CS/HB 1353 Summary

• Authorizes the Department of Environmental Protection to pay up to $10 million annually from the Inland Protection Trust Fund for repair, replacement, or preventive measures for petroleum storage systems damaged by ethanol or biodiesel blends.

• Requires storage tank owners or operators to submit applications with affidavits from specialty contractors, inspection reports, cost proposals, and depreciated value statements; department must review applications within 30 days on a first-come, first-served basis.

• Limits annual payments to $200,000 per single facility or $500,000 in aggregate across all facilities owned or operated; applies 25 percent deductible; preventive measures limited to 5 years; work must be completed within 180 days or purchase order becomes void.

• Excludes payment for proposal costs, certified public accountant costs, costs exceeding approved amounts, previously repaired equipment, non-compliant facilities, or damage caused by causes other than ethanol or biodiesel storage.

• Requires petroleum storage systems approved after July 1, 2017, to meet compatibility standards for ethanol blends, biodiesel blends, and other alternative fuels; allows retroactive payment for work completed between July 1, 2015, and June 30, 2017.