SECTION 1.  Chapter 175 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting at the end of section 4E the following new section:-

Section 4F. (a) As used in this section, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, ''residential property'' shall mean a 1 to 4 unit dwelling used for living or sleeping.

(b) The joint underwriting association, formed pursuant to chapter 175C, and each insurer licensed to write and engage in the writing of homeowners' insurance shall make the following coverage available to residential owners: (1) first-party property coverage for response action costs incurred under chapters 21E, 21J or 21K, or regulations promulgated pursuant thereto, in response to a negligent release of petroleum from an underground storage tank.  Minimum coverage of $10,000 per occurrence for first-party property shall be made available, subject to a reasonable deductible not to exceed $1,000 per claim. For the purposes of this section, first-party property coverage shall include response action costs incurred to assess and remediate petroleum release as the result of a negligent third party impacting soil, indoor air or other environmental media on the insured's property and the reimbursement of any associated personal property damage.