Sec. 1. 38 MRSA §569-A, sub-§8, śM, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 613, §3, is amended to read:

M. Sums up to $250,000 annually in fiscal years 1998-99 and 1999-2000 only, to retrofit, repair or replace aboveground oil storage tanks or facilities when the commissioner determines that action necessary to abate an imminent threat to a groundwater restoration project, a public water supply or a sensitive geologic area, including coastal islands and peninsulas. Money may not be disbursed from the fund for the purposes of this paragraph until the department has presented a plan for such disbursements to the Fund Insurance Review Board; and

Sec. 2. 38 MRSA §569-A, sub-§8, śN, as amended by PL 1999, c. 278, §3, is further amended to read:

N. Sums up to $1,250,000 annually during the 2-year period commencing July 1, 1998 and ending June 30, 2000 to distribute to community action agencies as defined in Title 22, section 5321 for loans and grants to retrofit, repair or replace aboveground and underground oil storage tanks and associated piping at single-family residences. Money may not be disbursed from the fund for the purposes of this paragraph until the department has presented a plan for such disbursements to the Fund Insurance Review Board. A community action agency shall administer the funds in accordance with program operating standards, including the allocation formula established by the Maine State Housing Authority for its weatherization program.

Sec. 3. Accounting. Upon request, the Commissioner of Environmental Protection shall provide the Fund Insurance Review Board with an accounting of the expenditure of funds pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 38, section 569-A, subsection 8, paragraphs M and N.

SUMMARY

Current law allows sums up to $1,500,000 annually for fiscal years 1998-99 and 1999-00 to be spent from the Ground Water Oil Clean-up Fund to pay for replacement of certain substandard home heating oil tanks. This bill removes the provision that these funds only be available during fiscal years 1998-99 and 1999-00, allowing sums of up to $1,500,000 to be spent annually to pay for replacement of certain substandard home heating oil tanks for every year that the law remains in effect.