(1) An owner or operator is responsible for a deductible amount as follows:

    (a) If the owner or operator or its affiliate owns or operates fewer than 8 refined petroleum underground storage tanks, $2,000.00 per claim.

    (b) If the owner or operator or its affiliate owns or operates 8 or more refined petroleum underground storage tanks, $10,000.00 per claim.

    (c) The deductible amount under subdivisions (a) and (b) is retroactive to all claims filed for releases discovered and reported on or after December 30, 2014.

    (2) The deductible amount applies to each claim. However, 2 or more claims arising out of the same, interrelated, associated, repeated, or continuous releases or a series of related releases shall be considered a single claim and are subject to 1 deductible amount. Any claim that takes place over 2 or more claim periods is subject to 1 deductible amount.

    (3) An owner or operator that submits a work invoice under section 21515 is responsible for the deductible amount described in subsection (1). The expenses toward meeting the deductible amount shall be documented and shall comply with the following:

    (a) Expenses for items listed in the schedule of costs shall be at or below the allowable reimbursement amount listed in the schedule of costs.

    (b) Expenses for items that are not listed in the schedule of costs shall be reasonable and necessary considering conditions at the site based upon a competitive bidding process established by the authority.