Oil Tank and Environmental Solutions in Washington State

Universal Applicators performs our work according to Washington State Department of Ecology regulations, as well as conforming to the permit and inspection processes of cities and counties involved.

The Pollution Liability Insurance Agency (PLIA) in Washington state is now doing the project review work that the Washington Department of Ecology used to do. PLIA now reviews our decommissioning reports and issues their “No Further Action Opinion at the Following Site” letter to the property owner. PLIA reviews our reports for compliance with the requirements of the Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA) Chapter 70.149 RCW and the Washington Administrative Codes Chapter 173-340.

Free Insurance Coverage For Future Contamination Cleanup Available In Washington State

For our customers in Washington state with underground storage tanks for home heating oil, it is important to know about the Pollution Liability Insurance Agency (PLIA). PLIA offers free insurance that fully covers the cost of contaminated soil cleanups if the situation arises.

From the PLIA website at https://plia.wa.gov/:

“PLIA’s Heating Oil Pollution Liability Insurance Program provides pollution liability coverage to owners who heat their homes or businesses with heating oil. You must be registered with PLIA prior to the start of the release for the cleanup to be covered.” (Again, the policy is free.)

If you have oil heat and are not on the program, it is beneficial to sign up.
If you are not sure if your tank is presently covered, you can find out from PLIA directly, or we can request for you.
If you are buying a property with an oil tank, please note that the PLIA policy coverage stays with the tank, and so can be transferred to you, the new owner. New owners have a limited period to notify PLIA of new ownership and maintain the coverage.
If you have a commercial property, the PLIA program also has assistance for tanks at commercial locations.

Please note that PLIA insurance pays for the removal and disposal of contaminated soil. It does not cover the tank decommissioning process that leads to the discovery of soil contamination or landscaping. However, if an object such as a window well has to be replaced to reach contaminated soil, then that cost can be reimbursed.