HB 2704 Summary

• Allows reimbursement for corrective action costs completed before preapproval under limited conditions, including cases where applicants lack financial responsibility or face urgent contamination requiring immediate action, with claims due by January 1, 2020.

• Requires the department to develop an expedited preapproval process by December 31, 2019 for newly discovered contamination and corrective actions needed to protect public health and the environment.

• Adds reimbursement eligibility for consulting expenses incurred in preparing the initial preapproval application, capped at 2% of the first year project cost.

• Increases maximum funding limits for noncorrective action tank site improvements from $100,000 to $300,000 per site, with separate limits for tank system upgrades ($200,000), tank removal ($25,000 per tank plus up to $15,000 additional for contaminated media), suspected release confirmation ($20,000), and baseline assessments ($40,000).

• Modifies lien rights to allow the department to place liens based on the estimated increase in property market value resulting from corrective action, rather than total unrecovered costs, with ability to reduce liens based on changed circumstances.