North Attleborough pairs stuck with $ 400,000 $ oil tank

A couple in North Attleborough share a warning with other homeowners after a heating oil tank has leaked through on their property, which led to comprehensive environmental damage and repair costs of almost 400,000 US dollars that did not cover their insurance.

Kathleen and John Murray said that the 20-year-old oil tank in front of their house spilled 190 gallons in February and sent oil under the house plate, into a creep room and finally to a nearby French drain, which pumped it towards the street.

“It had been under the record and then went into the French drain in the creeping room, and it pumped towards the street that was the environmental emergency,” said Kathleen Murray.

The couple has already paid around 90,000 US dollars for cleaning and estimates that the total amount will achieve at least 400,000 US dollars.

“So far there are about 90,000 and it will probably be another 300,” said Kathleen Murray.

“I can imagine that there are very few homeowners who score a goal of 400,000 and cannot be badly affected,” added John Murray.

The financial burden, they said, affects both their pension schemes and the tuition fees for children.

When the Murrays contacted their insurer, they were informed that their policy did not cover any bursts of liquids. Then they learned about something they say, nobody ever told them: an optional guideline rider for covering oil pouring.

Lawyer Susan Crane, who has been working with oil pollution cases for more than 25 years, said that many homeowners do not know that they have to expressly request this protection.

“Homeowners should know that if they have heating oil, it could be devastating,” said Crane.

“The problem is that the legislation, that either broker or insurance company has the homeowners, have this option and are usually less than $ 100.”

Massachusett's law obliges that insurance companies provide these “Liquid Fuel -Spill drivers” for homeowners. However, there is no law that obliges you to inform customers about it.

“We worked so hard to do everything right,” said Kathleen Murray. “And then they find out that they didn't know that there was more.”

Since then, the Murrays have started a fundraising campaign to support the costs and encourage other homeowners who use oil heat to check their tanks and check their cover.

Tips for homeowners:

• Ask your agent for a “Liquid Fuel Spill Rider”: This optional cover usually costs less than $ 100 per year and can protect you from important costs for the heating oil leaks for home heating.

• Massachusetts Fuel Leck Insurance Act: Learn more about the state law of 2009, according to which insurers have to offer the coverage of fuel distributions.
• Tips for heating oil security of the Massachusett Department of Environmental Protection (MassDep):

• Check your tank regularly
• Search for signs of rust or leaky
• Plan the annual maintenance
• Keep up records on inspections

• Mass DEP approved cleaning company: Look at the list if you have to do with a current spill.
• Financial support or burial report: Visit Mass.gov to obtain details on the burial report and to clean up financing programs.