As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:

(1) “Borrower”, “debtor”, or “obligor” means a person whose petroleum underground storage tank or UST system is encumbered by a security interest. These terms are used interchangeably;

Terms Used In Tennessee Code 68-215-201

  • Equitable: Pertaining to civil suits in "equity" rather than in "law." In English legal history, the courts of "law" could order the payment of damages and could afford no other remedy. See damages. A separate court of "equity" could order someone to do something or to cease to do something. See, e.g., injunction. In American jurisprudence, the federal courts have both legal and equitable power, but the distinction is still an important one. For example, a trial by jury is normally available in "law" cases but not in "equity" cases. Source: U.S. Courts
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Foreclosure: A legal process in which property that is collateral or security for a loan may be sold to help repay the loan when the loan is in default. Source: OCC
  • Guarantor: A party who agrees to be responsible for the payment of another party's debts should that party default. Source: OCC
  • Holder: includes the initial holder or purchaser (such as a loan originator), any subsequent holder (such as a successor-in-interest or subsequent purchaser of the security interest on the secondary market), any subsequent assignee, transferee or purchaser from a holder, guarantor of an obligation, surety or any other person who holds ownership who acts on behalf of or for the benefit of a holder. See Tennessee Code 68-215-201
  • Indicia of ownership: means evidence of a security interest, evidence of an interest in a security interest, or evidence of an interest in real or personal property securing a loan or other obligations, including any legal or equitable title to real or personal property acquired incident to foreclosure and its equivalents. See Tennessee Code 68-215-201
  • Lease: A contract transferring the use of property or occupancy of land, space, structures, or equipment in consideration of a payment (e.g., rent). Source: OCC
  • Obligation: An order placed, contract awarded, service received, or similar transaction during a given period that will require payments during the same or a future period.
  • Person: means any and all persons, including individuals, firms, partnerships, associations, public or private institutions, state and federal agencies, municipalities or political subdivisions, or officers thereof, departments, agencies or instrumentalities, or public or private corporations or officers thereof, organized or existing under the laws of this or any other state or country. See Tennessee Code 68-215-103
  • Personal property: All property that is not real property.
  • Personal property: includes money, goods, chattels, things in action, and evidences of debt. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Petroleum: means crude oil or any fraction of crude oil which is a liquid at standard temperature and pressure (sixty degrees Fahrenheit (60°. See Tennessee Code 68-215-103
  • Petroleum site: means any site or area where a petroleum underground storage tank is located. See Tennessee Code 68-215-103
  • Petroleum underground storage tank: means any one (1) or combination of tanks (including the underground lines connected thereto) which are used or have been used to contain an accumulation of petroleum substances, and the volume of which (including the volume of the underground pipes connected thereto) is ten percent (10%) or more beneath the surface of the ground. See Tennessee Code 68-215-103
  • Primarily to protect a security interest: means that the holder's indicia of ownership are held primarily for the purpose of securing payment or performance of an obligation, but does not include indicia of ownership held primarily for investment purposes, nor ownership indicia held primarily for purposes other than as a protection of a security interest. See Tennessee Code 68-215-201
  • Property: includes both personal and real property. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Security interest: includes , but is not limited to, mortgages, deeds of trust, liens and title pursuant to lease financing transaction. See Tennessee Code 68-215-201
  • Tank: means a stationary device, designed to contain an accumulation of petroleum substances which is constructed primarily of non-earthen materials (e. See Tennessee Code 68-215-103
  • UST system: means an underground storage tank, connected underground piping, underground ancillary equipment and containment system, if any. See Tennessee Code 68-215-201
(2) “Foreclosure” or “foreclosure and its equivalent” means purchase at a foreclosure sale, acquisition or assignment of title in lieu of foreclosure, termination of a lease or other repossession, acquisition of right to title or possession, an agreement in satisfaction of the obligation, or any other formal or informal manner (whether pursuant to law under warranties, covenants, conditions, representations or promise from the borrower) by which the holder acquires title to or possession of secured property;
(3) “Holder” means a person who maintains indicia of ownership primarily to protect a security interest in a petroleum underground storage tank (UST) system. “Holder” includes the initial holder or purchaser (such as a loan originator), any subsequent holder (such as a successor-in-interest or subsequent purchaser of the security interest on the secondary market), any subsequent assignee, transferee or purchaser from a holder, guarantor of an obligation, surety or any other person who holds ownership who acts on behalf of or for the benefit of a holder;
(4) “Indicia of ownership” means evidence of a security interest, evidence of an interest in a security interest, or evidence of an interest in real or personal property securing a loan or other obligations, including any legal or equitable title to real or personal property acquired incident to foreclosure and its equivalents. Evidence of such interests includes, but is not limited to, mortgages, deeds of trust, liens, surety bonds and guarantees of obligations, title held pursuant to a lease financing transaction in which the lessor does not select initially the leased property (herein “lease financing transaction”), and legal or equitable title obtained pursuant to foreclosure, and its equivalents. Evidence of such interests also includes assignments, pledges or other rights to or other forms of encumbrances against property that are held primarily to protect a security interest. A person is not required to hold title or a security interest in order to maintain indicia of ownership;
(5) “Operation” means the use, storage, filling or dispensing of petroleum contained in a petroleum underground storage tank or a UST system;
(6) “Primarily to protect a security interest” means that the holder’s indicia of ownership are held primarily for the purpose of securing payment or performance of an obligation, but does not include indicia of ownership held primarily for investment purposes, nor ownership indicia held primarily for purposes other than as a protection of a security interest. A holder may have other, secondary reasons for maintaining indicia of ownership, but the primary reason why ownership indicia are held shall be for protection of a security interest;
(7) “Security interest” means an interest in a petroleum underground storage tank or UST system or petroleum site which is created or established for the purpose of securing a loan or other obligation. “Security interest” includes, but is not limited to, mortgages, deeds of trust, liens and title pursuant to lease financing transaction. A “security interest” may also arise from transactions such as sale and leasebacks, conditional sales, installment sales, trust receipt transactions, certain assignments, factoring agreements, accounts receivable financing arrangements, inventory and/or other personal property financing arrangements and consignments, if the transaction creates or establishes an interest in a petroleum underground storage tank or UST system or petroleum site for the purpose of securing a loan or other obligation; and
(8) “UST system” means an underground storage tank, connected underground piping, underground ancillary equipment and containment system, if any.