BILL ANALYSIS
AB 96
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ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB 96 (Ruskin)
As Amended April 21, 2009
2/3 vote. Urgency
ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 6-0
APPROPRIATIONS 16-0
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|Ayes:|Chesbro, Miller, Feuer, |Ayes:|De Leon, Nielsen, |
| |Monning, Ruskin, Smyth | |Ammiano, |
| | | |Charles Calderon, Davis, |
| | | |Duvall, Fuentes, Hall, |
| | | |Harkey, Miller, |
| | | |John A. Perez, Price, |
| | | |Skinner, Solorio, Audra |
| | | |Strickland, Torlakson |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
| | | | |
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SUMMARY : Provides $8 million for grants and loans to assist gas
station operators in meeting the Enhanced Vapor Recovery (EVR)
regulations adopted by the Air Resources Board (ARB).
Specifically, this bill :
1)Transfers $8 million from the administration sub account of
the Petroleum Underground Storage Tank (PUST) Financing
Account to the grants and loan sub account for the Replacement
of Underground Storage Tanks (RUST) program.
2)Removes existing RUST grant and loan eligibility criteria that
require applicants to have been the owner of the property for
which the grant or loan was being sought prior to 1997.
3)Extends the sunset date for the RUST program from 2011 to
2016.
4)Enacts this bill as an urgency measure to help address the
April 1, 2009, ARB deadline for EVR installation.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Requires ARB to adopt procedures for determining the gas vapor
control compliance of any system designed for the control of
AB 96
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gasoline vapor emissions during gasoline marketing operations,
including storage and transfer operations, and additional
performance standards to ensure that systems for the control
of gasoline vapors from motor vehicle fueling operations do
not cause excessive spillage and emissions.
2)Authorizes the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) to
provide grants and loans from the RUST program to gas station
owners to assist them in meeting the EVR regulations adopted
by the ARB. The RUST program sunsets on January 1, 2011.
FISCAL EFFECT:
According to the Assembly Appropriations Committee this bill:
1)Transfers $8 million from the administration sub account of
the PUST Financing Account to the grants and loans sub account
of the RUST program and makes that money available for grants
(1/3 of funding) and loans (2/3 of funding) to owners of
smaller gas stations for EVR compliance.
2)Extends the RUST program by five years, at an administrative
cost of approximately $600,000 a year.
COMMENTS :
Enhanced Vapor Recovery (EVR): EVR regulations adopted by ARB
in March 2000, require approximately 11,000 service stations to
upgrade equipment to reduce gasoline vapor emissions by April 1,
2009. The upgraded EVR requirements, known as EVR Phase II
systems, will reduce gasoline vapor emissions that contribute to
ozone formation which will protect public health and meet
California clean air attainment requirements.
Replacement of Underground Storage Tanks (RUST): SWRCB operates
the RUST program which offers direct grants and loans for
replacement or repair of underground storage tanks. The program
helps owners and operators of small independent underground
storage tanks to comply with the ARB requirements to control
vapor emissions from petroleum pumps. Business owners or
operators of underground petroleum storage tanks are eligible
for these loans and grants.
AB 96
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Analysis Prepared by : Bob Fredenburg / E.S. & T.M. / (916)
319-3965
FN: 0000389