fees

Frequently Asked Fee Questions

	What are the fees for the USTIF?
	How am I billed for the USTIF Fee?
	Is this a mandatory program?
	What is the USTIF's billing cycle?
	Are there payment options?
	How do I know if my tank is a regulated underground storage tank (UST)?
	Which UST's are exempted from the USTIF?
	How do I change my USTIF account information?
	Who is required to pay the fees to the USTIF?
	I have not used my UST for years, it is in "Temporarily Out of Use" status, am I still required to pay the USTIF Fees?
	I have an out-of-state Distributor, do I have to submit the Gallon fees myself?

What are the fees for the USTIF? back to top

FEE STRUCTURE FOR
UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANKS

The following information is a substance guideline used for billing purposes by the Collections Unit of the Underground Storage Tank Indemnification Fund (USTIF).

Substances Subject to Gallon Fee

Gasoline	Gasohol
New Motor Oil	Aviation Fuel
Hazardous Substances	Mixture
Other	Farm Diesel

Gallon fee collected by distributor

Year	Rate Per Gallon
2004	$.011
2003	$.01
2002 (4/1/02 - 12/31/02)	$.001
2002 (1/1/02 - 3/31/02)	$.0005
2001	$.0005
2000	$.0005
1999	$.001
1998	$.005
1996-1997	$.01
1994-1995	$.02

Substances Subject to Capacity Fee

Diesel	Kerosene
Heating Oil (coverage optional)	Unknown
Used Motor Oil

Capacity fee, due annually

Billing Year	Rate per gallon capacity
2004	$.0825
2003	$.075
2002 (4/1/02 - 12/31/02)	$.02
2002 (1/1/02 - 3/31/02)	$.01
2001	$.01
2000	$.01
1999	$.02
1998	$.10
1994-1997	$.15

Questions Concerning Your Fee, Contact:
(800) 595-9887 In Pennsylvania
(717) 787-0763
E-mail: ra-ustif@pa.gov

How am I billed for the USTIF Fee? back to top

Any registered UST is billed according to the substance that is contained in their UST.

Gallon Fee: billed by the Distributor at time of delivery based on $0.011 per gallon.

Substances Subject to Gallon Fee:

Gasoline		Gasohol
New Motor Oil		Aviation Fuel
Hazardous Substance		Mixture
Other		Farm Diesel

Capacity Fee: billed annually by USTIF based on a $0.0825 per gallon multiplied by the size of the UST.

Substances Subject to Capacity Fee:

Diesel	Kerosene
Heating Oil (optional)	Unknown
Used Motor Oil

Is this a mandatory program? back to top

The USTIF is mandatory unless you have a deregulated heating oil tank, for which coverage is optional.

What is the USTIF’s billing cycle? back to top

The USTIF bills annually for capacity fee with each year's new bill sent in December. Monthly statements are sent until the balance due is paid in full.

Are there payment options? back to top

The USTIF offers the option of paying the fee in full or making monthly payments of the minimum due which is stated on the capacity statement. The USTIF has available to both distributors and tank owners the Automatic Payment Service. This allows payment to be automatically deducted from the bank checking or savings account. To apply, complete the Authorization Agreement under My Account.

How do I know if my tank is a regulated underground storage tank (UST)? back to top

The Storage Tank and Spill Prevention Act 32 of 1989 specifies which UST's are regulated. Generally, a regulated UST is any tank with a capacity greater than 110 gallons and which are at least 10% or more beneath the surface of the ground. The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) determines whether a particular UST is regulated.

Which UST's are exempted from the USTIF? back to top

The term UST shall not include:

Farm or residential tanks of 1,100 gallons or less capacity used for storing motor fuel for noncommercial purposes;

Heating Oil tanks used for space heating only;

A septic or other subsurface sewage treatment tank;

A pipeline facility;

Surface impoundments, pits, ponds or lagoons;

Storm water or wastewater collection systems;

Flow-through process tanks;

Liquid traps or associated gathering lines directly related to oil or gas production and gathering operations;

Storage tanks situated in an underground area (such as a basement, cellar, mine working, drift, shaft or tunnel) if the tank is situated upon or above the surface of the floor;

Tanks permitted pursuant to the Act of July 7, 1980 (P.L. 380, No. 97), known as the Solid Waste Management Act, including piping, tanks, collection and treatment systems used for leachate, methane gas and methane gas condensate management.

Any UST system whose capacity is 110 gallons or less.

How do I change my USTIF account information? back to top

To change any tank status or owner information on your USTIF account you must submit an Amended Registration Form to the PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). When the database is updated the USTIF account will be adjusted accordingly.

Who is required to pay the fees to the USTIF? back to top

Tank owners with registered UST's or owners of participating heating oil tanks are required to pay the USTIF fees.

I have not used my UST for years, it is in "Temporarily Out of Use" status, am I still required to pay the USTIF fees? back to top

Yes. Tank owners are required to pay USTIF fees up to and including the day the UST tank(s) have been permanently removed from the ground or closed in place.

I have an out-of-state Distributor, do I have to submit the Gallon fees myself? back to top

If a tank owner has an out-of-state distributor who has not posted a bond with the USTIF, the tank owner is required to submit their gallon fees to the USTIF. An in-state distributor is responsible for submitting the customer's fees to the USTIF.

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E-mail: ra-ustif@pa.gov