This bill establishes a new chapter in Title 23.1 of the North Dakota Century Code to regulate aboveground storage tanks (ASTs) and amends existing definitions and provisions related to the Department of Environmental Quality and tank registration fees. It introduces comprehensive definitions for terms related to ASTs, such as "aboveground storage tank," "department," "disposal," and "release." The Department of Environmental Quality is tasked with administering and enforcing regulations, adopting rules for leak detection and corrective actions, and establishing a permit fee system for tank registration and operation. The bill also specifies exemptions for certain tanks, including those used for noncommercial purposes and heating oil tanks, and includes provisions for inspections, emergency actions, and penalties for violations.

Additionally, the bill amends Section 23.1-12-02 to clarify definitions related to corrective actions and the petroleum release compensation fund, ensuring consistency in the regulatory framework. It introduces new definitions for tanks storing substances like ethanol and biodiesel, and defines "terminal" as a refined petroleum product storage and distribution facility supplied by pipeline. The bill also revises the law regarding registration payments, imposing a late fee of twenty-five dollars per tank per month if payment is not received within sixty days of the required date, replacing the previous reference to "July" first to align with the new rules.

Statutes affected:
Adopted by the House Energy and Natural Resources Committee: 23.1-12-02
FIRST ENGROSSMENT: 23.1-12-02
Prepared by the Legislative Council staff for Senator Beard: 23.1-12-02, 23.1-12-17
Enrollment: 23.1-12-02, 23.1-12-17