Virginia Law

A. The Virginia Petroleum Storage Tank Fund will be used for costs in excess of the financial responsibility requirements specified under subsection C of this section up to $1 million per occurrence for both taking corrective action and compensating third parties for bodily injury and property damage caused by accidental releases from petroleum underground storage tanks in accordance with the following:

1. Corrective action disbursements for accidental releases with no associated third party disbursements from the fund shall not exceed:

a. $995,000 for the $5,000 corrective action requirement;

b. $990,000 for the $10,000 corrective action requirement;

c. $980,000 for the $20,000 corrective action requirement;

d. $970,000 for the $30,000 corrective action requirement;

e. $950,000 for the $50,000 corrective action requirement.

Third party disbursements for accidental releases with no corrective action disbursements from the fund shall not exceed:

a. $985,000 for the $15,000 third party requirement;

b. $970,000 for the $30,000 third party requirement;

c. $940,000 for the $60,000 third party requirement;

d. $880,000 for the $120,000 third party requirement;

e. $850,000 for the $150,000 third party requirement.

Combined corrective action and third party disbursements from the fund shall not exceed:

a. $980,000 for the $20,000 combined requirement;

b. $960,000 for the $40,000 combined requirement;

c. $920,000 for the $80,000 combined requirement;

d. $850,000 for the $150,000 combined requirement;

e. $800,000 for the $200,000 combined requirement.

The first priority for disbursements from the fund shall be for corrective action costs necessary to protect human health and the environment.

2. Reasonable and necessary costs of compensating third parties for bodily injury and property damage shall be paid only (i) in accordance with final court orders in cases which have been tried to final judgment no longer subject to appeal, (ii) in accordance with final arbitration awards not subject to appeal, or (iii) where the department approved the settlement of claim between the owner or operator and the third party prior to execution by the parties. The reasonableness and necessity of costs shall be determined based upon documented or actual damage, loss in value, and other relevant factors.

The Commonwealth has not waived its sovereign immunity and does not believe that it is a necessary party to a private action against an owner or operator for third party bodily injury and property damage.

3. Owner or operator managed cleanups. An owner or operator, including an operator of a facility or an owner or operator of an underground storage tank exempted in subdivisions 1 and 2 of the definition of an underground storage tank in 9VAC25-590-10 and an aboveground storage tank with a capacity of 5,000 gallons or less used for storing heating oil for consumption on the premises where stored, responding to a release and conducting a department approved corrective action plan in accordance with Parts V and VI (9VAC25-580-190 through 9VAC25-580-310) may proceed to pay for all costs incurred for such activities. An accounting submitted to the department of all costs incurred will be reviewed and those costs in excess of the financial responsibility requirements up to $1 million which are reasonable and have been approved by the department will be reimbursed from the fund.

4. Owners or operators shall pay the financial responsibility requirement specified in this section for each occurrence.

5. No person shall receive reimbursement from the fund for third party bodily injury or property damage:

a. Where the release, occurrence, injury or property damage is caused, in whole or in part, by the willful misconduct or negligence of the owner or operator, his employee, contractor, or agent, or anyone within his privity or knowledge;

b. Where the claim cost has been reimbursed or is reimbursable by an insurance policy;

c. Where the costs or damages were incurred pursuant to § 10.1-1232 of the Code of Virginia and the regulations promulgated thereunder;

d. Where the release was reported before December 22, 1989; or

e. Where the owner or operator does not demonstrate the reasonableness and necessity of the claim costs.

B. No person, including an operator of a facility or an owner or operator of an underground storage tank exempted in subdivisions 1 and 2 of the definition of an underground storage tank in 9VAC25-590-10 and an aboveground storage tank with a capacity of 5,000 gallons or less used for storing heating oil for consumption on the premises where stored, shall receive reimbursement from the fund for any costs or damages incurred:

1. Where the person, his employee, contractor or agent, or anyone within the privity or knowledge of that person, has violated substantive environmental regulations under 9VAC25-580 or this chapter;

2. Where the release occurrence is caused, in whole or in part, by the willful misconduct or negligence of the person, his employee, contractor or agent, or anyone within the privity or knowledge of that person;

3. Where the person, his employee, contractor or agent, or anyone within the privity or knowledge of that person has (i) failed to carry out the instructions of the department, committed willful misconduct or been negligent in carrying out or conducting actions under Part V or VI (9VAC25-580-190 through 9VAC25-580-310) or (ii) has violated applicable federal or state safety, construction or operating laws or regulations in carrying out or conducting actions under Parts V or VI (9VAC25-580-190 through 9VAC25-580-310);

4. Where the claim has been reimbursed or is reimbursable by an insurance policy;

5. Where the costs or damages were incurred pursuant to § 10.1-1232 of the Code of Virginia and the regulations promulgated thereunder;

6. For corrective action taken prior to December 22, 1989, by an owner or operator of an underground storage tank, or an owner of an underground storage tank exempted in subdivisions 1 and 2 of the definition of an underground storage tank in 9VAC25-590-10, or an owner of an aboveground storage tank with a capacity of 5,000 gallons or less used for storing heating oil for consumption on the premises where stored; or

7. Prior to January 1, 1992, by an operator of a facility for containment and cleanup of a release from a facility of a product subject to 62.1-44.34:13 of the Code of Virginia.

C. 1. The fund will be used to demonstrate financial responsibility requirements for owners or operators in excess of the amounts specified in this subdivision up to the per occurrence and annual aggregate requirements specified in 9VAC25-590-40 for both taking corrective action and compensating third parties for bodily injury and property damage caused by accidental releases from petroleum underground storage tanks.

a. Owners and operators with 600,000 gallons or less of petroleum pumped on an annual basis into all underground storage tanks owned or operated, $5,000 per occurrence for taking corrective action and $15,000 per occurrence for compensating third parties, with an annual aggregate of $20,000.

b. Owners and operators with between 600,001 to 1,200,000 gallons of petroleum pumped on an annual basis into all underground storage tanks owned or operated, $10,000 per occurrence for taking corrective action and $30,000 per occurrence for compensating third parties, with an annual aggregate of $40,000.

c. Owners and operators with between 1,200,001 to 1,800,000 gallons of petroleum pumped on an annual basis into all underground storage tanks owned or operated, $20,000 per occurrence for taking corrective action and $60,000 per occurrence for compensating third parties, with an annual aggregate of $80,000.

d. Owners and operators with between 1,800,001 to 2,400,000 gallons of petroleum pumped on an annual basis into all underground storage tanks owned or operated, $30,000 per occurrence for taking corrective action and $120,000 per occurrence for compensating third parties, with an annual aggregate of $150,000.

e. Owners and operators with in excess of 2,400,000 gallons of petroleum pumped on an annual basis into all underground storage tanks owned or operated, $50,000 per occurrence for taking corrective action and $150,000 per occurrence for compensating third parties, with an annual aggregate of $200,000.

2. The fund may be used to satisfy only the portion of an owner or operator's financial responsibility requirement specified in subdivision 1 of this subsection and, therefore, shall be used in combination with one or more of the mechanisms specified in 9VAC25-590-60 through 9VAC25-590-110 and 9VAC25-590-250.

3. The requirements of 9VAC25-590-40 B apply solely to financial responsibility demonstration requirements under this section, and shall not affect reimbursements paid under this section.

D. This fund may also be used for the following:

1. Costs incurred by the department for taking immediate corrective action to contain or mitigate the effects of any release of petroleum into the environment from an underground storage tank if such action is necessary, in the judgment of the department to protect human health and the environment.

2. Costs incurred by the department for taking corrective action up to $1 million for any release of petroleum into the environment from an underground storage tank:

a. Whose owner or operator cannot be determined by the department within 90 days; or

b. Whose owner or operator is incapable, in the judgment of the department, of carrying out such corrective action properly.

3. Costs incurred by the department for taking corrective action for any release of petroleum into the environment from tanks which are otherwise specifically listed in 9VAC25-590-10 as exemptions in the definition of an underground storage tank.

4. All other uses authorized by § 62.1-44.34:11 of the Code of Virginia.

E. The department shall seek recovery of fund moneys expended for corrective action in accordance with § 62.1-44.34:11 of the Code of Virginia where the owner or operator has violated substantive environmental regulations under 9VAC25-580 or this chapter.

F. The department shall have the right of subrogation for moneys expended from the fund as compensation for bodily injury, death, or property damage against any person who is liable for such injury, death or damage.

G. No funds shall be paid for reimbursement of costs incurred by an owner or operator for corrective action and for compensating third parties for bodily injury and property damage prior to December 22, 1989.

H. No disbursements shall be made from the fund for owners or operators who are federal government entities or whose debts and liabilities are the debts and liabilities of the United States.

I. No funds shall be paid in excess of the minimum disbursement necessary to cleanup each occurrence to the acceptable level of risk, as determined by the department in its sole discretion.