HB 1533

1
A bill to be entitled
2An act relating to petroleum contamination; creating s.
3376.30716, F.S.; providing definitions; creating a
4presumption regarding the source of a subsequently
5discovered discharge at certain petroleum contamination
6sites; providing exceptions to the application of the
7presumption; specifying that certain provisions concerning
8site rehabilitation agreements do not apply to a
9subsequently discovered discharge; prohibiting the
10Department of Environmental Protection from requiring soil
11or groundwater sampling relating to closure assessments at
12certain petroleum contamination sites; specifying
13responsibilities of a facility owner or operator;
14providing an effective date.
15
16Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
17
18     Section 1.  Section 376.30716, Florida Statutes, is created
19to read:
20     376.30716  Cleanup of certain sites.--
21     (1)  As used in this section, the term:
22     (a)  "Exclusion zone" means the subsurface area within 10
23feet of an underground storage tank, integral piping, and
24dispenser, and the area between the underground storage tank and
25dispenser.
26     (b)  "Subsequently discovered discharge" means a discharge
27or suspected discharge that is discovered on or after July 1,
282005, at a site eligible for state funding under s. 376.305, s.
29376.3071, or s. 376.3072.
30     (2)  As noted in s. 376.30714, it may be difficult to
31distinguish between a discharge of petroleum products from a
32petroleum storage system which is eligible for state funding and
33a discharge reported after December 31, 1998, which is not
34eligible for state funding. Until the secondary containment
35upgrade of underground storage tanks, as required under rule 62-
36761, Florida Administrative Code, is complete at a site, a
37subsequently discovered discharge at the site is presumed to be
38part of the original discharge that qualifies for state funding.
39However, this presumption does not apply:
40     (a)  If the department presents competent and substantial
41evidence demonstrating that the subsequently discovered
42discharge occurred from a source that is independent and
43separate from the discharge that qualifies for state funding.
44     (b)  To a site where petroleum storage systems have been
45upgraded, prior to July 1, 2005, to secondary containment in
46accordance with rule 62-761, Florida Administrative Code.
47     (c)  To a site having newly discovered free product outside
48the exclusion zone.
49     (d)  To a site having an increase in the concentration of
50existing petroleum contamination outside the exclusion zone of
511,000 percent or greater.
52     (e)  To a site for which the department has, by a current
53valid order, determined that the discharge that is eligible for
54state funding has been cleaned up or no further action is
55necessary.
56     (3)  Section 376.30714 does not apply to a subsequently
57discovered discharge. The department shall not, as part of a
58closure report or assessment for a site that is eligible for
59state funding under s. 376.305, s. 376.3071, or s. 376.3072,
60require soil or groundwater sampling.
61     (4)  Regardless of whether the presumption specified in
62subsection (2) applies, a facility owner or operator shall:
63     (a)  Report all incidents or discharges in accordance with
64rules of the department.
65     (b)  Provide to the department a copy of all test results
66of storage tank and piping tightness regardless of the results.
67     Section 2.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.


CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.