ABOUT THE BOARD

The Ohio Petroleum Underground Storage Tank Release Compensation Board (The Board) consists of government and industry representatives and has the primary responsibility of administering the Petroleum Financial Assurance Fund (“the Fund”). The Fund is a source of money derived from mandatory per-tank fees and is available to eligible underground storage tank owners to reimburse petroleum release clean up costs.

Please note:  the Board does not issue permits for tank removal, installation, or repair and does not supervise the clean up of releases. Instead, these things are done by the Bureau of Underground Storage Tank Regulations (BUSTR), an agency under the Ohio State Fire Marshal’s authority.   

Check out our public inquiry search page!

UPCOMING MEETINGS

The Board’s next public meeting will be held on September, 4, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. Click here for a schedule of the 2013 calendar year’s Board meetings. Minutes from previous meetings are available on the Meetings page.

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

  ·  2013 Certificates of Coverage

The 2013 Applications for a Certificate of Coverage are currently being processed. Certificates will be mailed beginning on May 31, 2013, and will be printed and mailed bi-weekly thereafter. To check the status of your Certificate and verify the receipt of fee payment, visit the Board’s public inquiry web page at www.petroboardinquiry.org. If you do not receive your Certificate by August 16, 2013, please contact the Board’s office at 614-752-8963 or 1-800-224-4659 (in Ohio only). Click here to review the 2013 Addendum to the Certificate of Coverage.

  ·  Tank Fees to Remain Constant

At its November 2012 meeting, the Board voted to not increase tank fees for the 2013 program year (July 1, 2013 – June 30, 2014). Fees remain at $600 per tank for coverage at the standard $55,000 deductible and $800 per tank for coverage at the $11,000 reduced deductible.

  ·  Increase in Reimbursable Mileage Rate

Effective October 1, 2012, the Fund’s reimbursable mileage rate will be based on the General Services Administration’s privately owned vehicle reimbursable mileage rate in effect at the time of travel. As of January 1, 2013, that rate is $0.565 per mile. Mileage costs incurred prior to October 1, 2012 will be reimbursed by the Fund at the rate in effect at the time of travel. For instance, mileage costs incurred on October 1, 2011 will be reimbursed by the Fund at the rate in effect on October 1, 2011 or $0.45 per mile. You can view the General Services Administration’s mileage rates at www.gsa.gov/mileage. For questions regarding the reimbursable mileage rate, please contact us.

  ·  Ability to Pay Program

At its November 2011 meeting, the Board authorized an “Ability to Pay Program” whereby previous owners and/or operators of petroleum USTs experiencing financial difficulty may apply for and receive a determination of their ability to pay delinquent Financial Assurance Fund fees. In order to qualify for the program, the responsible person cannot currently own or operate petroleum USTs and if applicable, must have received a determination of no further action from the fire marshal for any release for which eligibility to claim against the Fund was granted. If the responsible person is an individual, the responsible person may submit the Individual Ability to Pay Fees application. If the responsible person is a corporation, limited liability company or partnership, please submit the Corporate Ability to Pay Fees application. For assistance with completing the application, please contact us.

  ·  Considering Purchasing a Tank?

The Board’s rules require the purchaser of underground storage tank(s) to pay a $500 per facility transfer fee plus any unpaid fees and/or penalties owed on the tank(s). Click here for more information about this rule as well as a list of items to consider before and after purchasing underground tanks.

  ·  Unclaimed Monies

Check out our unclaimed monies list to see if you are entitled to a refund of fees!

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