Senate Bill 445 was recently passed inCalifornia to amend current laws regulating underground storagetanks that are used to store hazardous substances, petroleum,groundwater and surface water contamination. SB 445 Chapter 547changes a number of requirements of the Underground Storage Tank Cleanup Fund (USTCF).Most significantly, the establishment of the Site CleanupSubaccount (SCSA) expands the scope of contaminated properties thatare eligible for funds to offset cost of investigation andremediation. This may help property owners get access to funds toclean up contaminated properties, and ease the financial burden onbusiness owners to comply with regulations by offering areimbursement (funded by an increase in the storage fee that USTowners are required to pay for each gallon of petroleum)

Specifics of SB 445, Chapter 547

SB 445 – Chapter 547, establishes a Subaccount Pilot TestProgram in fiscal year 2015-16 with funding of $100,000,000; withno more than $1,000,000 available per site. The site priority forentrance into the program is primarily based on financiallydisadvantaged sites, specifically where “the responsible partieslack sufficient financial resources to pay for the requiredresponse actions.” A limited number of sites will be allowed intothe pilot test program. The effectiveness and efficiency of thepilot test program will be evaluated through January 1, 2018. Up to25% of the funds placed in the UST Fund program can be transferredinto the Subaccount Pilot Test Program. The requirements for entryinto the program include: