Department of Insurance/Dep Highlight 30 years of underground oil products. Pays over 1.3 billion US dollars for the clean -up tires

Ustifif is a unique program that helps to eliminate the leaks of underground fuel tanks and to protect the environment, the business owners and the municipalities throughout the Commonwealth so that these leaks do not become long -term problems.

Petrol stations and other companies that keep fuel and other regulated substances in the underground tanks can suffer. When these tanks run out, these substances can pollute the soil and the groundwater, which can harm people, animals and the environment.

Ustifif, a special fund that resembles a small insurance company, offers petrol stations or owners of industrial locations to pay the provision of areas, repair tanks and alleviate all damage caused by the leak.

“Ustif has contributed to keeping our residents safe and keeping our environment clean”, ” said, insurance commissioner of Pennsylvania, Michael Humphreys. “At PID we are proud to manage and monitor the fund. The department will continue to ensure that the fund will remain financially strong so that it can help the tank owners and operators with the shoulder of the financial burden and reducing environmental damage in the event of a leak.”

In order to take part in the fund, business owners with underground tanks either pay a small fee, which, depending on the substance, is based on the capacity of their tanks or a gallon fee for deliveries.

If a burial occurs, these business owners can submit a claim for PID, which covers up to 1.5 million US dollars to support the adjustment.

Ustif also reimburses the participants the costs associated with the determination of the extent, the type and effects of the leak, and at the same time reimburses the costs for the development and implementation of a remedial measure to restore the location.

“This fund has played an important role in protecting our environment in the past 30 years.” said the deputy insurance commissioner Laura Lyon Slaymaker. “Thanks to the Ustif and his team, the residents are less likely when a leak occurs and minimizes the risk of polluted groundwater and soil. The most important thing is that the tank owners now have the necessary financing to fix the problem and ensure that a leak of this kind does not occur in the future.”

Ustif has concluded 7,728 claims and has been raised to its authorized participants since the beginning of the 1994 Fund in 1994.

With annual allocations, Ustif also finances several DEP programs for underground bearing tank programs, including enforcement and inspection activities.

In 2024, Ustif reported the lowest new application volume for 30 years, partly to the ongoing implementation of the DEP spill prevention regulations.

“There are over 20,000 regulated underground warehouse tank systems in municipalities in all of Pennsylvania. These systems are of crucial importance for transport, energy and industrial sector of the Commonwealth. If the unexpected happens, Ustif works with furnishing owners and Dep to protect pennsylvanians and the environment”, ” said Dep Executive Secretary Ramez Ziadeh.

The claim process is easy and a decision on the claim is made in good time.

If a leak is done, the case is assigned a representative and usually contacts the fuel owner within one working day.

From there, a formal examination begins, which includes the documentation of the first publication in the environment and the explanation of the tank owner.

As soon as it is complete, a authorization provision is sent in writing to the tank owner.

“As a result of the uses founded 30 years ago, thousands of armored remedies were financed, which creates a safer environment for everyone” said Andrew Greiner, a Ustif board member. “It was an honor to work with a group of people who take care of our environment as well as they help others. Our team is looking forward to promoting efforts that lead to a cleaner Commonwealth.”

Visit the Underground warehouse tank compensation fund Website to learn more about this program.

Click here for the announcement of the insurance department/DEP.

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[Posted: July 17, 2025] Pa environmental digestion