OCA Announces Q2 2026 Member Meeting Schedule

Lisa Association News, Events & Meetings

The Oil Containment Association (OCA) is pleased to announce the schedule for our Q2 2026 Member Meetings. These quarterly gatherings bring together industry professionals, regulators, and environmental specialists to discuss best practices, regulatory updates, and emerging technologies in oil containment.

Upcoming Meeting Dates

  • April 10, 2026 – Houston, TX: Regional member meeting covering Gulf Coast SPCC compliance updates. Hosted at the Marriott Marquis, 1777 Walker St. Registration opens March 1.
  • April 24, 2026 – Denver, CO: Rocky Mountain chapter meeting. Focus on fracking site containment innovations and EPA Region 8 updates.
  • May 8, 2026 – Pittsburgh, PA: Northeast chapter meeting. Topic: New OSHA 1910.120 guidance for industrial facilities.
  • May 22, 2026 – Dallas, TX: Annual spring symposium. Full-day event with keynote speakers, vendor demonstrations, and breakout sessions.
  • June 5, 2026 – Los Angeles, CA: Pacific Coast chapter meeting. Focus on California’s updated secondary containment requirements.
  • June 19, 2026 – Chicago, IL: Midwest chapter meeting. Topic: Polyurea technology advancements for cold-weather containment.

Virtual Meeting Options

All in-person meetings will be available via live webinar for members who cannot attend in person. Virtual attendance credentials will be emailed to registered members 48 hours before each meeting.

How to Register

Members can register through the OCA Member Portal. Non-members are welcome to attend one meeting as a guest. To register or inquire about membership, contact our events coordinator at events@oilcontainment.org or call 1-800-610-1080.

Meeting Agenda Highlights

Each regional meeting will feature: EPA regulatory update (30 min), best practices panel (45 min), new product/technology showcase (30 min), networking lunch, and open Q&A session. The Dallas Symposium will also feature our annual Environmental Excellence Awards ceremony recognizing outstanding contributions to oil spill prevention.

Containment Compliance Spotlight: Industrial Facilities Under the EPA Lens in 2026

Robert Nguyen, Ph.D. Regulatory Updates

EPA enforcement activities related to oil containment and SPCC compliance have intensified in recent years, with 2025 seeing a 23% increase in SPCC-related enforcement actions compared to 2024. Industrial facility operators should take note of current enforcement priorities and ensure their containment systems meet regulatory requirements.

Recent Enforcement Actions

Recent enforcement actions provide insight into where regulators are focusing their attention:

Manufacturing Facilities

In Q4 2025, EPA Region 5 announced a $2.1 million penalty against a Michigan automotive parts manufacturer for failure to maintain adequate secondary containment for hydraulic oil storage. The violation involved secondary containment structures that had deteriorated to the point of being non-functional, and an SPCC plan that had not been updated in seven years.

Transportation Facilities

A multistate trucking company agreed to pay $1.4 million and implement a comprehensive environmental management system after EPA Region 3 inspectors found multiple SPCC violations across 12 terminal facilities. Primary violations included undersized containment berms and missing inspection records.

Common Compliance Deficiencies

Based on EPA inspection data for 2025, the most common SPCC deficiencies at industrial facilities include: secondary containment structures with inadequate capacity (37% of violations), missing or inadequate inspection records (29%), outdated SPCC plans not reflecting current facility conditions (18%), inadequate drainage controls (11%), and insufficient personnel training documentation (5%).

Self-Audit Checklist

Facility operators should conduct a self-audit addressing the following questions at minimum:

  • Has your SPCC plan been amended to reflect all facility modifications in the past 12 months?
  • Are all secondary containment structures intact and at their designed capacity?
  • Are inspection records current and properly filed?
  • Have all oil-handling personnel received documented SPCC training in the past 12 months?
  • Are emergency contact and spill response procedures current?

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

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.

New EPA Guidance on Secondary Containment for 2026: What You Need to Know

Robert Nguyen, Ph.D. Regulatory Updates, Technical Resources

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released updated guidance documents in early 2026 affecting secondary containment requirements under 40 CFR Part 112 (SPCC Rule). This article summarizes the key changes and what they mean for facility operators across the country.

Key Changes to the SPCC Rule

The EPA’s January 2026 guidance memorandum clarifies several previously ambiguous areas of the Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) rule. The most significant changes include:

1. Aggregate Storage Capacity Calculations

The new guidance clarifies how facilities must calculate their aboveground oil storage capacity when determining SPCC applicability. Previously, many facilities excluded certain container types from their calculations. The 2026 guidance closes this gap by requiring inclusion of all containers with a capacity of 55 gallons or more, including mobile equipment tanks and bulk transfer vehicles when stationed at fixed locations for more than 30 days.

2. Inspection Frequency for Portable Containment Systems

Foam berm systems and other portable containment devices must now be formally documented in the facility’s SPCC plan, with inspection records maintained for at least five years. Annual professional engineer certification is required for facilities with portable systems exceeding 10,000 gallons total containment capacity.

3. Material Compatibility Requirements

New guidance specifies minimum material compatibility standards for containment liners. Polyurea coatings must demonstrate 2,000+ hours of chemical resistance testing for petroleum hydrocarbons. PVC liner systems must meet updated permeability standards. All containment materials must now include documented manufacturer certifications.

Compliance Deadlines

Facilities with existing SPCC plans have until December 31, 2026 to amend their plans to reflect the new guidance. New facilities or those undergoing significant modifications must incorporate the 2026 standards immediately.

OCA Member Resources

The OCA has prepared a compliance checklist and plan amendment template available in the Member Resources section. Our regulatory compliance team is also available for individualized consultations. Contact us at compliance@oilcontainment.org.

OCA Research Grant Program: 2026 Funding Cycle Now Open

David Chen, Ph.D., P.E. Association News

The Oil Containment Association Research Foundation is pleased to announce the opening of the 2026 Research Grant Program. The Foundation will award up to $450,000 in research grants to support scientific advancement in oil containment technology, environmental remediation, and regulatory policy development.

2026 Research Priorities

The Foundation has identified four priority research areas for the 2026 funding cycle:

  1. Advanced Containment Materials: Development and testing of next-generation coating and liner materials with enhanced chemical resistance, environmental compatibility, and lifecycle performance
  2. Spill Detection Technologies: Sensor-based and remote monitoring systems for early spill detection in secondary containment areas
  3. Environmental Fate and Transport: Studies examining the environmental behavior of petroleum hydrocarbons in various soil and groundwater conditions to inform containment design
  4. Regulatory Efficacy: Analysis of the effectiveness of existing containment regulations in preventing environmental harm, and recommendations for policy improvements

Grant Categories

Major Research Grants: Up to $100,000 for 2-year projects conducted by accredited universities or research institutions. Four grants will be awarded.

Industry Innovation Grants: Up to $50,000 for collaborative industry-academic projects with practical application focus. Four grants will be awarded.

Student Research Awards: Up to $15,000 for graduate student thesis research projects. Four awards will be made.

Application Process

Applications are accepted through June 30, 2026. Awards will be announced September 1, 2026. Applications must be submitted through the OCA Research Foundation grant portal at oilcontainment.org/research-grants. Letters of intent are required by May 15, 2026.

Member Spotlight: How Permian Basin Operations Cut Spill Incidents by 94% with Foam Berm Systems

Michael Torres Member Spotlights

We are proud to highlight one of our long-standing OCA members, Cascade Energy Services, whose innovative approach to foam berm deployment at their Permian Basin operations resulted in a 94% reduction in reportable spill incidents over a three-year period.

Background

Cascade Energy Services operates 47 active wellheads across the Delaware Basin in West Texas. Prior to 2022, the company averaged 11 reportable spill incidents per year, resulting in regulatory fines totaling over $340,000 and significant environmental remediation costs. Operations Manager James Hartley joined OCA in 2022 looking for solutions.

The Solution: Systematic Foam Berm Deployment

“We worked with the OCA technical team to develop a site-specific containment protocol,” said Hartley. “The key was deploying standardized polyurea-coated foam berms at every wellhead, fracking fluid transfer point, and production equipment cluster. We went from ad hoc containment to a systematic approach.”

The company deployed 127 foam berm units across their operational footprint, utilizing a tiered system: 12’x16′ standard berms for individual wellhead protection, 24’x32′ berms for multi-unit equipment pads, and custom 40’x60′ configurations for tank battery areas.

Results

Over 36 months of deployment:

  • Reportable spill incidents dropped from 11/year to less than 1/year
  • EPA fine exposure eliminated (zero reportable releases in 2025)
  • Soil remediation costs reduced by $280,000 annually
  • Insurance premium reduction of 22% on environmental liability coverage
  • Passed all state and federal SPCC inspections with zero deficiencies

Lessons Learned

Hartley emphasizes that the containment system alone wasn’t the complete solution. “The OCA training program was equally important. We had all 215 employees complete the SPCC awareness training, and we added containment integrity checks to our daily safety routines. The equipment is only as good as the people using it.”

Cascade Energy Services received the OCA Environmental Excellence Award in 2025 for their outstanding commitment to spill prevention.

OCA Welcomes 47 New Member Organizations in January 2026

Lisa Association News

The Oil Containment Association is proud to announce that 47 new organizations joined our membership in January 2026, bringing our total membership to 1,847 organizations across North America. The new members represent a diverse cross-section of industries including oil and gas production, industrial manufacturing, municipal utilities, transportation, and environmental consulting.

New Member Highlights

Among the new members joining this month:

  • Great Lakes Industrial Services (Detroit, MI) – Industrial facility operator with 12 manufacturing sites seeking SPCC compliance assistance
  • Sunbelt Pipeline Co. (Phoenix, AZ) – Regional pipeline operator joining to access our technical resources and regulatory update services
  • Pacific Environmental Consultants (Seattle, WA) – Environmental consulting firm whose clients frequently need containment assessments
  • Blue Ridge Energy (Roanoke, VA) – Regional utility joining to address transformer oil containment requirements
  • Northstar Drilling Solutions (Anchorage, AK) – Alaska-based drilling contractor with unique cold-weather containment challenges

Membership Benefits

OCA members receive access to our comprehensive technical resource library (over 340 documents), discounted rates on SPCC plan development services, priority access to regulatory compliance alerts, invitations to regional and national meetings, listing in the OCA Member Directory, and access to the Certified Containment Specialist (CCS) training program.

Member Retention

We are also pleased to report a 94% member renewal rate for the 2025-2026 membership year, reflecting the strong value our members find in OCA resources and networking opportunities.

Join OCA

Organizations interested in joining the Oil Containment Association can apply online at oilcontainment.org/join or contact our Membership Director Jennifer Okafor at membership@oilcontainment.org.

OCA Technical Committee Update: Winter 2026 Meeting Summary

David Chen, Ph.D., P.E. Association News, Events & Meetings

The OCA Technical Committee held its Winter 2026 meeting on January 23rd in Denver, Colorado, with 34 committee members present and an additional 28 participating virtually. This summary covers the key topics discussed and action items assigned.

Attendance

The meeting was chaired by Technical Committee Chair Dr. Patricia Wade, P.E. In attendance were representatives from 22 member organizations including major oil producers, independent operators, environmental consultants, and containment equipment manufacturers. EPA Region 8 sent a representative as a non-voting observer.

Agenda Item 1: Polyurea Standard Update

Committee members reviewed the draft update to OCA Standard 2024-P (Polyurea Coating Performance Standards for Oil Containment Applications). After extensive discussion, the committee voted 31-3 to approve the following amendments:

  • Minimum Shore A hardness increased from 85 to 90 for vertical application surfaces
  • New requirement for manufacturer-documented recoat windows
  • Expanded chemical resistance testing requirements to include bio-diesel blends
  • Addition of low-temperature flexibility test at -60°F

The updated standard will be published in the Spring 2026 edition of OCA Technical Bulletin.

Agenda Item 2: Foam Core Material Research Results

Dr. David Chen presented the results of a 24-month field study comparing four foam core materials used in portable containment berms. The study evaluated compression recovery, UV degradation resistance, and dimensional stability across 12 test sites in four climate zones.

Key finding: Closed-cell polyisocyanurate foam significantly outperformed open-cell polyurethane in all metrics, with 94% dimensional retention after 24 months versus 71% for open-cell formulations. Full results will be published in the OCA Journal of Containment Technology (Spring 2026 issue).

Agenda Item 3: New Member Training Program

Member Services Director Sarah Williams presented a proposal for an expanded OCA Certified Containment Specialist (CCS) program. The updated curriculum adds two new modules: Advanced SPCC Planning and Digital Inspection Technologies. The program will launch in Q2 2026 with a target enrollment of 200 students in the first cohort.

Next Meeting

The Spring 2026 Technical Committee meeting is scheduled for April 17th in Houston, TX, hosted by member organization Gulf Coast Environmental Solutions. Registration opens March 1st via the OCA Member Portal.

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

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

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:

  1. Your facility is non-transportation-related (not a vessel, pipeline, or vehicle)
  2. 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
  3. 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.

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