These revenues are deposited into the Oil Spill Fund, which is used to remediate oil spills. The Assembly plan does not endorse these fee increases. The Assembly plan makes a technical correction to the current State Superfund statute in order to make Hazardous Substance Sites eligible for funding. These sites pose a significant threat to the environment and public health, but are ineligible for Superfund cleanup due to this technical flaw. Under the Assembly proposal, the State will be able to commence cleanup of these sites in 1999.
Funding is provided for a new hazardous waste citizen participation grant program.
This will assist local citizens in acquiring the technical knowledge necessary to make informed judgments regarding site cleanups. The Assembly plan provides that the State may recover damages against polluters who have severely impaired the State's natural resources. Specifically, Natural Resources Damages suits will ensure that polluters are held accountable, not only for cleanup, but for the irreparable harm they have caused. The Assembly also provides funding through the Centers for Advanced Technology program to be used for the research and development of innovative technologies to aid in the remediation of Superfund sites. This will potentially improve and expedite the cleanup of these sites, and do so at lower costs.