimate, for the Office of Management and Budget, how much time and money the SPCC rule's paperwork costs the roughly 550,400 facilities it covers. Those estimates are averages across many sites, built from wage data and figures from an engineering firm. They're the only public, sourced numbers we found; consultants' quotes vary with the site and region, and most don't publish prices.
EPA's estimates by facility size
| Facility | Prepare a new plan | Each year after | PE certification, new plan | PE certification, amendment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tier I, on EPA's template | 4.0 hours, $490 | 3.8 hours, $308 | None | None |
| Other Category I (Tier II and similar) | 42.4 hours, $4,619 | 6.5 hours, $1,233 | $2,111 if one is needed | $2,756 |
| Category II: 10,001 to 42,000 gal | 61.9 hours, $9,245 | 11.8 hours, $1,657 | $3,974 | $5,263 |
| Category III: 42,001 gal to 1 million | See the ICR | $5,836 | $7,770 | |
| Category IV: over 1 million gal | See the ICR | $8,629 | $11,631 | |
EPA prices engineering-firm time at $193 an hour for management, $155 technical, $97 drafting and $72 clerical, and in-house time at $89, $78 and $35. It assumes half of facilities use their own staff and half hire a firm. A first year at a new Tier I site comes to about 12.7 hours and $1,010 in EPA's estimate, which counts recordkeeping and an averaged allowance for a contingency plan (5.1 hours, $226) along with the plan itself.
These are paperwork costs only. They leave out what the plan may commit you to build or buy: dikes or spill pallets, overfill alarms, spill kits, formal tank inspections under a standard such as STI SP001, and fixes those inspections turn up. For a small site those can cost more than the plan.
What the options cost today
| Option | Price | Your time |
|---|---|---|
| EPA Tier I template | Free | Most: you fill in every table |
| CAL FIRE OSFM Tier II template | Free | Most |
| Ecesis template | Free; its SPCC software on request | Most |
| Mitti (by SafetyCulture) | Free up to 10 seats; Premium $24 a seat a month billed yearly, $29 monthly | Most; digital forms |
| mySPCC (Asmark Institute) | No public price | Guided |
| ePlan | Free to read; $49 to download; Pro $99 a month | Review and fill marked gaps |
| PE-certified plan | By quote | Site visit and records |
The comparison on the home page covers what each one gives you.
Three ways to spend less
- Check whether you need a plan at all. If you're at or under 1,320 gallons in containers of 55 gallons or more, or a spill couldn't reasonably reach water, the federal rule doesn't apply (who needs an SPCC plan). Removing an unused tank or consolidating drums can drop a site below the line, but only if the containers are truly gone or permanently closed as the rule defines.
- Stay qualified. Under 10,000 gallons with no reportable spills, you sign the plan yourself and skip PE certification. Keeping each container at 5,000 gallons or less keeps you on EPA's short template.
- Keep it current. An amendment you prepare yourself as changes happen costs hours; a plan that has drifted for years costs a rewrite. EPA's estimate for reviewing and revising a Tier I plan is under an hour a year on average.
When the PE fee is unavoidable
You need a PE if the site has more than 10,000 gallons aboveground (for farms, 20,000 gallons or more, or any single tank over 10,000, under the 2014 water resources law), a reportable spill history in the last three years, or a Tier II plan that relies on an alternative measure or says containment is impracticable. A filled-in draft, ePlan's included, doesn't change that: ePlan drafts plans for qualified facilities only and certifies nothing. EPA keeps a list of state PE licensing boards where you can check an engineer's license.
When you get quotes, ask whether the price includes the site visit, the containment calculations, the facility diagram, the first five-year review, and amendments. EPA's figures suggest an amendment can cost more than the original certification.
Questions
How much does a PE-certified SPCC plan cost?
EPA estimates the PE certification of a new plan at $2,111 for a storage facility of up to 10,000 gallons and $3,974 for 10,001 to 42,000 gallons (2021 dollars), on top of preparing the plan. Real quotes depend on the site and region.
Is EPA's SPCC template free?
Yes. The Tier I template is a free Word file on EPA's site, for facilities that qualify for Tier I.
Is there a fee to file an SPCC plan?
No. The plan isn't filed with EPA; you keep it at the facility. State tank programs may charge their own fees.