S.B. 85

1

UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANK AMENDMENT
2 2003 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Sponsor: Bill Wright
5 This act modifies the Underground Storage Tank Act by increasing the environmental
6 assurance fee of 1/4 cent per gallon on the first sale or use of petroleum products to 1/2
7 cent per gallon. The act provides for a reduction of the fee when the cash balance in the
8 Petroleum Storage Tank Trust Fund exceeds $20,000,000 in any year.
9 This act affects sections of Utah Code Annotated 1953 as follows:
10 AMENDS:
11 19-6-410.5, as last amended by Chapter 118, Laws of Utah 1999
12 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
13 Section 1. Section 19-6-410.5 is amended to read:
14 19-6-410.5. Environmental assurance program -- Participant fee.
15 (1) As used in this section:
16 (a) "Cash balance" means cash plus investments and current accounts receivable minus
17 current accounts payable exclusive of the liabilities estimated by the state risk manager.
18 (b) "Commission" means the State Tax Commission, as defined [under] in Section
19 59-1-101 .
20 (2) (a) There is created an Environmental Assurance Program.
21 (b) The program shall provide to participating owners and operators, upon payment of
22 the fee imposed under Subsection (4), assistance with the costs of investigation, abatement, and
23 corrective action regarding releases at facilities participating in the program, to the extent
24 provided [under] in Section 19-6-419 .
25 (3) Participation in the program is voluntary.
26 (4) There is assessed an environmental assurance fee of [1/4] 1/2 cent per gallon on the
27 first sale or use of petroleum products in the state.

28 (5) Revenue collected under this section shall be deposited in the Petroleum Storage
29 Tank Trust Fund created in Section 19-6-409 and used solely for the purposes [under] listed in
30 Section 19-6-409 .
31 (6) (a) The commission is responsible for the collection of the fee and any penalties
32 and interest imposed under this section.
33 (b) The commission shall by rule, in accordance with Title 63, Chapter 46a, Utah
34 Administrative Rulemaking Act, establish:
35 (i) the method of payment of the environmental assurance fee;
36 (ii) the procedure for reimbursement or exemption of owners or operators who do not
37 participate in the program, including owners and operators of above ground storage tanks; and
38 (iii) the procedure for confirming with the department those owners and operators who
39 qualify for reimbursement or exemption under Subsection (6)(b)(ii).
40 (c) The commission may retain an amount not to exceed 2.5% of fees collected under
41 this section for the cost to it of rendering its services.
42 (7) The person or entity responsible for payment of the fee under this section shall pay
43 the fee to the commission [on or before] by the last day of the month following the month in
44 which the sale occurs.
45 (8) The payment under this section shall be accompanied by the form prescribed by the
46 commission.
47 (9) (a) The penalties and interest for failure to file the form required under this section
48 or to pay the environmental assurance fee are the same as the penalties and interest under
49 Sections 59-1-401 and 59-1-402 .
50 (b) The commission shall deposit penalties and interest collected under this section in
51 the Petroleum Storage Tank Trust Fund.
52 (10) The commission shall report to the department any person or entity who is
53 delinquent in payment of the fee under this section.
54 (11) (a) If the cash balance of the Petroleum Storage Tank Trust Fund on June 30 of
55 any year exceeds [$40,000,000] $20,000,000, the assessment of the environmental assurance
56 fee as provided in Subsection (4) shall be [suspended] reduced to 1/4 cent per gallon beginning
57 November 1 and the [suspension] reduction shall remain in effect [through October 31 of the
58 year in which the cash balance of the fund on June 30 has decreased to below $30,000,000]

59 until modified by the Legislature in a general or special session.
60 (b) The commission [shall be] is responsible for determining each year the cash
61 balance of the fund as of June 30.
62 (c) Before September 1 of each year, the department shall provide the commission with
63 the accounts payable of the fund as of June 30.




Legislative Review Note
as of 8-7-02 11:41 AM

A limited legal review of this legislation raises no obvious constitutional or statutory concerns.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel