Lawmakers raise cap on gas tank spill remediation
Lawmakers appear poised to raise the amount of reimbursement money available through the underground storage tank cleanup fund, which is fed by motorists filling up at Bay State gas pumps.
The House and Senate have adopted measures through closeout fiscal 2015 spending bills to up the cap on the size of reimbursements, raising them from $2.5 million per tank up from $1.5 million per tank.
The Senate version would earmark the $1 million increase for third parties whose property or person has been damaged by a spill. The amendment passed unanimously in the Senate Thursday and a similar amendment was adopted on a voice vote in the House last week.
Sen. Jamie Eldridge, an Acton Democrat, described a spill in Marlborough that has affected four families nearby the Citgo station, who he said have not received any money through the cleanup fund. Eldridge said one family had to remove their pool and is unable to sell their house on account of the 2012 spill.
Rep. Danielle Gregoire, a Marlborough Democrat, sponsored the similar amendment in the House.
The fund, which aims in part to "expedite environmental cleanup actions," is funded through a 2.5-cent on a gallon of gas on top of the state and federal gas taxes. According to the Department of Revenue, the fund also reimburses owners and operators of underground gas tanks and provides a 50 percent reimbursement to municipalities for costs incurred removing or replacing the tanks.
The bills may be referred to a conference committee, where differences can be reconciled between the two branches.
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