(1) All program participants must review and reference the program policy guidance prior to requesting coverage from the financial assurance program. The agency maintains this document on its website.

(2) An owner or operator of an enrolled petroleum underground storage tank must report a suspected or confirmed release to the department of ecology as required under WAC 173-360A-0700 and 173-360A-0750, or other regulating agency as required by federal law.

(3) To obtain financial assurance funding, a financial assurance request form must be filed with the agency after initial reporting to department of ecology or regulating agency under federal law. An access agreement from the owner of the property where the petroleum underground storage tank is located is required as part of the financial assurance request form.

(4) In a situation where a federal, state, or other regulating agency has responded to the release, this information must be included in the financial assurance request.

(5) The agency will open a financial assurance request case. The agency will conduct a review to determine if the release meets conditions for coverage and whether coverage is for release after enrollment or for release prior to enrollment.

(6) The agency will notify the program participant that the financial assurance request has been accepted and a project manager and site manager have been assigned.

(7) The remedial work conducted will meet the substantive and timing requirements of WAC 173-340-450 Releases from regulated underground storage tank systems or, for releases in Indian country, 40 C.F.R. subtitle 280 Subparts E and F.

(8) Once a no further action letter is issued by the agency's technical assistance program for the release from the enrolled petroleum underground storage tank, the financial assurance request is considered finished and funding will no longer be available.

(9) The owner or operator must accept the schedule and milestones created by the agency to maintain coverage for the release. Failure to accept the schedule and milestones set by the agency may result in cancellation of enrollment and ineligibility of the release to qualify for financial assurance funds.

(10) The owner or operator must provide access for the agency to the property where the enrolled petroleum underground storage tank is located. Failure to provide an access agreement for the property will result in cancellation of enrollment and ineligibility of the release to qualify for financial assurance funds.

(11) To address the release from an enrolled petroleum underground storage tank, the agency may need access and an agreement for the agency to conduct remedial actions on neighboring property not owned by the tank owner or operator. The agency will ask for an access agreement, including an agreement to allow for remedial actions. If access and/or an agreement to allow for remedial actions is denied, the agency will limit remediation to the property where the enrolled petroleum underground storage tank is located. Once that remediation is completed and a no further action letter is issued by the agency's technical assistance program, financial assurance funds will no longer be available.