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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What
is TARS?
Why was TARS developed?
Who is backing TARS?
What is covered?
What is not covered?
What are TARS Best Management Practices, and how do they benefit me?
Who has control?
How does a legal defense work?
How much will TARS cost?
What is TARS?
TARS stands for The Agricultural Regulatory Services,
an insurance policy that covers the legal defense costs to protect a
policyholder
against
alleged environmental infractions. The policy is underwritten by Lloyd’s
of London, has no deductible, and offers a $250,000 limit. Both attorney
fees and specialty consultant fees are covered.
Why was TARS developed?
TARS was developed to protect
the California agricultural community from unreasonable environmental
prosecutions. By pooling the
insurance premiums
of many, all TARS policyholders stand united around those who are unduly
targeted by environmental agencies.
Who is backing TARS?
TARS was developed by members of the California agricultural community.
The program is underwritten by Lloyd’s of London, which has exceptional
financial stability, and is sold and serviced exclusively through Alliant
Insurance Services, Inc., the nation’s largest specialty insurance
brokerage firm. Attorneys representing TARS policyholders have all been
screened and are both experienced and aggressive in their defense of
agricultural and environmental cases. In addition, “farm-friendly” agricultural
and environmental engineers, each with many years of experience representing
various land use/environmental matters, evaluate your case and help build
a defense.
What is covered?
The intent of TARS is to allow the law-abiding policyholder to conduct
their agricultural business free from fear of regulatory agencies.
Refer to the policy for actual coverage terms.
What is not covered?
TARS will not defend policyholders who are in violation of applicable
environmental law at the time they become a policyholder or who willingly
violate applicable environmental law during the term of the policy. Refer
to the policy for actual coverage terms.
What are TARS Best Management
Practices, and how do they benefit me?
A TARS Best Management Practices Manual, a ready reference to answer
questions about agricultural practices and how they may be impacted by
environmental regulations, will be provided to each policyholder. Additionally,
TARS will provide a “hot line” directly to agricultural engineers
to answer questions about environmental regulations.
What applicable environmental
laws will TARS defend against?
TARS will defend against any environmental-related law or regulation
at the federal, state, or local level, including, but not limited to,
the Clean Water Act of 1972 (amended in 1985).
Who has control?
The TARS policyholder has ultimate control of his or her case. The intent
of TARS is to allow a robust limit so that the policyholder will not
feel compelled to simply give in to the environmental agency’s
demand.
How does a legal defense work?
If a policyholder is served papers by an environmental agency, all
that policyholder need do is turn them over to TARS. Within 24 hours,
a TARS
representative will contact the policyholder, review the case facts,
arrange an on-site visit, and develop a legal strategy to fight the
alleged violation.
How much will TARS cost?
Annual premiums will vary and will be based on the specifics of your
operation. For just a few dollars per day, you will have a $250,000
legal defense limit to defend against allegations of environmental
wrongdoing.
