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Access
to the Fund requires
completion of
a Fund Application.
A Fund Application
can be obtained
by either clicking
below on "Claim
Application" or by calling
the Fund's toll
free telephone
number at 1-800-813-FUND
(3863).
Upon
receipt of a
Fund Application,
a claim number
is assigned.
Assignment of
a claim number
does not indicate
the claims' eligibility
or ranking. Whenever
making inquiries
about the status
of a claim, refer
to the claim
number.
The
Fund Application
requests information
necessary to
determine eligibility
for reimbursement
of corrective
action costs.
To file an application
with the Fund,
the claimant
must be a current
or past owner
or operator of
the UST from
which an unauthorized
release of petroleum
has occurred
and be required
to undertake
corrective action
as directed by
the regulatory
agency. In addition
to petroleum
USTs, owners
of certain small
home heating
oil tanks that
have had an unauthorized
release of petroleum
are also eligible.
Other
eligibility requirements
include compliance
with applicable
state UST permitting
requirements,
compliance with
regulatory agency
cleanup orders,
and payment of
underground storage
tank fees.
New
claims received
are reviewed
for completeness
and to determine
eligibility based
on statuatory
and regulatory
requirements.
The review process
consists of an
in-house review
to ensure the
application is
complete and
that the claimant
meets the eligibility
requirements.
During the review
process, the
claimant may
be contacted
if more information
is required to
determine eligibility
or the appropriate
priority class.
If the claim
is determined
eligible for
funding, it will
be placed on
the priority
list in the appropriate
priority class
by the date the
Fund received
the claim.
Once
the claim is
on the priority
list and the
claim is reachable,
a compliance
review is conducted
of the site file
maintained by
the regulatory
agency. The compliance
review may include
discussions with
staff assigned
to oversee site
cleanup activities.
If
a claimant is
determined eligible
and funding is
available, a
Letter of Commitment
(LOC) will be
issued. The LOC
is the legal
document used
to obligate funds
for cleanup of
contamination.
When an LOC is
issued, the claim
is removed from
the priority
list.
If
at anytime during
the claim review
process the claim
is determined
ineligible, the
claimant will
be notified in
writing and given
the reasons for
the denial. In
addition, the
claimant will
be advised of
their appeal
rights.
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