Among the potential parties involved when an accidental release is suspected from a heating oil tank or line are the heating oil tank owner or operator, adjacent property owners, heating oil supplier, PLIA, third-party administrator, department of ecology, and heating oil tank service providers.

(1) Heating oil tank owner or operator. All liabilities caused by an accidental release originating from a heating oil tank are the sole responsibility of the heating oil tank owner. The pollution liability insurance agency and/or the state of Washington accepts no liability, nor portion of the liability, from the heating oil tank owner. The heating oil tank operator may submit forms to PLIA on behalf of the owner, however, no corrective action may be performed without the specific written consent of the heating oil tank owner. The heating oil tank owner or operator is responsible for notifying the heating oil supplier in the case of a suspected accidental release and investigating the source and extent of the suspected accidental release. The heating oil tank owner is responsible to provide documentation to PLIA that coverage will not be provided by the owner's homeowners' insurer. If corrective action is implemented, the heating oil tank owner is responsible for selecting a service provider approved by the insurer and approving the completed corrective action.

(2) Adjacent property owners. If an accidental release migrates offsite, or is suspected to have migrated, the adjacent property owner may be involved in the corrective action. In this situation, the heating oil tank owner or operator shall notify PLIA of the occurrence and provide the adjacent property owner's name, address and telephone number.

(3) Heating oil supplier. Some heating oil suppliers provide customer services which may be a resource to evaluate a suspected accidental release to the environment. If after investigating a heating system malfunction, a heating oil supplier determines that an accidental release may have occurred, the heating oil supplier should inform the owner or operator of the accidental release.

(4) PLIA acts as the designated representative of the insurer for purposes of the heating oil pollution liability insurance program. PLIA provides informal advice and assistance to heating oil tank owners and operators, registers heating oil tanks for insurance coverage, provides listings of service providers approved by the insurer, manages claims for the insurer and provides certification that a claim is closed.

(5) Third-party administrator. PLIA may appoint a third-party administrator to assist in monitoring, investigation and corrective action.

(6) Department of ecology. The department of ecology administers statewide laws and rules detailing MTCA cleanup standards for both soil and groundwater. To be eligible for coverage under the heating oil pollution liability insurance program, corrective action must satisfy MTCA and pertinent local government requirements.

(7) Heating oil tank service provider. A heating oil tank service provider is an independent contractor who contracts with an owner or operator to perform corrective action, including submitting reports to PLIA on behalf of the owner or operator.