HB-6201 Summary

• Requires owners and operators of straits gas or oil pipelines to immediately notify local officials and the Department of Environmental Quality of any release of gas or oil, and to submit initial written reports within 10 days and meet with state agencies within 60 days of a release.

• Mandates straits gas or oil pipeline operators to submit spill prevention plans and contingency plans to the department for approval, with initial submissions due 180 days after the bill's effective date, and requires annual meetings with local emergency responders to review these plans.

• Establishes annual fees of $2,500 per geographic plan area for spill prevention plans and $12,500 per plan area for contingency plans, with fees adjusted for inflation starting 3 years after enactment, to be deposited into a new gas and oil pipeline fund.

• Imposes civil fines up to $37,500 per day for pipeline releases into state waters, with increased fines of at least $150,000 for releases caused by gross negligence or willful misconduct, and requires all collected fees and fines to support department enforcement activities and pollution prevention measures.

• Creates the gas and oil pipeline fund to receive and hold fees, fines, and other money for use in investigating violations and preventing or mitigating releases of gas and oil into the environment.