The administration was sharply criticized last year for hoarding funds earmarked for child care while hiking the co-payments. About half of the funds will be used to expand prison capacity. The bill would amend the Industrial Sites Environmental Assessment Act to include assessment and clean up funds for brownfield sites and waste tire recycling. Loans and grants would be available to municipalities that did not cause or contribute to the contamination of a site. The measure now goes to the House.
Submerged lands are currently subject to annual fees.
The bill would eliminate the annual fee and replace it with a one-time payment. In order to take advantage of the one-time payment, the submerged land must be 25 acres or less. The bill now goes to the House. The program assists owners of underground heating oil storage tanks of 3,000 gallons or less. It is scheduled to expire on Jan. 30, 2000.