“I need to cleanup a heating oil tank release.”
Heating oil tank owners wishing to clean up a leak or replace their heating oil system may consider the Heating Oil Loan and Grant (HOLG) Program, which provides $60,000 grants for cleanup and loans for infrastructure replacement and upgrade.
The legal agreement (treaty) between PLIA and the private insurance company that provides an insurance policy for heating oil tanks through the Heating Oil Insurance Program (HOIP) has now ended. The policy expired on June 30, 2025, ending insurance coverage for heating oil tanks registered with PLIA.
While the policy has ended, PLIA will continue to review any potential claim submitted through July 31, 2025. After July 31, no new claims will be accepted in HOIP.
Any previously existing claims for releases reported before July 1, 2025, will remain valid. PLIA will continue to administer those claims until they are closed or the claim’s funds are exhausted.
You can learn more about this transition below and on our HOIP Transition Page.
About the Program
The legal agreement (treaty) between PLIA and the private insurance company that provides an insurance policy for heating oil tanks has now ended. The policy expired on June 30, 2025, ending insurance coverage for heating oil tanks registered with PLIA.
The Washington State Pollution Liability Insurance Agency (PLIA) has transitioned the Heating Oil Insurance Program (HOIP) into the Heating Oil Loan and Grant (HOLG) Program. As of July 31, 2025, PLIA will no longer accept new claims in HOIP. Going forward, PLIA will start implementing cleanup grants through HOLG. These grants will be available for accepted program applicants beginning in May of 2025.
Any previously existing claims for releases reported before July 1, 2025, will remain valid. PLIA will continue to administer those claims until they are closed or the claim’s funds are exhausted.
You can learn more about this transition on our HOIP Transition Page.
Reporting and Initial Investigations
You must report a suspected or confirmed release to the Department of Ecology by submitting a Statewide Environmental Incident Report Form (ERTS). You can find more information on what to do if your heating oil tank has a leak in our online guide.
Verify Your Registration
All registrations in the Heating Oil Insurance Program have ended as of August 1, 2025. However, heating oil tank owners with claims reported before July 1, 2025, may still reopen claims if they have remaining funds on the claim and can prove that contamination is related to the previous release.
What the Insurance Covers
While the Heating Oil Insurance Program has now transitioned to the Heating Oil Loan and Grant Program, PLIA will still administer heating oil claims that were approved prior to July 31, 2025. No new claims will be accepted after that date.
For existing claims, PLIA covers up to $60,000 of approved costs for cleanup of contamination, not covered by other insurance, on your property and/or a neighboring property.
What the Insurance Does Not Cover
Coverage does not apply to the following:
- Costs incurred prior to PLIA’s approval. All cleanup work must be pre-approved by PLIA in order to be paid by insurance.
- The tank decommissioning process.
- Leaks from abandoned or decommissioned tanks, or other sources.
- Leaks that start before registering with PLIA.
- Property restoration on your property or first party coverage.
- Removal/repair/replacement of the tank/lines/furnace. This does not include reimbursement of new tank replacement costs for fiberglass tanks, see RCW 70A.330.100.
- Emergency heat restoration.
- Heating oil lost in the release.
- Leaks that started after the program ended.
How To Reopen a Claim
While the Heating Oil Insurance Program has now transitioned to the Heating Oil Loan and Grant Program, PLIA will still administer heating oil claims that were approved prior to July 31, 2025. No new claims will be accepted after that date.
Heating oil tank owners with claims for releases reported before July 1, 2025, may still reopen claims if they have remaining funds on the claim at the time it was initially closed. Claims can only be reopened by the heating oil tank owner who opened the original claim. To reopen a claim, the heating oil tank owner must prove that the contamination is associated with the original claim’s release of heating oil.
You can find instructions on how to reopen a heating oil claim in our online guide on reopening claims.
Policy, Statute, and Rules
The Heating Oil Pollution Liability Insurance Program is governed by the Revised Code of Washington – Chapter 70A.330 RCW Petroleum Storage Tank Systems Pollution Liability Protection Act and the Washington Administrative Code Chapter 374-70 WAC Heating Oil Pollution Liability Insurance Program and Chapter 374-45 WAC Reporting and Initial Investigations.