CLAIM SUMMARY / DETERMINATION FORM 

Date : 12/8/2010 

Claim Number : 910148-0001

Claimant : State of Connecticut 

Type of Claimant : State 

Type of Claim : Removal Costs 

Claim Manager : 

Amount Requested : $1,604.25

FACTS: 

Oil Spill Incident: On March 23, 2010, the Connecticut Department of Environmental 

Protection (CT DEP) received a call from the Norwalk Fire Department (NFD) 

concerning an abandoned 275-gallon above ground storage tank, containing 

approximately 100-gallons of unknown petroleum product, floating in the Norwalk River, 

a navigable waterway of the U.S. CT DEP Emergency Response Coordinator (ERC) 

 contacted , director of the Emergency Response Unit (ERU). 

 instructed ERC to retain the service of Connecticut Tank Removal 

(CTR). An estimated 100 gallons of waste oil type product was removed from the tank. 

Description of Removal Activities for this claimant: CT DEP ERC conducted 

initial response and then contracted the cleanup through CTR. Invoices include 

personnel, equipment (vehicles), contractor rate schedule with the Claimant, and disposal 

costs and documentation.

The Claim: On September 29, 2010, CT DEP presented a removal cost claim to the 

National Pollution Fund Center (NPFC) for reimbursement of their uncompensated 

removal costs in the amount of $1,604.25.

CT DEP is claiming CTR personnel expenses of $883.75, equipment expenses of 

$507.50, and United Industrial Services disposal costs of $213.00.

APPLICABLE LAW: 

"Oil" is defined in relevant part, at 33 USC § 2701(23), to mean “oil of any kind or in any 

form, including petroleum, fuel oil, sludge, oil refuse, and oil mixed with wastes other 

than dredged spoil”.

The Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund (OSLTF), which is administered by the NPFC, is 

available, pursuant to 33 USC §§ 2712(a)(4) and 2713 and the OSLTF claims 

adjudication regulations at 33 CFR Part 136, to pay claims for uncompensated removal 

costs that are determined to be consistent with the National Contingency Plan and 

uncompensated damages. Removal costs are defined as “the costs of removal that are 

incurred after a discharge of oil has occurred or, in any case in which there is a 

substantial threat of a discharge of oil, the costs to prevent, minimize, or mitigate oil 

pollution from an incident”.
Under 33 USC §2713(b)(2) and 33 CFR 136.103(d) no claim against the OSLTF may be 

approved or certified for payment during the pendency of an action by the claimant in 

court to recover the same costs that are the subject of the claim. See also, 33 USC 

§2713(c) and 33 CFR 136.103(c)(2) [claimant election]. 

Under 33 CFR 136.105(a) and 136.105(e)(6), the claimant bears the burden of providing 

to the NPFC, all evidence, information, and documentation deemed necessary by the 

Director, NPFC, to support the claim. 

Under 33 CFR 136.105(b) each claim must be in writing, for a sum certain for each 

category of uncompensated damages or removal costs resulting from an incident. In 

addition, under 33 CFR 136, the claimant bears the burden to prove the removal actions 

were reasonable in response to the scope of the oil spill incident, and the NPFC has the 

authority and responsibility to perform a reasonableness determination. Specifically, 

under 33 CFR 136.203, “a claimant must establish - 

(a) That the actions taken were necessary to prevent, minimize, or mitigate the effects of 

the incident; 

(b) That the removal costs were incurred as a result of these actions; 

(c) That the actions taken were determined by the FOSC to be consistent with the 

National Contingency Plan or were directed by the FOSC.”

Under 33 CFR 136.205 “the amount of compensation allowable is the total of 

uncompensated reasonable removal costs of actions taken that were determined by the 

FOSC to be consistent with the National Contingency Plan or were directed by the 

FOSC. Except in exceptional circumstances, removal activities for which costs are being 

claimed must have been coordinated with the FOSC.” [Emphasis added]. 

DETERMINATION OF LOSS:

 

A. Overview: 

1. USEPA OSC provided FOSC coordination on March 24, 2010. 

2. The incident involved the substantial threat of discharge of “oil” as defined in OPA 

90, 33 U.S.C. § 2701(23), to navigable waters. 

3. In accordance with 33 CFR § 136.105(e)(12), the claimant has certified no suit has 

been filed in court for the claimed uncompensated removal costs. 

4. The claim was within the six year statute of limitations for removal costs. 

5. The NPFC Claims Manager has thoroughly reviewed all documentation submitted 

with the claim and determined that the removal costs presented were for actions in 

accordance with the NCP and that the costs for these actions were indeed reasonable 

and allowable under OPA and 33 CFR § 136.205. 

B. Analysis: 

NPFC CA reviewed the actual cost invoices and dailies to confirm that the claimant had 

incurred all costs claimed. The review focused on: (1) whether the actions taken were 

compensable “removal actions” under OPA and the claims regulations at 33 CFR 136 (e.g., 

actions to prevent, minimize, mitigate the effects of the incident); (2) whether the costs were 

incurred as a result of these actions; (3) whether the actions taken were determined by the 

FOSC, to be consistent with the NCP or directed by the FOSC, and (4) whether the costs 

were adequately documented and reasonable. 
The Claims Manager verified that the costs associated with the contractor invoicing was 

billed in accordance with the rate schedule that was in place at the time the services were 

rendered and the that the actions were appropriate for the magnitude of the incident. 

On that basis, the Claims Manager hereby determines that the claimant did in fact incur 

$1,604.25 of uncompensated removal costs and that that amount is properly payable by the 

OSLTF as full compensation for the reimbursable removal costs incurred by the claimant and 

submitted to the NPFC under claim #910148-0001. The claimant states that all costs claimed 

are for uncompensated removal costs incurred by the claimant for this incident on March 23, 

2010. The claimant represents that all costs paid by the claimant are compensable removal 

costs, payable by the OSLTF as presented by the claimant. 

C. Determined Amount: 

The NPFC hereby determines that the OSLTF will pay $1,604.25 as full compensation for 

the reimbursable removal costs incurred by the Claimant and submitted to the NPFC under 

claim # 910148-0001. All costs claimed are for charges paid for by the Claimant for removal 

actions as that term is defined in OPA and, are compensable removal costs, payable by the 

OSLTF as presented by the Claimants. 

AMOUNT: $1,604.25

Claim Supervisor: 

Date of Supervisor’s review: 12/15/10

Supervisor Action: Approved 

Supervisor’s Comments: