In case sufficient funds are not available in the Underground Storage Tank Fund, requests for payment are entered on the Payment Priority List by "queue date" order. As required by the Environmental Protection Act, the queue date is the date that a complete request for partial or final payment was received by the Agency. The queue date is "officially" confirmed at the end of the payment review process when a Final Decision Letter is sent to the site owner.

The order of requests for payment on the Payment Priority List is subject to change each time the list is updated. These shifts on the List can occur for many reasons, including the following:

• Type of Claim: Section 731 claims are not subject to a claims review deadline, but Section 732 claims are subject to a review deadline. Consequently, the Agency assigns more staff to review Section 732 claims. As a result, it may take longer for a Section 731 claim to enter the review process even if it was received by the Agency on the same day or even prior to a Section 732 claim. However, when a Section 731 claim is approved and the queue date is confirmed, this date may be earlier than those of other claims already reviewed, approved and on the Payment Priority List. If so, the Section 731 claim, will "bump" down the other claims.
• Complexity of Claim: Some claims are more complex and therefore take longer to review than others. The fiscal documentation may be complicated and/or it may be necessary for technical staff to review to ensure that the activity to be reimbursed is appropriate. An extended claim review means a later approval and subsequent confirmation of the queue date, which increases the possibility of bumping other claims.

 The list is updated on the first business day of every month.  Fund revenues vary from month to month and therefore, funds available to pay approved claims vary from month to month.  Because of the variability of monthly revenue and because claims continue to be reviewed and approved, the total number of claims on the Payment Priority List will shrink or expand accordingly. From November 2004 to October 2005, the Agency made monthly payments ranging from $2.5 - $6.5 million (a $4.4 million monthly average) for approved claims.