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Senate committee amends DEQ budget to add petro-tank fund spending, chemist positions
Summary
The Senate Appropriations Committee voted to amend and give a due-pass recommendation to Senate Bill 2024, folding provisions from Senate Bill 2179 into the Department of Environmental Quality budget to fund petroleum tank program work, equipment and two chemist positions tied to PFAS and fuel inspection testing.
The Senate Appropriations Committee on Monday approved amendments to Senate Bill 2024 that add one-time and ongoing spending tied to the Petroleum Tank Release Compensation Fund and two new chemist positions for the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). The committee then gave the amended bill a due-pass recommendation to the floor.
The amendment, offered by Senator Davison and adopted by voice vote, incorporates language from Senate Bill 2179 into the DEQ appropriation. Committee discussion and fiscal notes show one-time capital for a new chemistry lab, funding for testing equipment tied to an emerging contaminants program (PFAS), and costs associated with the state fuel inspection program.
Committee members said the changes were intended to place a chemist position related to the state fuel inspection program and another chemist tied to the governor’s emerging contaminants initiative into the DEQ budget. The amendment also authorizes spending roughly $1,827,000 from the Petroleum Tank Release Compensation Fund for petroleum tank program expenses, including a $700,000 one-time database operating expense and capital asset purchases tied to fuel inspection testing.
Chairman Deaver and Senator Davison described the approach as consolidating previously approved provisions so equipment and personnel associated with SB 2179 appear in the DEQ budget. Senator Maggill asked for clarification about why line items in section 5 reflected $1,800,000; staff said those amounts came from the fiscal note for SB 2179 and were rolled into the current bill.
The committee adopted the amendment and then approved a due-pass recommendation for Senate Bill 2024 as amended. The roll call on the due-pass recommendation recorded Senators Clary, Davison, Deaver, Magrum and Matherne as voting in the affirmative.
The amended bill will move to the full Senate floor for further consideration.
