Bill > SB1884

This bill makes several changes to the Tennessee Drycleaner's Environmental Response Act, which aims to address environmental contamination from drycleaning operations. Key provisions include defining "recently abandoned" drycleaning facilities as those closed within 180 days of seeking access to the environmental response fund, and clarifying what constitutes a "registered facility" to include wholesale distributors and abandoned sites. The bill also expands the scope of environmental contamination that the fund can address to include soil gas vapor and indoor air, in addition to subsurface soils. It outlines the duties of the commissioner, such as developing remediation strategies, managing the fund for investigation and cleanup of registered and recently abandoned facilities, and establishing rules for registration, fees, and petition acceptance. The bill also details registration requirements for drycleaning and wholesale distribution facilities, including annual fees and a solvent surcharge collected by sellers of drycleaning solvents. Furthermore, it sets limits on fund expenditures per facility and overall fund balance, establishes deductibles for participants, and defines penalties for violations, including late fees for registration and surcharges. Importantly, the bill provides liability protection for registered facilities and recently abandoned drycleaning facilities that comply with the program's requirements, shielding them from certain environmental claims unless the contamination is solely due to personal injury from exposure.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Budget and Finance

https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/Billinfo/default.aspx?BillNumber=SB1884&ga=114