An Act to Create a Fund for Safe Disposal of Hazardous Fluids from
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 1165
Committee: Environment and Natural Resources
Sponsors: CLUCHEY, TEPLER
Amends: 38 MRSA §2147

Legislative Document
No. 1165
H.P. 770
House of Representatives, March 20, 2025
An Act to Create a Fund for Safe Disposal of Hazardous Fluids from 
Salvage Yards
Reference to the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources suggested and ordered 
printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative CLUCHEY of Bowdoinham.
Cosponsored by Senator TEPLER of Sagadahoc and
Representatives: ANKELES of Brunswick, BRIDGEO of Augusta, DOUDERA of Camden.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  36 MRSA c. 727 is enacted to read:
CHAPTER 727
VEHICLE FLUIDS DISPOSAL FEE
§4961. Fee imposed
A fee is imposed on the retail sale in this State of new automobiles in the amount of 
$100 per automobile. For purposes of this section, "automobile" has the same meaning as 
in Title 29-A, section 101, subsection 7.
§4962. Administration
The fee imposed by this chapter is administered as provided in chapter 7 and Part 3, 
and for purposes of administration, the fee imposed pursuant to this chapter must be 
considered imposed under Part 3.
The revenue derived from the fee imposed by this chapter must be deposited in the 
Vehicle Fluid Waste Fund established under Title 38, section 2147, subsection 1.  The fund 
must reimburse the General Fund for the administrative costs of the fee as certified by the 
bureau.
§4963. Application
This chapter applies to purchases made in this State on or after January 1, 2026.
Sec. 2.  38 MRSA §2147 is enacted to read:
§2147.  Vehicle Fluid Waste Fund
1. Vehicle Fluid Waste Fund established. The Vehicle Fluid Waste Fund, referred to 
in this section as "the fund," is established and administered by the Department of 
Environmental Protection as an interest-bearing, nonlapsing fund to reimburse owners and 
operators of automobile graveyards to properly dispose of fluids extracted from motor 
vehicles deposited in the automobile graveyards and to reimburse the department for costs 
in administering the fund. The fund receives fees from Title 36, chapter 727 and funds 
derived from appropriations, allocations and other public or private sources.  Interest 
earned by investments of the fund accrue to the fund.  For purposes of this section, 
"automobile graveyard" has the same meaning as in Title 30-A, section 3752, subsection 
1. 
2. Disbursements from the fund.  To the extent that funds are available, the 
department shall disburse from the fund an amount the department determines adequate to 
carry out the purposes of the fund. The department may reimburse a portion or all of the 
costs of an owner or operator of an automobile graveyard under subsection 3, paragraph B.  
3. Eligibility. An owner or operator of an automobile graveyard is eligible for 
reimbursement for disposal costs of fluids extracted from a motor vehicle deposited in the 
automobile graveyard if:
A. The owner or operator possesses a permit for the automobile graveyard under Title 
30-A, section 3753;
B. The owner or operator provides written documentation for the costs of the proper 
disposal of fluid from a motor vehicle deposited in the automobile graveyard; and
C. The owner or operator follows all requirements of the department for the proper 
disposal of the fluids.
4. Rules. The department shall adopt rules to carry out the purposes of this section.  
Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules under Title 5, chapter 
375, subchapter 2-A.
SUMMARY
This bill creates the Vehicle Fluid Waste Fund to reimburse owners and operators of 
automobile graveyards for the costs to properly dispose of fluids extracted from motor 
vehicles deposited in the automobile graveyards. The fund is funded by a $100 fee charged 
on purchases of new automobiles.