Background on USTIF (The Fund)

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) have issued a number of regulations governing the construction, upgrade, and operation of underground storage tanks. These regulations also establish insurance requirements in the event that an UST leaks.

The Storage Tank and Spill Prevention Act, Act 32 of 1989, 35 P. S. §§6021.101 et seq., as amended, created the Underground Storage Tank Indemnification Fund (USTIF) to assist owners and operators in meeting the insurance requirement. The Fund makes claim payments to eligible UST owners or operators for damages caused by a release from their UST. To be eligible, the release must have occurred on or after February 1, 1994. There are other eligibility requirements. The USTIF indemnifies tank owners for third party liability that may occur when the release from a tank has injured another person or that person's property.

Claim payments to eligible owners or operators shall be limited to the actual costs of corrective action and third party liability. Payments shall not exceed an annual aggregate of $1.5 million for each owner and operator.  The per occurrence limit is set at $1.5 million. Claims are subject to a deductible of $5,000 per tank.

The USTIF receives policy guidance from a ten member board, who are extremely knowledgeable on insurance and storage tank issues. The Fund is administered by the Pennsylvania Insurance Department.  The USTIF can be reached at the following mailing address, phone number and e-mail address:

                        The Underground Storage Tank Indemnification Fund
                        901 North 7th Street
                         Harrisburg, PA  17102
                         (717) 787-0763 or (800) 595-9887 (in PA)
                         E-mail:    ra-ustif@pa.gov