MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2005 Regular Session
To: Conservation and Water Resources
By: Representative Franks
AN ACT TO BRING FORWARD SECTION 49-2-13, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, RELATING TO THE POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY; TO BRING FORWARD SECTION 49-17-30, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, RELATING TO TITLE 5 PERMIT FEES; TO BRING FORWARD SECTION 49-17-32, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, RELATING TO COLLECTION OF TITLE 5 FEES; TO BRING FORWARD SECTION 49-17-36, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, RELATING TO PENALTIES FOR VIOLATION OF TITLE 5 REGULATIONS; TO BRING FORWARD SECTION 49-17-43, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, RELATING TO PENALTIES FOR SOLID WASTE VIOLATIONS; TO BRING FORWARD SECTION 49-17-85, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, RELATING TO THE WATER POLLUTION CONTROL REVOLVING FUND ADMINISTERED BY THE COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY; TO BRING FORWARD SECTION 49-17-86, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, RELATING TO THE WATER POLLUTION CONTROL EMERGENCY LOAN FUND ADMINISTERED BY THE COMMISSION; TO BRING FORWARD SECTION 49-17-407, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL FEES ON MOTOR FUELS; TO BRING FORWARD SECTION 49-17-421, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, RELATING TO TANK REGULATORY FEES; TO BRING FORWARD SECTION 49-17-427, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, RELATING TO CIVIL PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS OF UNDERGROUND STORAGE; TO BRING FORWARD SECTION 49-17-507, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, RELATING TO THE POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION REGULATING LEAD-BASED PAINT ACTIVITIES; TO BRING FORWARD SECTION 49-17-525, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, RELATING TO THE LEAD-BASED PAINT PROGRAM OPERATIONS FUND ADMINISTERED BY THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY, FOR PURPOSES OF AMENDMENT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 49-2-13, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-2-13. The executive director shall have the following powers and duties:
(a) To administer the policies of the commission within the authority granted by the commission;
(b) To supervise and direct all administrative and technical activities of the department;
(c) To organize the administrative units of the department in accordance with the plan adopted by the commission and, with commission approval, alter such organizational plan and reassign responsibilities as he may deem necessary to carry out the policies of the commission;
(d) To coordinate the activities of the various offices of the department;
(e) To employ, subject to the approval of the commission, qualified professional personnel in the subject matter or fields of each office, and such other technical and clerical staff as may be required for the operation of the department;
(f) To recommend to the commission such studies and investigations as he may deem appropriate, and to carry out the approved recommendations in conjunction with the various offices;
(g) To merge and coordinate functions and duties where possible to eliminate the possibility of two (2) separate organizational entities performing the same or similar functions, including, but not limited to, functions of audit, inspection, collection, personnel, motor vehicles, accounting, data processing, payroll and any other such administrative, procedural or enforcement function;
(h) To coordinate all studies in the State of Mississippi concerned with the supply, development, use and conservation of natural resources within the jurisdiction of the department;
(i) To prepare and deliver to the Legislature and the Governor on or before January 1 of each year, and at such other times as may be required by the Legislature or Governor, a full report of the work of the department and the offices thereof, including a detailed statement of expenditures of the department and any recommendations the commission may have;
(j) To issue, modify or revoke any and all orders under authority granted by the commission which include, but are not limited to those which (i) prohibit, control or abate discharges of contaminants and wastes into the air and waters of the state; (ii) require the construction of new disposal systems or air-cleaning devices or any parts thereof, or the modification, extension or alteration of existing disposal systems or air-cleaning devices or any parts thereof, or the adoption of other remedial measures to prevent, control or abate air and water pollution or to cause the proper management of solid wastes; (iii) impose penalties pursuant to Section 17-17-29 and Section 49-17-43 which have been agreed upon with alleged violators; and (iv) require compliance with the conditions of any permit issued by the Permit Board created in Section 49-17-28 and all regulations of the commission; and
(k) With the approval of the commission, to enter into contracts, grants and cooperative agreements with any federal or state agency or subdivision thereof, or any public or private institution located inside or outside the State of Mississippi, or any person, corporation or association in connection with carrying out the provisions of this chapter, provided the agreements do not have a financial cost in excess of the amounts appropriated for such purposes by the Legislature.
SECTION 2. Section 49-17-30, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-30. (1) As a condition of any air operating permit required under Title V of the federal Clean Air Act, the owner or operator of any stationary source shall pay to the Department of Environmental Quality an annual permit fee. The commission shall establish the amount of each fee to cover the costs of the Title V program as provided in Section 49-17-14.
(2) To facilitate the proper administration of the Title V program, the commission is authorized to assess and collect fees from Title V program permittees. The commission is further authorized to promulgate such rules and regulations as are necessary for the development and administration of the Title V program and the assessment and collection of Title V program fees.
(a) For purposes of fee assessment and collection, the maximum emission rate of each pollutant used in the calculation of fees shall be four thousand (4,000) tons per year per facility.
(b) For purposes of fee assessment and collection, the permit holder shall elect for actual or allowable emissions to be used in determining the annual quantity of emissions unless the commission determines by order that the method chosen by the applicant for calculating actual emissions fails to reasonably represent actual emissions. Such order of the commission shall be subject to appeal in the manner provided in Section 49-17-41. Actual emissions shall be calculated using emission monitoring data or direct emissions measurements for the pollutant(s); mass balance calculations such as the amounts of the pollutant(s) entering and leaving process equipment and where mass balance calculations can be supported by direct measurement of process parameters, such direct measurement data shall be supplied; published emission factors such as those relating release quantities to throughput or equipment type (e.g., air emission factors); or other approaches such as engineering calculations (e.g., estimating volatilization using published mathematical formulas) or best engineering judgments where such judgments are derived from process and/or emission data which supports the estimates of maximum actual emissions.
If the commission determines that there is not sufficient information available on a facility's emissions, the determination of the fee shall be based upon the permitted allowable emissions until such time as an adequate determination of actual emissions is made.
(c) A minimum annual fee of Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250.00) shall be assessed to and collected from the owner or operator of each facility that is required to hold a Title V permit. The maximum annual fee shall be Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000.00) per facility.
(3) (a) Prior to the date of full implementation of the Title V program in Mississippi, the fee assessed shall be Four Dollars ($4.00) per ton of emissions of each air pollutant for which fees can be assessed under the Title V program, not to exceed Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00) per facility.
(b) Following the date of full implementation of the Title V program in Mississippi, the fee schedule for Title V permit fees for any subsequent calendar year shall be set by order of the commission in an amount sufficient to cover the reasonable costs of development and administration of the Title V program. The commission's order shall follow:
(i) Receipt of the report and recommendations of the Advisory Council; and
(ii) A public hearing to be held not earlier than thirty (30) days following receipt by the commission of the report and recommendations of the Advisory Council. The commission may proceed with entry of the order on fees if the Advisory Council fails to submit its report in a timely manner. The order of the commission may be appealed in the manner set forth in Section 49-17-41. The determination of the fee shall be by order of the commission and shall not be considered the promulgation of a regulation by the commission. The record of the public hearing shall be included in the record upon which the order is based and shall become a part of the appellate records for all appeals taken from the order of the commission establishing or modifying Title V permit fees. Any undisputed amount due from an appellant must be paid according to the appellant's payment schedule during the pendency of the appeal.
(4) Any person required to pay the Title V permit fee set forth under this chapter who disagrees with the calculation or applicability of the person's fee may petition the commission in writing for a hearing in accordance with Section 49-17-35. Such hearing shall be in accordance with Section 49-17-33. Any disputed portion of the fee for which a hearing has been requested will not incur any penalty or interest from and after the receipt by the commission of the hearing petition. The decision of the commission may be appealed in the manner set forth in Section 49-17-41.
(5) All fees collected pursuant to this section shall be deposited into the "Air Operating Permit Program Fee Trust Fund" established in Section 49-17-14.
SECTION 3. Section 49-17-32, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-32. (1) The commission may delegate to the Department of Environmental Quality the responsibility for the collection of the Title V program fees.
(2) The air operating permit fee shall be due September 1 of each year. Any facility which proposes to use actual emissions as the basis for the fee calculation shall submit by July 1 of each year an inventory of emissions for the previous calendar year. For facilities using actual emissions as the basis of the fee, the fee shall be calculated based upon emissions during the previous calendar year. For facilities using allowable emissions as the basis for the fee, the fee shall be calculated based upon the allowable emissions contained in the permit on the date of the invoice. A permit holder may elect a quarterly payment method of four (4) equal payments with the payments due September 1, December 1, March 1, and June 1. The permit holder shall notify the Department of Environmental Quality that the quarterly payment method will be used by September 1.
(3) If any part of the air operating permit fee imposed is not paid within thirty (30) days after the due date, a penalty of ten percent (10%) of the amount due shall at once accrue and be added thereto, unless the permittee demonstrates to the commission that the failure to make timely payment was unavoidable due to financial hardship or otherwise beyond the permittee's control. If the fee is not paid in full, including any penalty within sixty (60) days of the due date, the Environmental Quality Permit Board may revoke the permit upon proper notice and hearing as required by law. Any penalty collected under this section shall be deposited into the "Air Operating Permit Program Fee Trust Fund."
(4) It is the intent of the Legislature that fees collected pursuant to Sections 49-17-1 through 49-17-45 shall not supplant or reduce in any way the General Fund appropriation to the Department of Environmental Quality.
SECTION 4. Section 49-17-36, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-36. (1) It is unlawful for any person to knowingly: (a) fail to pay any fee assessed by the commission for administration of the federal air operating permit program; (b) fail to satisfy any air operating permit filing requirement; (c) make any false statement, representation of certification in any notice or report required by an air operating permit; or (d) render inaccurate any air monitoring device or method required by an air operating permit; and, upon conviction thereof, such person shall be punished by a fine of not less than Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($2,500.00) nor more than Twenty-five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00) per day of violation.
(2) In determining the amount of penalty under this section, the following shall be considered at a minimum:
(a) The willfulness of the violation;
(b) Any damage to air, water, land or other natural resources of the state or their uses;
(c) Costs of restoration or abatement;
(d) Economic benefit as a result of noncompliance;
(e) The seriousness of the violation, including any harm to the environment and any hazard to the health, safety and welfare of the public; and
(f) Past performance history.
(3) All fines collected by the commission under this section shall be deposited into the Pollution Emergency Fund established under Section 49-17-68, Mississippi Code of 1972.
SECTION 5. Section 49-17-43, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-43. (1) Any person found by the commission violating any of the provisions of Sections 49-17-1 through 49-17-43, or any rule or regulation or written order of the commission in pursuance thereof or any condition or limitation of a permit, except a permit required under the Solid Wastes Disposal Law of 1974 (Sections 17-17-1 through 17-17-47), shall be subject to a civil penalty of not more than Twenty-five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00), for each violation, such penalty to be assessed and levied by the commission after a hearing as provided hereinabove. Appeals from the imposition of the civil penalty may be taken to the chancery court in the same manner as appeals from orders of the commission. If the appellant desires to stay the execution of a civil penalty assessed by the commission, he shall give bond with sufficient resident sureties of one or more guaranty or surety companies authorized to do business in this state, payable to the State of Mississippi, in an amount equal to double the amount of any civil penalty assessed by the commission, as to which the stay of execution is desired, conditioned, if the judgment shall be affirmed, to pay all costs of the assessment entered against the appellant. Each day upon which a violation occurs shall be deemed a separate and additional violation.
Any person violating any provision of the Solid Wastes Disposal Law of 1974 (Sections 17-17-1 through 17-17-47), any rule or regulation made pursuant to that law, or any order issued by the commission under the authority of that law shall be subject to the penalties provided in Section 17-17-29.
(2) In lieu of, or in addition to, the penalty provided in subsection (1) of this section, the commission shall have power to institute and maintain in the name of the state any and all proceedings necessary or appropriate to enforce the provisions of Sections 49-17-1 through 49-17-43, rules and regulations in force pursuant thereto, and orders and permits made and issued under those sections, in the appropriate circuit, chancery, county or justice court of the county in which venue may lie. The commission may obtain mandatory or prohibitory injunctive relief, either temporary or permanent, and in cases of imminent and substantial hazard or endangerment as set forth in Section 49-17-27, it shall not be necessary in such cases that the state plead or prove: (a) that irreparable damage would result if the injunction did not issue; (b) that there is no adequate remedy at law; or (c) that a written complaint or commission order has first been issued for the alleged violation.
(3) Any person who violates any of the provisions of, or fails to perform any duty imposed by, Sections 49-17-1 through 49-17-43 or any rule or regulation issued hereunder, or who violates any order or determination of the commission promulgated pursuant to such sections, and causes the death of fish or other wildlife shall be liable, in addition to the penalties provided in subsections (1) and (2) of this section, to pay to the state an additional amount equal to the sum of money reasonably necessary to restock such waters or replenish such wildlife as determined by the commission after consultation with the Mississippi Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. Such amount may be recovered by the commission on behalf of the state in a civil action brought in the appropriate county or circuit court of the county in which venue may lie.
(4) Any person who owns or operates facilities which, through misadventure, happenstance or otherwise, cause pollution necessitating immediate remedial or cleanup action shall be liable for the cost of such remedial or cleanup action and the commission may recover the cost of same by a civil action brought in the circuit court of the county in which venue may lie. This penalty may be recovered in lieu of or in addition to the penalties provided in subsections (1), (2) and (3) of this section.
In the event of the necessity for immediate remedial or cleanup action, the commission may contract for same and advance funds from the Pollution Emergency Fund to pay the costs thereof, such advancements to be repaid to the Pollution Emergency Fund upon recovery by the commission as provided above.
(5) It is unlawful for any person to: (a) discharge pollutants in violation of Section 49-17-29 or in violation of any condition or limitation included in a permit issued under Section 49-17-29 or (b) introduce pollutants into publicly owned treatment works in violation of pretreatment standards or in violation of toxic effluent standards; and, upon conviction thereof, such person shall be punished by a fine of not less than Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($2,500.00) nor more than Twenty-five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00) per day of violation.
(6) All fines, penalties and other sums recovered or collected by the commission for and in behalf of the state under this section shall be deposited in the Pollution Emergency Fund established under this chapter, and the commission is authorized to receive and accept, from any funds and all available sources whatsoever, additional funds to be deposited in such fund and expended for the purpose of remedial, cleanup or abatement actions involving pollution of the land, air or waters of the state in violation of Sections 49-17-1 through 49-17-43, any rule or regulation or written order of the commission in pursuance thereof, or any condition or limitation of a permit.
(7) In determining the amount of any penalty under this chapter, the commission shall consider at a minimum:
(a) The willfulness of the violation;
(b) Any damage to air, water, land or other natural resources of the state or their uses;
(c) Costs of restoration and abatement;
(d) Economic benefit as a result of noncompliance;
(e) The seriousness of the violation, including any harm to the environment and any hazard to the health, safety and welfare of the public;
(f) Past performance history; and
(g) Whether the noncompliance was discovered and reported as the result of a voluntary self-evaluation. If a person discovers as a result of a voluntary self-evaluation, information related to noncompliance with an environmental law and voluntarily discloses that information to the department, commission or any employee thereof, the commission shall, to the greatest extent possible, reduce a penalty, if any, determined by the commission, except for economic benefit as a result of noncompliance, to a de minimis amount if all of the following are true:
(i) The disclosure is made promptly after knowledge of the information disclosed is obtained by the person; (ii) The person making the disclosure initiates the appropriate corrective actions and pursues those corrective actions with due diligence;
(iii) The person making the disclosure cooperates with the commission and the department regarding investigation of the issues identified in the disclosure;
(iv) The person is not otherwise required by an environmental law to make the disclosure to the commission or the department;
(v) The information was not obtained through any source independent of the voluntary self-evaluation or by the department through observation, sampling or monitoring; (vi) The noncompliance did not result in a substantial endangerment threatening the public health, safety or welfare or the environment; and
(vii) The noncompliance is not a repeat violation occurring at the same facility within a period of three (3) years. "Repeat violation" in this subparagraph means a second or subsequent violation, after the first violation has ceased, of the same statutory provision, regulation, permit condition, or condition in an order of the commission.
(8) Any provisions of this section and chapter regarding liability for the costs of cleanup, removal, remediation or abatement of any pollution, hazardous waste or solid waste shall be limited as provided in Section 49-17-42 and rules adopted thereto.
SECTION 6. Section 49-17-85, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-85. (1) There is established in the State Treasury a fund to be known as the "Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund" which shall be administered by the commission acting through the department. The revolving fund may receive bond proceeds and funds appropriated or otherwise made available by the Legislature in any manner and funds from any other source, public or private. The revolving fund shall be maintained in perpetuity for the purposes established in this section.
(2) There is established in the State Treasury a fund to be known as the "Water Pollution Control Hardship Grants Fund," which shall be administered by the commission acting through the department. The grants fund shall be maintained in perpetuity for the purposes established in this section. Any interest earned on monies in the grants fund shall be credited to that fund.
(3) The commission shall promulgate regulations for the administration of the revolving fund program, the hardship grants program and for related programs authorized under this section. The regulations shall be in accordance with the federal Water Quality Act of 1987, as amended and regulations and guidance issued under that act. The commission may enter into capitalization grant agreements with the United States Environmental Protection Agency and may accept capitalization grant awards made under Title VI of the Water Quality Act of 1987, as amended.
(4) The commission shall establish a loan program which shall commence after October 1, 1988, to assist political subdivisions in the construction of water pollution control projects. Loans from the revolving fund may be made to political subdivisions as set forth in a loan agreement in amounts not exceeding one hundred percent (100%) of eligible project costs as established by the commission. Notwithstanding loan amount limitations set forth in Section 49-17-61, the commission may require local participation or funding from other sources, or otherwise limit the percentage of costs covered by loans from the revolving fund. The commission may establish a maximum amount for any loan in order to provide for broad and equitable participation in the program.
(5) The commission shall establish a hardship grants program for rural communities, which shall commence after July 1, 1997, to assist severely economically disadvantaged small rural political subdivisions in the construction of water pollution control projects. The commission may receive and administer state or federal funds, or both, appropriated for the operation of this grants program and may take all actions necessary to implement the program in accordance with the federal hardship grants program. The hardship grants program shall operate in conjunction with the revolving loan program administered under this section.
(6) The commission shall act for the state in all matters and with respect to all determinations under Title VI of the federal Water Quality Act of 1987, as amended and the federal Omnibus Appropriations and Recision Act of 1996.
(7) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the revolving fund may be used only:
(a) To make loans on the condition that:
(i) The loans are made at or below market interest rates, at terms not to exceed twenty (20) years after project completion; the interest rate and term may vary from time to time and from loan to loan at the discretion of the commission;
(ii) Periodic principal and interest payments will commence when required by the commission but not later than one (1) year after project completion and all loans will be fully amortized when required by the commission but not later than twenty (20) years after project completion;
(iii) The recipient of a loan will establish a dedicated source of revenue for repayment of loans;
(b) To buy or refinance the debt obligation of political subdivisions at or below market rates, where the debt obligations were incurred after March 7, 1985, and where the projects were constructed in compliance with applicable federal and state regulations;
(c) To guarantee, or purchase insurance for, obligations of political subdivisions where the action would improve credit market access or reduce interest rates;
(d) To provide loan guarantees for similar revolving funds established by municipalities or intermunicipal agencies;
(e) To earn interest on fund accounts;
(f) To establish nonpoint source pollution control management programs;
(g) To establish estuary conservation and management programs;
(h) For the reasonable costs of administering the revolving fund and conducting activities under this act, subject to the limitations established in Section 603(d)(7) of Title VI of the federal Clean Water Act, as amended, and subject to annual appropriation by the Legislature; and
(i) In connection with the issuance, sale and purchase of bonds under Section 31-25-1 et seq., related to the funding of projects, to provide security or a pledge of revenues for the repayment of the bonds.
(8) The hardship grants program shall be used only to provide hardship grants consistent with the federal hardship grants program for rural communities, regulations and guidance issued by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, subsections (3) and (5) of this section and regulations promulgated and guidance issued by the commission under this section.
(9) The commission shall establish by regulation a system of priorities and a priority list of projects eligible for funding with loans from the revolving fund.
(10) The commission may provide a loan from the revolving fund only with respect to a project if that project is on the priority list established by the commission.
(11) The revolving fund shall be credited with all payments of principal and interest derived from the fund uses described in subsection (7) of this section. However, notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, all or any portion of payments of principal and interest derived from the fund uses described in subsection (7) of this section may be designated or pledged for repayment of a loan as provided for in Section 31-25-28 in connection with a loan from the Mississippi Development Bank.
(12) The commission may establish and collect fees to defray the reasonable costs of administering the revolving fund if it determines that the administrative costs will exceed the limitations established in Section 603(d)(7) of Title VI of the federal Clean Water Act, as amended. The administration fees may be included in loan amounts to political subdivisions for the purpose of facilitating payment to the commission. The fees may not exceed five percent (5%) of the loan amount.
SECTION 7. Section 49-17-86, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-86. (1) (a) There is created a fund in the State Treasury to be designated as the "Water Pollution Control Emergency Loan Fund" hereinafter referred to as "emergency fund."
(b) The emergency fund may receive appropriations, bond proceeds, grants, gifts, donations or funds from any source, public or private. The emergency fund shall be credited with all repayments of principal and interest derived from loans made from the emergency fund.
(c) The monies in the emergency fund may be expended only in amounts appropriated by the Legislature.
(d) The emergency fund shall be maintained in perpetuity for the purposes established in Sections 49-17-81 through 49-17-89. Unexpended amounts remaining in the emergency fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not lapse into the State General Fund. Any interest earned on amounts in the emergency fund shall be deposited to the credit of the fund.
(2) The commission shall establish a loan program to assist political subdivisions in making emergency improvements such as repairs to or replacement of machinery, equipment, materials, structures or devices in existing water pollution abatement projects or such other emergency water pollution abatement projects as the commission deems necessary. Loans from the emergency fund may be made to political subdivisions as set forth in a loan agreement in amounts not exceeding one hundred percent (100%) of eligible project costs as established by the commission. The commission may require local participation or funding from other sources, or otherwise limit the percentage of costs covered by loans from the emergency fund. The commission may establish a maximum amount for any loan not to exceed Three Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($350,000.00).
(3) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the emergency fund may be used only:
(a) To make loans on the condition that:
(i) Loans are made at or below market interest rates, at terms not to exceed ten (10) years after project completion; the interest rate may vary from time to time and from loan to loan at the discretion of the commission.
(ii) Periodic principal and interest payments will commence when required by the commission but not later than one (1) year after project completion and all loans will be fully amortized when required by the commission but not later than ten (10) years after project completion.
(iii) The recipient of a loan shall establish a dedicated source of revenue for repayment of loans. In addition, the commission may require any loan recipient to impose a per connection surcharge on each customer for repayment of any loan funds provided under this section.
(iv) The recipient of the loan is not in arrears in repayments to the Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund, the Water Pollution Control Emergency Loan Fund or under the Water Pollution Abatement Loan Program.
(b) To provide financial assistance to political subdivisions in making emergency improvements such as repairs to or replacement of machinery, equipment, materials, structures or devices in existing water pollution abatement projects or such other emergency water pollution abatement projects as the commission deems necessary.
(c) To defray the reasonable costs of administering the emergency fund and conducting activities under this section, subject to annual appropriation by the Legislature.
(4) The commission shall establish a system of evaluating the eligibility of projects, including a determination of the emergency nature of a situation for which funding is sought.
(5) The fund will be credited with all payments of principal and interest derived from the fund uses described in subsection (3) of this section. However, notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, all or any portion of payments of principal and interest derived from the fund uses described in subsection (3) of this section may be designated or pledged for repayment of a loan as provided for in Section 31-25-28 in connection with a loan from the Mississippi Development Bank.
(6) In addition to any amounts allowed under subsection (3)(c), the commission may establish and collect fees to further defray the reasonable costs of administering the emergency fund. Any administrative fees may be included in loan amounts to political subdivisions for the purpose of facilitating payment to the commission; fees may not exceed five percent (5%) of the loan amount. The commission may also use administrative fees collected pursuant to Section 49-17-85 to defray the reasonable costs of administering the emergency fund.
SECTION 8. Section 49-17-407, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-407. (1) (a) An environmental protection fee of Four-tenths of One Cent (4/10 of 1¢) per gallon is hereby levied upon any bonded distributor, as defined by Sections 49-17-401 through 49-17-433, who sells or delivers motor fuels to a retailer or user in this state.
(b) Every person, other than a bonded distributor, who shall purchase or acquire motor fuels within this state on which the environmental protection fee has not accrued, shall be liable for the environmental protection fee.
(c) The environmental protection fee shall be imposed only one (1) time on motor fuels sold in the state.
(d) The environmental protection fee shall be collected by the State Tax Commission and shall be designated separately from the excise taxes on fuels.
(e) Any person liable for the environmental protection fee shall be subject to the same requirements and penalties as distributors under the provisions of the Mississippi Special Fuel Tax Law.
(f) Any person liable for the environmental protection fee shall file a report and remit any fees due at the same time provided for filing reports under Section 27-55-523, on forms prescribed by the State Tax Commission.
(g) The State Tax Commission is hereby authorized and empowered to promulgate all rules and regulations necessary for the administration of the environmental protection fee.
(2) (a) On or before the fifteenth day of each month the environmental protection fees collected during the previous month shall be deposited into the Mississippi Groundwater Protection Trust Fund established in Section 49-17-405. When the unobligated balance in the fund reaches or exceeds Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000.00), the administrator of the fund shall notify in writing the State Tax Commission no later than the twenty-fifth day of the month to abate the environmental protection fee. The abatement shall become effective on the last day of the month succeeding the month in which such notice was given. All environmental protection fees accrued shall be reported and paid.
(b) When the fund balance is reduced below Six Million Dollars ($6,000,000.00), the fee shall again be imposed at the rate of Four-tenths of One Cent (4/10 of 1¢) per gallon until such time as the fund shall reach or exceed Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000.00). The administrator of the fund shall notify, no later than the twenty-fifth day of the month, the State Tax Commission to reimpose the environmental protection fee. The imposition of the fee shall become effective on the first day of the second month succeeding the month in which the notice to reimpose the fee was given.
(3) This fund shall be used for the purposes set forth in Sections 49-17-401 through 49-17-435 and for no other governmental purposes, nor shall any portion hereof ever be available to borrow from by any branch of government; it being the intent of the Legislature that this fund and its increments shall remain intact and inviolate. Any interest earned on monies in this fund shall remain in this fund.
(4) Monies held in the fund established under Sections 49-17-401 through 49-17-435 shall be used only at an active site and shall be disbursed in accordance with the commission requirements and as follows:
(a) Payments shall be made to any third party who brings a third-party claim against any owner of an underground storage tank and the commission as trustee of the Mississippi Groundwater Protection Trust Fund and who obtains a final judgment in such action which is valid and enforceable in this state against such parties. Payment shall be paid to the third party upon filing by such party an application with the department attaching the original or a certified copy of the final judgment.
(b) Payments shall be made in reasonable amounts to approved response action contractors and other parties involved in the site study and cleanup. Payment shall be made to the party incurring the costs by filing of a sworn application with the department indicating the fair and reasonable value of the costs of site rehabilitation, subject to the regulations and limitations as set by the department.
(5) Payments from the fund are limited as follows:
(a) For cleanup purposes, a maximum of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00) may be disbursed from the fund for any one (1) site, per confirmed release occurrence.
(b) For third-party judgments, a maximum of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00) may be disbursed from the fund for any one (1) site, per confirmed release occurrence.
(c) Nothing in Sections 49-17-401 through 49-17-435 shall establish or create any liability or responsibility on the part of the department or the State of Mississippi to pay any cleanup costs or third-party claims if the fund created herein is insufficient to do so.
(6) Monies held in the fund established under Sections 49-17-401 through 49-17-435 shall not be used for purchases of equipment needed to assist in cleanup operations.
(7) Nothing in Sections 49-17-401 through 49-17-435 shall serve to limit any recovery against an owner of an underground storage tank in excess of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00).
(8) Substantial compliance shall in no way be construed to be an absolute defense to civil liability.
SECTION 9. Section 49-17-421, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-421. The commission may assess and collect a tank regulatory fee in an amount sufficient to administer Sections 49-17-401 through 49-17-435 but not to exceed One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) per tank per year from the owner of each underground storage tank in use in Mississippi on July 1, 1988, or brought into use after that date, as provided in the Mississippi Underground Storage Tank Act of 1988 (Sections 49-17-401 through 49-17-435). The tank regulatory fee assessed under this section is a debt due by the owner of each underground storage tank in use in Mississippi on July 1, 1988, or brought into use after that date. The tank regulatory fee shall be due July 1 of each year. If any part of the tank regulatory fee is not paid within thirty (30) days after the due date, a penalty of fifty percent (50%) of the amount due shall accrue at once and be added to the fee, unless the owner of the underground storage tank demonstrates to the commission that the failure to make timely payment was unavoidable due to financial hardship or otherwise beyond the control of the owner. Monies collected under this section shall be deposited in a special fund which is created in the State Treasury. Unexpended amounts remaining in the special fund at the end of the fiscal year shall not lapse into the General Fund and any interest earned on amounts in the special fund shall be credited to the special fund by the Treasurer. The fund may receive monies from any available public or private source, including, but not limited to, collection of fees, interest, grants, taxes, public or private donations and judicial actions. Monies in this special fund shall be expended by annual appropriation approved by the Legislature to administer Sections 49-17-401 through 49-17-435.
SECTION 10. Section 49-17-427, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-427. (1) Whenever the commission or an employee thereof has reason to believe that a violation of any provision of this chapter, or of any order of the commission, or of any regulation promulgated pursuant to this chapter has occurred, the commission shall initiate proceedings in the same manner as provided in Sections 49-17-31 through 49-17-41, Mississippi Code of 1972.
(2) Any person found by the commission violating any of the provisions of Sections 49-17-401 through 49-17-433, or any rule or regulation or written order of the commission shall be subject to a civil penalty of not more than Twenty-five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00) for each violation per day, such penalty to be assessed and levied by the commission as provided in Sections 49-17-1 through 49-17-43, Mississippi Code of 1972.
(3) In determining the amount of any penalty under this chapter, the commission shall consider at a minimum:
(a) The willfulness of the violation;
(b) Any damage to air, water, land or other natural resources of the state or their uses;
(c) Costs of restoration or abatement;
(d) Economic benefit as a result of noncompliance;
(e) The seriousness of the violation, including any harm to the environment and any hazard to the health, safety and welfare of the public;
(f) Past performance history; and
(g) Whether the noncompliance was discovered and reported as the result of a voluntary self-evaluation. If a person discovers as a result of a voluntary self-evaluation, information related to noncompliance with an environmental law and voluntarily discloses that information to the department, commission or any employee thereof, the commission shall, to the greatest extent possible, reduce a penalty, if any, determined by the commission, except for economic benefit as a result of noncompliance, to a de minimis amount if all of the following are true:
(i) The disclosure is made promptly after knowledge of the information disclosed is obtained by the person; (ii) The person making the disclosure initiates the appropriate corrective actions and pursues those corrective actions with due diligence;
(iii) The person making the disclosure cooperates with the commission and the department regarding investigation of the issues identified in the disclosure;
(iv) The person is not otherwise required by an environmental law to make the disclosure to the commission or the department;
(v) The information was not obtained through any source independent of the voluntary self-evaluation or by the department through observation, sampling or monitoring;
(vi) The noncompliance did not result in a substantial endangerment threatening the public health, safety or welfare or the environment; and
(vii) The noncompliance is not a repeat violation occurring at the same facility within a period of three (3) years. "Repeat violation" in this subparagraph means a second or subsequent violation, after the first violation has ceased, of the same statutory provision, regulation, permit condition, or condition in an order of the commission.
(4) Any provisions of this section and chapter regarding liability for the costs of cleanup, removal, remediation or abatement of any pollution, hazardous waste or solid waste shall be limited as provided in Section 49-17-42 and rules adopted thereto.
SECTION 11. Section 49-17-507, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-507. In addition to any other powers and duties authorized by law, the commission shall have the following powers and duties regarding lead-based paint activities:
(a) To adopt, modify, repeal and promulgate, after due notice and hearing, and where not otherwise prohibited by federal or state law, to make exceptions to and grant exemptions and variances from, and to enforce rules and regulations implementing or effectuating the powers and duties of the commission under Sections 49-17-501 through 49-17-531;
(b) To issue, reissue, suspend, revoke or deny the issuance or reissuance of accreditation for lead-based paint activity training programs and to require the modification of those training programs;
(c) To issue, reissue, suspend, revoke or deny the issuance or reissuance of certificates for risk assessors, project designers, supervisors, inspectors and workers involved in lead-based paint activities;
(d) To develop and require the use of work practice standards for lead-based paint activities and to monitor compliance with those work practice standards;
(e) To enforce and assess penalties for violations of Sections 49-17-501 through 49-17-531;
(f) To assess and collect fees for the accreditation of training programs, issuance and reissuance of certificates, and lead-based paint abatement projects;
(g) To develop an examination and grading system for testing applicants to be administered by accredited training programs;
(h) To establish requirements and procedures for the administration of a third-party certification examination;
(i) To enter into reciprocal agreements for accreditation of training programs and certification of risk assessors, project designers, supervisors, inspectors and workers with other states that have established accreditation and certification programs that meet or exceed the accreditation and certification requirements adopted under Sections 49-17-501 through 49-17-531;
(j) To apply for, receive and expend any contributions, gifts, devises, bequests or funds from any source relating to Sections 49-17-501 through 49-17-531;
(k) To enter into, and to authorize the executive director to execute with the approval of the commission, contracts, grants and cooperative agreements, except as limited under Section 49-2-9, with any federal or state agency or subdivision thereof, any public or private institution, or any other person in connection with carrying out Sections 49-17-501 through 49-17-531; and
(l) To discharge other duties, responsibilities and powers necessary to implement Sections 49-17-501 through 49-17-531.
SECTION 12. Section 49-17-525, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
49-17-525. (1) (a) There is created in the State Treasury a fund to be designated as the Lead-Based Paint Program Operations Fund, referred to in this section as "fund," to be administered by the executive director and expended by appropriation approved by the Legislature.
(b) Monies in the fund shall be utilized to pay reasonable direct and indirect costs associated with the administration and enforcement of the lead-based paint activity accreditation and certification program.
(c) Expenditures may be made from the fund upon requisition by the executive director.
(d) The fund shall be treated as a special trust fund.
Interest earned on the principal therein shall be credited by the Treasurer to the fund.
(e) The fund may receive monies from any available public or private source, including, but not limited to, collection of fees, interest, grants, taxes, public and private donations, judicial actions and appropriated funds.
(f) Monies in the fund at the end of the fiscal year shall be retained in the fund for use in the next succeeding fiscal year to be expended by appropriation approved by the Legislature.
(2) (a) The commission shall set by order a schedule of fees for the accreditation of training programs, issuance and reissuance of certificates and lead-based paint abatement projects. The commission shall graduate fee levels to reflect the type of certificate and the size of the project, as the case may be.
(b) All monies collected under this section shall be deposited into the fund.
(c) The commission may delegate to the department responsibility for the collection of fees under this section.
(d) Any person required to pay a fee under this section who disagrees with the calculation or applicability of the fee may petition the commission for a hearing in accordance with Section 49-17-35, Mississippi Code of 1972. Any hearing shall be in accordance with the provisions of Section 49-17-33, Mississippi Code of 1972.
(e) Fees collected under this section shall not supplant or reduce in any way the general fund appropriation to the department.
SECTION 13. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2005.