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House passes underground storage tank package, creates $3 million loan fund for cleanup
Summary
Lawmakers approved comprehensive amendments to the underground storage tank program that create a $3 million revolving loan fund, require certification for remediation consultants and adjust fees; sponsors said the changes aim to speed tank removal and cleanups while members pressed for clearer definitions of a 'release.'
The Utah House passed a package of amendments to the state's underground storage tank law that sponsors described as a mix of regulatory tightening and owner assistance.
Representative Wright and other sponsors told colleagues the bill expands the Department of Environmental Quality’s oversight by requiring certification of remediation consultants, allowing the agency to waive fees for tanks that have not dispensed fuel since July 1991, and changing the tank‑throughput fee structure to better reflect size and impact. The package also establishes a $3,000,000 revolving loan fund intended to help owners upgrade or replace tanks so they comply with federal and state standards.
Floor questions focused on implementation and access. Several members asked whether the bill clarifies the statutory definition and administrative process for establishing that a ‘‘release’’ occurred — a key threshold for eligibility for cleanup funds. Sponsors acknowledged the concern and said the bill does not redefine ‘‘release’’ and that the department’s current interpretation remains in force; they recommended future legislative or agency action to clarify the definition.
Sponsor remarks included an overview of how the fund would be used and the existing fund balance: the sponsor reported the underground storage tank fund has generated about $25 million since implementation and that the bill appropriates $3,000,000 from that fund for a loan program and that committee recommendations appropriated about $2.6 million for other cleanups.
The floor adopted sponsor amendments adjusting fee levels and deductible provisions and then passed the bill. Supporters argued the measures provide incentives for remediation and reduce long‑term environmental liability; critics urged close oversight of fund disbursement and clarity about eligibility rules.
Next steps: the Department of Environmental Quality was tasked with preparing certification standards and loan‑eligibility rules to implement the newly authorized program. The bill will be transmitted to the Senate for further consideration and implementation planning.
