Sarah Williams – Oil Containment

OCA Annual Conference 2026: Save the Date – September 15-17, Austin TX

March 1, 2026May 15, 2026 Sarah Williams Association News, Events & Meetings

Mark your calendars: the Oil Containment Association’s Annual Conference and Exhibition will be held September 15-17, 2026 at the Austin Convention Center, Austin, Texas. This year’s theme is Containment Innovation in a Changing Regulatory Landscape.

Conference Overview

The OCA Annual Conference is the premier industry gathering for oil containment professionals in North America. Last year’s conference in Nashville drew 847 attendees from 43 states and 12 countries, with 68 exhibitors showcasing the latest in containment technology, materials, and services.

2026 Keynote Speakers (Announced)

Administrator Maria Santos, EPA Office of Emergency Management – Opening keynote: “SPCC Enforcement Priorities and the Path Forward”
Dr. William Fletcher, Texas A&M University – Technical keynote: “Next-Generation Elastomeric Barriers: Where Material Science is Taking Containment”
Thomas Nguyen, Chief Sustainability Officer, Continental Resources – Industry keynote: “Zero Spill: A Major Producer’s Journey to Environmental Excellence”

Conference Tracks

This year’s conference will feature five concurrent tracks: Regulatory Compliance, Technical Innovation, Operations & Best Practices, Environmental Response, and Emerging Markets. Over 80 technical presentations are planned, covering topics from digital inspection technologies to Arctic containment challenges to renewable energy transformer protection.

Exhibition Hall

The exhibition hall will feature 120 exhibitor booths showcasing containment systems, coating technologies, compliance software, inspection services, and related products. Early exhibitor registration opens April 1st with a 15% discount for OCA member companies.

Registration Information

Early bird registration opens June 1, 2026. OCA member rates: $795 (early bird) / $995 (standard). Non-member rates: $1,295 / $1,595. Group discounts available for 5+ registrations from the same organization. Contact events@oilcontainment.org for group rates and sponsorship opportunities.

Interview: How a Startup Environmental Firm Built a Successful Containment Practice

January 25, 2026May 15, 2026 Sarah Williams Member Spotlights

We sat down with Rebecca Osei, founder and CEO of EcoSeal Environmental Services, an OCA member firm that has grown from a two-person startup in 2019 to a 47-person operation serving clients in eight states. Here’s what she had to say about building a containment compliance practice.

How did you get started in oil containment?

“I was a project manager at a large environmental consulting firm and noticed that smaller industrial clients were underserved. They needed SPCC plans and containment system support but couldn’t afford large firm rates. I saw an opportunity to build a practice around affordable, high-quality compliance services for small and mid-sized operators.”

What role has OCA membership played in your growth?

“Enormous. When I joined OCA in 2020, I immediately gained access to resources that would have taken me years to develop on my own—technical standards, regulatory interpretation guidance, connections to other professionals. The annual conference was transformative for business development. I’ve probably generated over $2 million in business directly from relationships I developed at OCA events.”

What’s the biggest challenge in the containment compliance space?

“Educating clients about the true cost of non-compliance. Many facility managers see SPCC plans and secondary containment systems as pure cost with no return. My job is to help them understand that a single enforcement action can cost more than 10 years of proactive compliance, and that their insurance premiums reflect their compliance posture. When you frame it that way, the investment makes obvious sense.”

What advice would you give to others building a containment practice?

“Get the technical training first. The CCS certification from OCA gave me credibility with clients and referral sources. Then network aggressively within the industry—most of our clients come from referrals from other professionals. And stay current on regulations; in this field, a year-old guidance document can be significantly out of date.”

Understanding SPCC Plans: A Step-by-Step Guide for Small Facility Operators

January 15, 2026May 15, 2026 Sarah Williams Regulatory Updates, Technical Resources

If you operate a facility that stores oil aboveground in containers of 55 gallons or more, and your total storage capacity exceeds 1,320 gallons, you are very likely required to have a Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) plan under EPA regulations. This guide walks small facility operators through the basics.

What Is an SPCC Plan?

An SPCC plan is a written document that describes how your facility will prevent oil spills from reaching navigable waters or adjoining shorelines, and what you will do if a spill occurs. It is required under the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. § 1321) and is detailed in 40 CFR Part 112.

Do You Need One?

You need an SPCC plan if ALL of the following apply:

Your facility is non-transportation-related (not a vessel, pipeline, or vehicle)
You store oil in aboveground containers totaling more than 1,320 gallons, OR you have a single underground storage tank larger than 42,000 gallons
Your facility could reasonably be expected to discharge oil into or upon navigable waters or adjoining shorelines

Tier System: What Type of Plan Do You Need?

Qualified Facility (Tier I)

Facilities with total aboveground storage of 10,000 gallons or less AND no single container larger than 5,000 gallons AND a clean spill record may qualify for a self-certified Tier I plan. No Professional Engineer stamp is required, but you must follow EPA’s template precisely.

Qualified Facility (Tier II)

Facilities with total aboveground storage between 10,000 and 42,000 gallons may prepare their own plan but must have it certified by a licensed Professional Engineer.

Full SPCC Plan

Facilities with total aboveground storage exceeding 42,000 gallons must have a Professional Engineer prepare and certify the full plan.

Key Plan Elements

Regardless of tier, all SPCC plans must include: facility description and layout, storage container inventory, secondary containment description and calculations, inspection and testing procedures, personnel training program, spill response procedures, and management approval signatures.

Secondary Containment Requirements

Every oil storage container must have secondary containment capable of holding 110% of the largest container’s capacity. This is typically achieved through berms, dikes, or impervious surfaces. Foam berm systems are a cost-effective compliant solution for many facilities, particularly those with mobile equipment or multiple storage locations.

How OCA Can Help

The Oil Containment Association offers SPCC plan development services through our network of certified member consultants. We also offer free initial consultations to help facility operators determine their compliance requirements. Contact us at compliance@oilcontainment.org or call 1-800-610-1080.