Z-0832.1

SENATE BILL 6256

BySenators Wellman, Short, and Hasegawa; by request of Pollution Liability Insurance Agency

AN ACT Relating to the heating oil insurance program; amending RCW 70.149.010, 70.149.040, 70.340.010, 70.340.020, 70.340.030, 70.340.050, 70.340.060, 70.340.090, and 70.340.130; adding a new section to chapter 70.149 RCW; and repealing RCW 70.149.050.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1. RCW 70.149.010 and 2017 c 23 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

((It is the intent of the legislature to establish a temporary regulatory program to assist owners and operators of petroleum storage tank systems.)) The legislature finds that it is in the best interests of all citizens for petroleum storage tank systems to be operated safely and for tank leaks or spills to be dealt with expeditiously. The legislature finds that it is appropriate for an agency with expertise in petroleum to provide technical advice and assistance to owners or operators when there has been a release. The legislature further finds that while it is necessary to protect tank owners from the financial hardship related to damaged heating oil tanks, support can be provided through the agency's revolving loan and grant program in chapter 70.340 RCW. ((The problem is especially acute because owners and operators of heating oil tanks used for space heating have been unable to obtain pollution liability insurance or insurance has been unaffordable.))Therefore, the legislature intends to transition the pollution liability insurance program for heating oil tanks to a revolving loan and grant program, while maintaining the pollution liability insurance program for existing registrants.

Sec. 2. RCW 70.149.040 and 2018 c 194 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:

The director shall:

(1) Design and implement a process to close out existing claims under the heating oil pollution liability insurance program((, consistent with RCW 70.149.120, for)). During this process, the director has authority to maintain the program providing pollution liability insurance for heating oil tanks that provides up to sixty thousand dollars per occurrence coverage and aggregate limits, not to exceed fifteen million dollars each calendar year((, and protects the state of Washington from unwanted or unanticipated liability for accidental release claims)). Claims received under the existing policy, which would result in payment in excess of fifteen million dollars in a calendar year may be paid out in the next calendar year. The heating oil pollution liability insurance program shall not register heating oil tanks for coverage under the heating oil pollution liability insurance program after July 1, 2020;

(2) Administer, implement, and enforce the provisions of this chapter. To assist in administration of the program, the director is authorized to appoint up to two employees who are exempt from the civil service law, chapter 41.06 RCW, and who shall serve at the pleasure of the director;

(3) Administer the heating oil pollution liability trust account, as established under RCW 70.149.070;

(4) Employ and discharge, at his or her discretion, agents, attorneys, consultants, companies, organizations, and employees as deemed necessary, and to prescribe their duties and powers, and fix their compensation;

(5) Adopt rules under chapter 34.05 RCW as necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter;

(6) ((Design and from time to time revise a reinsurance contract providing coverage to an insurer or insurers meeting the requirements of this chapter. The director is authorized))Have the authority to provide reinsurance through the pollution liability insurance program trust account;

(7) ((Solicit bids from insurers and select an insurer to provide pollution liability insurance for third-party bodily injury and property damage, and corrective action to owners and operators of heating oil tanks;

(9))) Implement a program to provide advice and technical assistance on the administrative and technical requirements of this chapter and chapter 70.105D RCW to persons who are conducting or otherwise interested in independent remedial actions at facilities where there is a suspected or confirmed release from the following petroleum storage tank systems: A heating oil tank; a decommissioned heating oil tank; an abandoned heating oil tank; or a petroleum storage tank system identified by the department of ecology based on the relative risk posed by the release to human health and the environment, as determined under chapter 70.105D RCW, or other factors identified by the department of ecology.

(a) Such advice or assistance is advisory only, and is not binding on the pollution liability insurance agency or the department of ecology. As part of this advice and assistance, the pollution liability insurance agency may provide written opinions on whether independent remedial actions or proposals for these actions meet the substantive requirements of chapter 70.105D RCW, or whether the pollution liability insurance agency believes further remedial action is necessary at the facility. As part of this advice and assistance, the pollution liability insurance agency may also observe independent remedial actions.

(b) The agency is authorized to collect, from persons requesting advice and assistance, the costs incurred by the agency in providing such advice and assistance. The costs may include travel costs and expenses associated with review of reports and preparation of written opinions and conclusions. Funds from cost reimbursement must be deposited in the heating oil pollution liability trust account.

(c) The state of Washington, the pollution liability insurance agency, and its officers and employees are immune from all liability, and no cause of action arises from any act or omission in providing, or failing to provide, such advice, opinion, conclusion, or assistance;

(((10)))(8) Establish a public information program to provide information regarding liability, technical, and environmental requirements associated with active and abandoned heating oil tanks;

(((11)))(9) Monitor agency expenditures and seek to minimize costs and maximize benefits to ensure responsible financial stewardship;

(((12)))(10) Study if appropriate user fees to supplement program funding are necessary and develop recommendations for legislation to authorize such fees;

(((13)))(11) Establish requirements, including deadlines not to exceed ninety days, for reporting to the pollution liability insurance agency a suspected or confirmed release from a heating oil tank, including a decommissioned or abandoned heating oil tank, that may pose a threat to human health or the environment by the owner or operator of the heating oil tank or the owner of the property where the release occurred;

(((14)))(12) Within ninety days of receiving information and having a reasonable basis to believe that there may be a release from a heating oil tank, including decommissioned or abandoned heating oil tanks, that may pose a threat to human health or the environment, perform an initial investigation to determine at a minimum whether such a release has occurred and whether further remedial action is necessary under chapter 70.105D RCW. The initial investigation may include, but is not limited to, inspecting, sampling, or testing. The director may retain contractors to perform an initial investigation on the agency's behalf;

(((15)))(13) For any written opinion issued under subsection (((9)))(7) of this section requiring an environmental covenant as part of the remedial action, consult with, and seek comment from, a city or county department with land use planning authority for real property subject to the environmental covenant prior to the property owner recording the environmental covenant; and

(((16)))(14) For any property where an environmental covenant has been established as part of the remedial action approved under subsection (((9)))(7) of this section, periodically review the environmental covenant for effectiveness. The director shall perform a review at least once every five years after an environmental covenant is recorded.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 70.149 RCW to read as follows:

To ensure the adoption of rules will not delay the process to close out existing claims under the heating oil pollution liability insurance program, the pollution liability insurance agency may continue to process claims through interpretative guidance pending adoption of rules.

Sec. 4. RCW 70.340.010 and 2016 c 161 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The legislature intends for the pollution liability insurance agency to establish a revolving loan and grant program to assist owners and operators of petroleum underground storage tank systems to: (((1)))(a) Remediate past releases; (((2)))(b) upgrade, replace, or remove petroleum underground storage tank systems to prevent future releases; and (((3)))(c) install new infrastructure or retrofit existing infrastructure for dispensing or using renewable or alternative energy.

Sec. 5. RCW 70.340.020 and 2016 c 161 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

(1) "Agency" means the Washington state pollution liability insurance agency.

(2) "Heating oil tank" means a tank and its connecting pipes, whether above or below ground, or in a basement, with pipes connected to the tank for space heating of human living or working space on the premises where the tank is located.

(3) "Local government" means any political subdivision of the state, including a town, city, county, special purpose district, or other municipal corporation.

(((3)))(4) "Operator" means any person in control of, or having responsibility for, the daily operation of a petroleum underground storage tank system.

(((4)))(5) "Owner" means any person who owns a petroleum underground storage tank system.

(((5)))(6) "Petroleum underground storage tank system" means an underground storage tank system regulated under chapter 90.76 RCW or subtitle I of the solid waste disposal act (42 U.S.C. chapter 82, subchapter IX) that is used for storing petroleum.

(((6)))(7) "Release" has the same meaning as defined in RCW 70.105D.020.

(((7)))(8) "Remedial action" has the same meaning as defined in RCW 70.105D.020.

(((8)))(9) "Underground storage tank facility" means the location where one or more underground storage tank systems are installed. A facility encompasses all contiguous real property under common ownership associated with the operation of the underground storage tank system or systems.

(((9)))(10) "Underground storage tank system" means an underground storage tank, connected underground piping, underground ancillary equipment, and containment system, if any, and includes any aboveground ancillary equipment connected to the underground storage tank or piping, such as dispensers.

Sec. 6. RCW 70.340.030 and 2016 c 161 s 3 are each amended to read as follows: