ACE Expands Coverage for Public Entities through New Admitted Premises Pollution Policy

ACE USA, the U.S.-based retail operations of the ACE Group, has announced the introduction of an enhanced Public/Educational Entity Pollution Liability Insurance (Public Entity PPL) Policy, designed to address the unique environmental risks faced by public entities. This policy offers coverage on an admitted basis in 36 states, making it easier for public entities to acquire the coverage they need.

Published on May 14, 2012

Public schools, utilities and power co-ops, cities and counties, special districts, and parks and recreational facilities face significant exposures to pollution risks. ACE’s Public Entity PPL Policy combines a focused approach in addressing these specialized needs with the benefits of a standard premises pollution product, providing a single policy to cover environmental-related public entity exposures. This expanded coverage comes in advance of ACE’s participation in the 2012 Public Risk Management Association’s (PRIMA) Annual Conference in Nashville, TN, which showcases public risk management thought leaders and focuses on developing solutions to some of the toughest risk management problems facing the public sector.

“ACE is committed to building upon the broad range of products and services offered to meet the unique needs of the public entity arena,” said Paul Cunney, Vice President and Practice Leader, ACE USA Public Entity Industry Practice. “Escalating environmental regulations are of great concern to these organizations, and it is crucial for this community to understand the risks they face and how to address these exposures. ACE simplifies this process by offering our readily available solutions.”

“Environmental risks pose a great concern to municipalities and school districts, exposing these public entities to significant financial liability,” said Jon Peeples, Vice President, ACE Environmental Risk. “Through the introduction of our admitted policy, we are pleased to provide an enhanced combination of coverage, service, and convenience that to our knowledge has not been readily available until now.”

Key features of ACE Environmental Risk’s Public Entity PPL Policy include:

    •    Claims-made and reported Public Entity PPL coverage form
    •    Admitted in 36 states as of May 2012
    •    Provides financial assurance for underground and aboveground storage tanks
    •    Definition of Pollution Condition that includes medical, infectious, and pathological wastes
    •    Includes coverage for the transportation and disposal of wastes
    •    Available coverage for illicit abandonment of wastes, fungi and legionella, and first-party business interruption
    •    Offers Contractor Pollution Liability (CPL) coverage for maintenance activities, including the application of pesticides and herbicides
    •    Responsive underwriting staff with strong expertise in providing environmental risk solutions
    •    Dedicated environmental claims specialists

Insurance is provided by ACE American Insurance Company, Philadelphia, PA, and, in some jurisdictions, other insurers within the ACE Group. Product descriptions are summaries only. The actual policy issued governs the rights and obligations of the parties. Not all products are available in all states.

To learn more about the enhanced ACE Public/Educational Entity Pollution Liability Insurance (Public Entity PPL) Policy, please visit our website. ACE Environmental Risk, an ACE USA business unit and part of the ACE Group, offers a full range of environmental liability solutions designed to minimize bottom-line impacts, and provide hands-on management for those liabilities. ACE Public Entity, a unit of ACE USA, specializes in meeting the underwriting insurance needs of public entities, as well as underwriting, claim management, loss control, and risk and safety engineering. For more information about ACE Public Entity and its range of products and services, please visit our website.

The ACE Group is one of the world’s largest multiline property and casualty insurers. With operations in 53 countries, ACE provides commercial and personal property and casualty insurance, personal accident and supplemental health insurance, reinsurance and life insurance to a diverse group of clients. ACE Limited, the parent company of the ACE Group, is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: ACE) and is a component of the S&P 500 index. Additional information can be found at: www.acegroup.com.