Source: http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/bills_text.cfm?billdoc=HB2590%20SUB.htm&yr=2013&sesstype=RS&billtype=B&houseorig=H&i=2590
Timestamp: 2019-11-22 18:46:05
Document Index: 238774081

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Committee Substitute House Bill 2590 History
A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §31-21-1, §31-21-2, §31-21-3, §31-21-4, §31-21-5, §31-21-6, §31-21-7, §31-21-8, §31-21-9, §31-21-10, §31-21-11, §31-21-12, §31-21-13, §31-21-14, §31-21-15, §31-21-16, §31-21-17, §31-21-18, §31-21-19 and §31-21-20, all relating to authorizing the creation of a public nonprofit corporation and governmental instrumentality to facilitate the redevelopment of former commercial, industrial and mining properties subject to federal and state regulations because of contamination or pollution discharge; providing short title; declaring policy and purpose of article; defining terms; creating West Virginia Land Stewardship Corporation; providing eligibility for properties to participate; stating certain tax requirements; setting forth powers and limitations of West Virginia Land Stewardship Corporation; providing for board of directors and composition of same; providing for creation of voluntary land stewardship program; providing for underwriting review of land stewardship program applicants; authorizing establishment of state certified sites program; setting forth minimum standards for certification under state certified sites program and assessment of fees therefor; authorizing establishment of voluntary state land bank program; prohibiting the transfer of certain liabilities to land bank by prior owner; permitting land stewardship corporation to preserve property value of properties held by land stewardship corporation; authorizing land bank to acquire, dispose or otherwise manage real property; providing requirements for handling of contaminated properties by land stewardship corporation; providing for liberal construction of article; authorizing the Department of Environmental Protection to investigate corporation activities and take necessary actions; exempting corporation from certain state and local taxes; requiring audits and biannual reports; providing procedure for dissolution of land stewardship corporation upon completion of purpose and for disposal of properties possessed by the corporation; providing provision for conflict of interest of land stewardship corporation officers, employees and board members; stating preservation of sovereign immunity; and providing that obligations of land stewardship corporation are not obligations of the Department of Environmental Protection or the state.
That the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended by adding thereto a new article, designated §31-21-1, §31-21-2, §31-21-3, §31-21-4, §31-21-5, §31-21-6, §31-21-7, §31-21-8, §31-21-9, §31-21-10, §31-21-11, §31-21-12, §31-21-13, §31-21-14, §31-21-15, §31-21-16, §31-21-17, §31-21-18, §31-21-19 and §31-21-20, all to read as follows:
(2) "All appropriate inquiries” or “AAI” means the process of evaluating a property’s environmental conditions and assessing the likelihood of any contamination. Every Phase I environmental assessment must be conducted in compliance with the All Appropriate Inquiries Final Rule at 40 CFR Part 312.
(3) "Board of directors” or “board” means the board of directors of the corporation to be appointed under the provisions of section six of this article.
(4) “Certified sites” means those sites that are developable properties that have been prequalified as having proper land use designation, utilities, transportation improvements, availability, and pricing. Criteria for prequalification include, but are not limited to, established pricing terms and conditions so that property acquisition can be negotiated quickly and without time-consuming delays.
(9) “Department of Environmental Protection” or the “DEP” means the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection or any successor agency.
(15) “Institutional and Engineering Control Sites” or “IEC Sites” means sites in this state that have been remediated or closed under a federal or state environmental program, including, but not limited to, brownfields, underground storage tanks, closed landfills, open dumps, hazardous waste sites, and former mining sites with ongoing water treatment as part of mine reclamation efforts.
(18) "Nonprofit corporation” means a corporation established under the West Virginia Nonprofit Corporation Act, article two, chapter thirty-one-e of this code, to fulfill the purposes of this article.
(22) “Releases” has the same meaning as defined in the environmental acts referenced in subdivision (13) of this section.
(2) The corporation, its employees or agents knowingly and willfully do an action which causes an immediate release of regulated substances or violates an environmental act. Liability pursuant to this article is limited to the cost for a response action which may be directly attributable to the corporation’s activities, and only if these activities are the proximate and efficient cause of the release or violation. Ownership or control of the property after accepting title in the land bank program does not by itself trigger liability.
(O) In the event of a conveyance of property to the corporation, at the discretion of the corporation, the prior owner may be required to post a bond or other type of financial assurance for any potential future remediation, in order to insure the original owner’s liability is maintained.
(a) The purposes, powers and duties of the corporation shall be exercised by its board of directors. Board meetings shall be chaired by the Governor or his or her designee. The corporation’s board shall also consist of the following thirteen members:
(2) The West Virginia Chamber of Commerce shall nominate three residents of this state for the Governor’s consideration, one of whom the Governor shall appoint;
(3) The West Virginia Manufacturers’ Association shall nominate three residents of this state for the Governor’s consideration, one of whom the Governor shall appoint;
(4) The West Virginia Coal Association shall nominate three residents of this state for the Governor’s consideration, one of whom the Governor shall appoint;
(5) The United Mine Workers Association shall nominate three residents of this state for the Governor’s consideration, one of whom the Governor shall appoint;
(6) The West Virginia Environmental Council shall nominate three residents of this state for the Governor’s consideration, one of whom the Governor shall appoint;
(7) The AFL-CIO shall nominate three residents of this state for the Governor’s consideration, one of whom the Governor shall appoint;
(b) The members appointed by the Governor shall serve terms of four years: Provided, That for the initial appointments the Governor shall designate three to serve for four years each, two to serve for three years each and one to serve for two years. When an appointee resigns, dies or is removed during that person’s term, his or her successor shall be appointed for the remaining portion of the unexpired term. Once appointed, a person may be reappointed to successive four-year terms.
(1) Establish or maintain any ICs by filing the appropriate documents or updating such documents when the site is leased, conveyed, subdivided or when remediation occurs: Provided, That the corporation’s responsibilities for those activities are expressly identified in agreements for the IEC Site that will be negotiated when a site is enrolled in the voluntary land stewardship program;
(7) Coordinate and share data with West Virginia Miss Utility, the “One-Call” System, including verifying the location of ECs on enrolled sites, providing information about remediation, and sharing any health and safety plans or soil management plans that may be associated with an enrolled site in order to assist any planned excavation at the enrolled site.
(1) Establishing an inventory of identified sites that are ready for development or redevelopment and construction within twelve months or less from the date of acquisition and certify these properties as “project-ready” for specific industry profiles and other categories of developable properties available that can increase economic development efforts within the state;
(2) Improving the state’s competitive edge by giving more certainty in time, steps and costs to businesses expanding or locating within the state;
(a) If the DEP determines that conditions on a property transferred to the corporation under this article present an immediate threat to public health, safety and welfare, or to the environment, the corporation may not convey, sell, transfer, exchange, lease or otherwise dispose of the property until after a determination by the DEP that the threat has been remediated and/or eliminated and that conveyance, sale, transfer, exchange, lease or other disposal of the property by the corporation will not interfere with any of the DEP’s response activities and will coordinate with the DEP regarding the corporation’s activities at the property.