The bill amends several sections of the General Laws related to climate change and oil spill prevention in Rhode Island. It raises the uniform oil spill response and prevention fee from five cents ($0.05) to ten cents ($0.10) per barrel of petroleum products or crude oil. The bill expands the use of the collected fees to support projects and initiatives aimed at reducing emissions and meeting the goals of the 2021 Act on Climate, as directed by the Executive Climate Change Coordinating Council (EC4).

Additionally, the bill establishes a new section for funding the council and modifies the purposes of the Underground Storage Tank Financial Responsibility Fund. The fund will now support projects and initiatives that have been approved by the EC4 and are determined to reduce emissions. It also allows for scientific research and monitoring relevant to state legislation and the cleanup and containment of refined fuel oils.

The bill specifies that the purposes of the fund include facilitating the cleanup of releases from leaking underground storage tanks and supporting climate-related projects and initiatives. It emphasizes the importance of these efforts in addressing climate change and enhancing environmental protection in the state. The act will take effect upon passage.

Statutes affected:
5779: 42-6.2-3.1, 46-12.9-5