Claims Process

The purpose of the Fund is to reimburse eligible tank owners for reasonable and necessary expenses incurred while remediating contamination from registered underground storage tanks.

 

To be eligible for claim benefits, participants must meet all of the following requirements:

• Claims must be reported within 60 days after discovery of a release.
• The claimant is the owner/operator of the tank.
• The Fund's fees are paid for each tank at the facility prior to discovery of the release.
• Each tank at the facility is registered with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PaDEP), except for nonregulated heating oil tanks that were opted into the program. Registration fees are paid on or before 60 days of when the release is discovered.
• The tank owner/operator received permits, if required.
• The tank owner/operator can prove a release occurred on or after February 1, 1994.
• The claimant cooperates with the Fund in the investigation of the claim.

 

Claims are investigated by the Fund's Third Party Administrator who makes a recommendation to the Fund concerning eligibility.

 

If the claim has been deemed eligible by the Fund, it may be advertised for competitive bidding by interested remediation contractors as explained in more detail in Bulletin #5, Competitive Bidding.

 

The Fund is obligated by statute and regulation to pay only those expenses that are considered reasonable and necessary. Occasionally, the Fund will issue bulletins as guidance regarding certain aspects of the claim process.