Financial Responsibility (FR) is the process of paying for site rehabilitation as well as compensating third parties for bodily injury and property damage caused by accidental releases from underground storage tanks containing petroleum or petroleum products. Site rehabilitation means investigation, evaluation, planning, design, engineering, construction, or other services put forth to investigate or clean up affected subsurface soils, groundwater, or surface water.

According to Regulation 61-92, Part 280, Underground Storage Tank Control Regulations all owners and/or operators of regulated tanks (including temporarily closed tanks) must provide financial responsibility. If the owner and operator are separate persons, only one person is required to provide financial responsibility; however, both parties are liable in the event of noncompliance.

According to South Carolina Code of Laws, Title 44, Chapter 2 ( SUPERB Act of 1988 ), the amount owners and/or operators must provide is a $25,000 per occurrence deductible. This works in much the same way as a health insurance policy. For a qualified release, once the tank owner satisfies the deductible the SUPERB fund will begin paying for site rehabilitation and third party claims (up to 1 million dollars).

There are several ways tank owners can satisfy the $25,000 per occurrence deductible requirement. A single mechanism, or a combination of mechanisms, can be used to meet the requirement. The following information is only an outline of the various mechanisms. More specific information, including language that must be used in policies or letters, can be found in the regulations.

• Self-Test (Section 280.95)
  • The owner or operator must pass a financial test as specified in the regulation.
  • Must provide a Financial self-test letter from a Chief Financial Officer or a report prepared by a CPA as stated in the regulation.
• Self-Insurance (Section 280.101)
  • Self-insurance requires that an owner or operator show a tangible net worth of $50,000 or more.
  • Must provide an annual financial statement and letter prepared by a Certified Public Accountant, Licensed Public Accountant, a board-licensed Accounting Practitioner or the chief financial officer of the company.
  • To look up a South Carolina CPA, click here
• Guarantee (280.96)
  • A guarantee is a promise by another company to fund a standby trust fund. The third party company must have a significant business interest in the owner or operator. They must provide the information outlined in Self-Insurance (Section 280.101).
  • Must provide a guarantee letter as defined in Section 280.96.
  • Must provide an annual financial statement from guarantor and a letter from a Certified Public Accountant, Licensed Public Accountant, a board-licensed Accounting Practitioner or the chief financial officer of the company.
• Pollution Liability Insurance (Section 280.97)
  • The owner or operator obtains liability insurance from a qualified insurer or risk retention group. The policy must specifically address releases from USTs.
  • Must provide a copy of the policy or the Certificate of Insurance Endorsement.
  • Must have minimum liability limits of $25,000 per occurrence/annual aggregate.
  • Must specifically list site address and the number of tanks covered.
• Surety Bond (Section 280.98)
  • A surety bond is a guarantee by a surety company that will meet the obligation of the owner or operator. Surety companies eligible to issue surety bonds are listed in Circular 570.
  • Must provide the surety bond.
• Letter of Credit (280.99)
  • A letter of credit is a contract between the issuer (normally a bank), the principal (the UST owner or operator), and the third party (DHEC). The issuer promises to pay a certain amount to the third party in the event the principal fails to meet an obligation.
  • Must provide the Irrevocable Standby Letter of Credit (language defined in Section 280.99).
• Trust Fund (Section 280.102)
  • The owner or operator may establish a fully funded trust fund. Money is held and managed by an impartial third party (trustee). The trustee must have authority to act as a trustee and be regulated and examined by a federal agency or a South Carolina Agency. The trust fund may be funded for the full-required amount or funded for part of the required amount in combination with another mechanism.
  • Must provide the Trust Fund Agreement and the Certification of Acknowledgment
• Local Government Options (Section 280.104-107)
  • Local government entities may use a bond rating test, a financial test, issue a guarantee, or dedicate a fund to meet financial responsibility requirements.
  • Must provide a letter from the Chief Financial Officer, Local Government Guarantee with Standby Trust or Local Government Guarantee without Standby Trust.

Regardless of the mechanism used, all owners and/or operators must also submit a completed Certificate of Financial Responsibility with the other required documentation. A copy of the certificate should be kept with the facility DHEC records.

Every facility with regulated tanks (including temporarily closed tanks), must provide financial responsibility.

• New facilities must provide financial responsibility before the Permit to Operate will be issued.
• New tank owners who purchase an existing facility are given 30 days to provide financial responsibility.
• Current tank owners must maintain their financial responsibility. A reminder letter will be mailed out to notify tank owners of the upcoming expiration of their current mechanism.

Failure to provide financial responsibility:

• A Notice of Alleged Violation (NOAV) will be issued giving 30 days to provide documentation.
• If the information is still not provided at the end of 30 days, the delivery prohibition process will begin.
• At the end of the 15-day delivery prohibition process, the tanks will be tagged until all documentation is provided.

Contact

Eric Cathcart, Manager, 803-898-0633