“I need to cleanup a heating oil tank release.”
The heating oil claims process is now online. Please visit the Online Community to look up a registration, open a claim, or submit claim information.
If you recently received a mailer from PLIA and would like to link your registration, start here.
Please note: SAW will never send bit.ly links via SMS or email.
About the program
For tank owners who registered their tanks prior to July 2, 2020, the Pollution Liability Heating Oil Insurance Program provides an insurance policy with up to $60,000 of coverage to clean up contamination from a heating oil tank release.
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).
Verify your registration
Complete a Registration Search to determine if your tank is registered.
How do I transfer an existing registration?
To transfer an existing registration into a new tank owner’s name, log into the Online Community and click the Transfer My Registration button. No new registrations are accepted. The policy is only available to current registrations and to transfers of registered tanks within 180 days from the date of property transfer.
If you prefer to complete the form by paper, you may Print & Mail (PDF) the paper form.
What the insurance covers
The Heating Oil Insurance program covers up to $60,000 for cleanup of contamination, not covered by other insurance, on your property and/or a neighboring property for leaks that start after the heating oil tank is registered with PLIA.
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.
How to file a claim
If you suspect a release from your registered heating oil tank, you must contact PLIA to file a claim. Please log into the Online Community, navigate to your registration and click on the File a Claim link at the top of the registration record. You may also call 1-800-822-3905 or (360) 407-0520. You have 180 calendar days from the date the tank is decommissioned or abandoned.
Real estate transactions
If a registered owner sells the property, or transfers ownership in any way, then the coverage under the Heating Oil Pollution Liability Insurance Program ends. The new property owner may maintain coverage by requesting a transfer of registration within 180 days from the date of the property transfer.
To transfer an existing registration into a new tank owner’s name, log into the Online Community and click the Transfer my Registration button. No new registrations are accepted.
If you prefer to complete the form by paper you may Print & Mail (PDF) the paper form
Policy, statute, and rules
The Colony Insurance Company provides Policy (PDF) coverage of the Heating Oil Pollution Liability Insurance Program.
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.