In accordance with RCW 70A.330.040(1), only heating oil tanks in Washington state with registrations in place before July 2, 2020, and the owner associated with that heating oil tank are eligible for coverage under the heating oil pollution liability insurance program.

(1) Participation in the heating oil pollution liability insurance program is optional for heating oil tank owners with heating oil tank registrations in place before July 2, 2020.

(2) Abandoned or decommissioned heating oil tanks are not eligible for coverage under the heating oil pollution liability insurance program, except as described in WAC 374-70-080(4) and 374-70-090(4).

(3) Registration of the heating oil tank in the heating oil pollution liability insurance program must be in the name of the current owner of the property where the registered heating oil tank is located. In the event of a property ownership transfer, the new property owner must submit an updated registration form within 180 calendar days of the property ownership transfer in order to maintain the registration. The date of the property ownership transfer will be considered the first day of the 180 calendar days. If the new owner does not register within 180 calendar days, the registration will end.

(a) Property ownership transfers include, but are not limited to, sales, gifting, and inheritances.

(b) A person inheriting property with a heating oil tank registration has 12 months to notify PLIA about the property ownership transfer. After 12 months the registration ends if there are no notifications to PLIA and no named property owner.

(4) If a claim for coverage under WAC 374-70-080 or 374-70-090 is submitted within 180 calendar days after the property is transferred, and before the new owner has submitted an updated registration, the new owner will be deemed to be the named insured for the purposes of this chapter.

(5) PLIA reserves the right to perform an independent investigation to verify the eligibility of a heating oil tank. All investigative costs will be the responsibility of PLIA.