Date: 02/22/2006
Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB06-1303
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
| Votes: View--> | Action Taken: |
| Moved amendment L.003 (reduces transfer from $30 t | TIE |
06:00 PM -- House Bill 06-1303 - Concerning the County Environmental Hazard Remediation Fund and County Governments
Representative Plant, prime sponsor, explained that House Bill 06-1303 was recommended by the Joint Budget Committee and directs the State Treasurer to transfer $30 million on July 1, 2006, from the Hazardous Substance Response Fund to the newly-created County Environmental Hazard Remediation Fund. Money in the new fund would be allocated by the Department of Local Affairs to counties based on population. Representative Plant said that the bill requires the money to be used by counties to identify, clean-up, or remediate environmental hazards. Representative Plant distributed amendment L.003 to committee members (Attachment A) and explained that it reduces the transfer to the fund from $30 to $15 million for FY 2006-07. The money in the Hazardous Substance Response Fund would be made available to counties for certain environmental purposes.
The committee discussed the use of funds by counties in the bill and the figures in the fiscal note.
The following persons testified:
06:18 PM -- Mr. Charles Bayley, Waste Management and Recycle, testified in opposition toward the bill. He explained that money in the bill is not enough to fully fund the environmental cleanup in the state. Mr. Bayley closed by saying that money in the fund could be used to directly compete with his company.
06:28 PM -- Mr. Jim Spaanstra, BFI, testified in opposition toward the bill and commented on the history of the Hazardous Substance Response Fund. Mr. Spaanstra said that money in the fund was initially used for the most dangerous waste locations in the state. House Bill 06-1303 expands the purposes for which fund money can be used. Ms. Spaanstra closed by saying that the money should be used as initially intended.
The committee discussed the use of funds for environmental cleanup in Colorado and federal funds that are used for the same purpose. The committee also discussed the ways that certain counties can benefit from the bill.
06:44 PM -- Mr. Gary Baughman, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, responded to committee questions and commented on the state's role in the cleanup of Superfund sites. Generally, the state is responsible to pay 10 percent of the initial cost of the cleanup paid for by federal dollars. Mr. Baughman discussed the department's administration of the fund. Mr. Baughman discussed the phase of cleanup when the state assumes 100 percent of the cleanup costs and closed by saying that the fund will run out of money in 2026. The fund will not have enough money for long-term state cleanup.
07:15 PM
After a brief committee discussion, Representative Vigil, Chairman, pulled the bill off the table and rescheduled it for Thursday, March 9, 2006, to allow the sponsor additional time to have some drafting changes made to the bill.