04/20/2001 04:03 PM Senate RES

           SB 115-EXTEND BD. OF STORAGE TANK ASSISTANCE                                                                     
                                                                                                                              
CHAIRMAN TORGERSON announced SB 115 to be up for consideration.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
MS. HEATHER  BRAKES, staff to Senator  Therriault, said that  SB 115                                                            
amends Title  44 to extend this particular  board an additional  two                                                            
years from  June 30, 2001 to June  30, 2003. She said a Legislative                                                             
Audit Report  found  that the board  should be  reestablished  as it                                                            
plays  an integral  role  in addressing  complaints  throughout  the                                                            
state  with  federal  regulations  related   to specifications   for                                                            
underground  storage tanks (UST).  Such complaints are important  in                                                            
promoting  public health  in that [awareness  of problems]  protects                                                            
underground  drinking  water supplies  from pollution  and  provides                                                            
funding necessary  to remediate pollution brought  on by the leaking                                                            
tanks.  The independent  board has  been instrumental  in  mediating                                                            
disputes  between the DEC  and UST owners  and operators. The  board                                                            
has   enhanced   cooperation,   which   promotes   compliance   with                                                            
regulations  related  to  the tanks.  The  Division  of Legislative                                                             
Budget and Audit recommended  extending the board to 2003. The audit                                                            
made no findings  or recommendations  about the board's operations.                                                             
                                                                                                                                
MS. PAT DAVIDSON, Legislative Auditor, joined the committee.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN  TORGERSON complimented  her on doing  a good job  and said                                                            
the committee  is dealing with another  bill that sunsets  the grant                                                            
program  on June 30,  2004. He said  that both  boards last  for one                                                            
year after  they are confirmed so  they would both coincide,  but he                                                            
asked if this  one should be extended  for the sake of consistency.                                                             
                                                                                                                                
MS. DAVIDSON  replied that  the statutory  responsibilities  of that                                                            
program are  what drove her to choose  2003 as the termination  date                                                            
of the grant program.  She thought the board could  help develop the                                                            
regulations  for the  revolving loan  fund and get  those going.  It                                                            
depends on whether the  Legislature wants to give the board an extra                                                            
year to get the revolving loan up and running smoothly.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
MR. JOHN BARNETT said he  thought that Legislative Audit would start                                                            
another process  to evaluate the situation in 2003.  At this time he                                                            
is satisfied with 2003.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
MR.  WEBER  said  that  the  Alaska  Underground   Tank  Owners  and                                                            
Operators Association supports SB 115 and 2003.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
MR. COOK said he thought 2004 made a lot more sense.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN  TORGERSON said  they had lost  a quorum  and set the  bill                                                            
aside.