USTIF Celebrates 30 Years

The Pennsylvania Petroleum Association (PPA) joined a ceremony hosted by the Pennsylvania Insurance Department (PID) and the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to celebrate the Underground Storage Tank Indemnification Fund’s (USTIF) 30th anniversary last week at a ceremony in Camp Hill, PA. USTIF is a unique program that helps clean up leaks from underground fuel tanks and protects the environment, business owners, and communities across the Commonwealth so that these leaks do not turn into long-term problems.

The USTIF Board consists of 14 members. The Insurance Commissioner and the Secretary of Environmental Protection serve as ex officio members.The Senate President Pro Tempore, the Senate Minority Leader, the Speaker of the House, and the House Minority Leader each appoint a member. The remaining eight members are appointed by the Governor of Pennsylvania with a requirement that six of them possess expertise in managing underground storage tanks. The PPA is a standing member of the USTIF Board.

Gas stations and other businesses that store fuel and other regulated substances in tanks buried underground can suffer tank leaks. When these tanks leak, those substances can pollute the soil and groundwater, which can harm people, animals, and the environment. USTIF, a special fund that operates similar to a small insurance company, provides a way for gas stations or industrial sites owners to pay to clean up areas, fix tanks, and mitigate any damage caused by the leak. USTIF has handled 7,728 eligible claims since its inception.

Click here to read the full press release and watch a video recap of the ceremony.