(a) The state may acquire any land, by purchase, donation or condemnation, which is adversely affected by past coal mining practices if the director, with the concurrence of the governor, finds that acquisition of the land is necessary to successful reclamation and that:
(i) The acquired land, after restoration, reclamation, abatement, control or prevention of the adverse effects of past coal mining practices, will serve recreation and historic purposes, conservation and reclamation purposes or provide open space benefits; and
(ii) Permanent facilities such as a treatment plant or a relocated stream channel will be constructed on the land for the restoration, reclamation, abatement, control or prevention of the adverse effects of past coal mining practices; or
(iii) Acquisition of coal refuse disposal sites and all coal refuse thereon will serve the purposes of this article or that public ownership is desirable to meet emergency situations and prevent recurrences of the adverse effects of past coal mining practices.
(b) Title to all lands acquired pursuant to this section shall be in the name of the state. The price paid for land acquired under this section shall reflect the market value of the land as adversely affected by past coal mining practices.
(c) Where land acquired pursuant to this section is deemed to be suitable for industrial, commercial, residential or recreational development, the director, with the approval of the governor and the secretary of the interior, may sell the land for at least fair market value by public sale under a system of competitive bidding.
(d) The director, when requested after appropriate public notice, shall hold a public hearing, with appropriate notice, in the county or counties in which lands acquired pursuant to this section are located in order to afford all persons an opportunity to participate in the decision concerning the use or disposition of the lands after restoration, reclamation, abatement, control or prevention of the adverse effects of past coal mining practices.
35-11-1206. Liens for reclamation on private lands.
(a) Within six (6) months after the completion of projects to restore, reclaim, abate, control or prevent adverse effects of past coal or mineral mining practices on privately owned land, the director shall itemize the monies expended and may file a lien against the property with the appropriate county clerk. If the monies expended result in a significant increase in property value, a notarized appraisal by an independent appraiser shall be filed with the lien. The lien shall be the amount determined by the appraisal to be the increase in the fair market value of the land as a result of the restoration, reclamation, abatement, control or prevention of the adverse effects of past coal or mineral mining practices. No lien shall be filed under this section against the property of any person who neither consented to, participated in, nor exercised control over the mining operation which necessitated the reclamation project.
(b) The landowner may petition the district court for the district in which the majority of the land is located within sixty (60) days of the filing of the lien to determine the increase in the fair market value of the land. The amount reported to be the increase in value of the premises shall constitute the amount of the lien and shall be recorded with the lien.
(c) The lien provided in this section shall constitute a lien upon the land as of the date of the expenditure of the monies and shall have priority as a lien second only to the lien of real estate taxes imposed upon the land.
(a) The governor may promulgate any rules and regulations which may be necessary or expedient to implement and administer the provisions of this article.
(b) The director may construct and operate any plants, including major interceptors and other facilities appurtenant to the plant for the control and treatment of water pollution resulting from mine drainage.
(c) The governor may transfer funds to other appropriate state or federal agencies in order to carry out the reclamation activities authorized by this article.
The governor may establish a coal mine subsidence mitigation program to assist property owners with mine subsidence problems that threaten life and property in this state. The program shall be operated by the director and be coordinated with the mine subsidence loss insurance program of W.S. 35-11-1301 through 35-11-1304. The program shall provide for backfilling of mine voids and stabilization of the land where evidence supports imminent or continuous threat to structures defined in W.S. 35-11-1301(a)(iii) if the threat is due to coal mine subsidence as defined in W.S. 35-11-1301(a)(ii).
(a) The abandoned mine land division shall not issue a contract to any contractor if the United States department of interior, office of surface mining applicant violator system shows the contractor has any one (1) or more of the following:
(i) Delinquent abandoned mine reclamation fee;
(ii) Federal or state failure-to-abate cessation order;
(iii) Unabated federal or state imminent harm cessation order;
(iv) Delinquent civil penalty issued under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977, Public Law 95-87;
(v) Bond forfeiture if the violation upon which the forfeiture was based has not been corrected;
(vi) Unabated violation of federal or state law, rule or regulation pertaining to air or water environmental protection incurred in connection with any surface coal mining operation;
(vii) Unresolved notice of violation.
(b) As used in this section "ownership or controlling interest" means as defined in Title 30 of the Code of Federal Regulations part 773.5, as amended.
35-11-1210. Abandoned mine land funds reserve account.
(a) There is created the abandoned mine land funds reserve account.
(b) All funds received from the federal government, from the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act Amendments of 2006, Section 411(h)(1), pursuant to 2007 H.R. 6111, shall be deposited into the abandoned mine land funds reserve account.
(c) All funds and all interest generated on the funds, shall remain in the abandoned mine land funds reserve account until appropriated by the legislature.
(d) The funds under subsection (b) of this section are separate from and in addition to the funds distributed to Wyoming for the abandoned mine land program under W.S. 35-11-1201 through 35-11-1209.
(e) Repealed by Laws 2024, ch. 4, § 2.
(a) There is created the long-term abandoned mine reclamation account. The state treasurer shall, upon direction from the department, deposit up to thirty percent (30%) of the amount of all funds provided to the state by the United States secretary of the interior under section 40701(c) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, as amended by section 801 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, into the account. The state treasurer shall invest funds in the account in accordance with law, and earnings from these investments shall be credited to the account. The liability of the state to fulfill the requirements of this section is limited to the amount of unobligated, unexpended funds in the account. The state shall have no obligations under this section except to the extent of federal funds deposited into this account and the earnings of the account. No funds in the account shall be expended for any purpose not specified in section 40701(c) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, as amended by section 801 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023. Funds in the account shall be expended only upon legislative appropriation for the following purposes:
(i) The abatement of the causes and the treatment of the effects of acid mine drainage resulting from coal mining practices, including for the costs of building, operating, maintaining and rehabilitating acid mine drainage treatment systems;
(ii) The prevention, abatement and control of subsidence;
(iii) The prevention, abatement and control of coal mine fires.
(a) As used in this act:
(i) "Administrator" means the administrator of the abandoned mine land division of the department of environmental quality;
(ii) "Mine subsidence loss" means loss caused by lateral or vertical movement, including collapse which results therefrom, of structures from collapse of man-made underground mines or from collapse of underground cavities resulting from burned coal seams but excludes loss caused by underground water, soil expansion, earthquake, landslide, volcanic eruption or collapse of storm or sewer drains or underground pipelines;
(iii) "Structure" means any dwelling, building or fixture, publicly or privately owned, permanently affixed to realty but excludes land, trees, plants and crops;
(iv) "This act" means W.S. 35-11-1301 through 35-11-1304.
35-11-1302. Mine subsidence loss insurance program; established; rulemaking authority.
(a) The governor shall establish an insurance program to cover mine subsidence loss to specified structures in this state. The program shall be operated by the director of the department of environmental quality through the administrator who shall contract for all services related to advertising, sales of the coverage and claims adjustment and may contract for other services necessary to the efficient operation of the program. The program shall cover all structures insured under this act for mine subsidence damage occurring after the effective date of the coverage, consistent with the contract terms and conditions. The program shall also cover structures which have been damaged before the effective date of this act, provided that:
(i) Damage to the structures was caused by subsidence of mine voids in the number one and seven coal seams in Rock Springs, Wyoming;
(ii) Claims made to the administrator documenting that initial subsidence damage was suffered on or about the dates of August 15, August 21, September 4 or September 10, 1985;
(iii) The property owner has made application for coverage under this act, paid the premium required by the administrator and paid an enrollment fee of one hundred dollars ($100.00);
(iv) The property owner executes and delivers instruments and papers and does whatever else is necessary to secure rights in the state to be subrogated to all the owner's right of recovery against any person, entity or organization for the damage and loss covered under this act; and
(v) Claims for damages and loss covered under this act and filed under the Wyoming Governmental Claims Act are withdrawn.
(b) The governor may promulgate rules and regulations necessary to establish and operate a mine subsidence loss insurance program under this act, including but not limited to:
(i) Contract terms and conditions;
(ii) Deductibles;
(iii) Coverage limits;
(iv) Claims adjustment procedures;
(v) Premium rates and enrollment fees sufficient to:
(A) Cover administrative expenses of the program including service contracts;
(B) Satisfy anticipated claims from mine subsidence loss;
(C) Establish a surplus to cover catastrophic hazard and to ensure solvency.
(vi) Designation of structures or areas for which coverage shall not be available;
(vii) Inspection of structures prior to issuing insurance coverage;
(viii) Rules or regulations necessary to enable the state to qualify for federal grants for state mine subsidence loss insurance programs.
(c) The governor may accept grants from any source to aid in establishing or operating the program under this act.
35-11-1303. Applicability of Wyoming Insurance Code; exemption.
(a) The Wyoming Insurance Code applies to transactions under this act except:
(i) The state and its officers, agencies and employees are exempt from the licensing, financial and tax requirements imposed by chapters 3, 4, 6, 7 and 8 of the Wyoming Insurance Code;
(ii) Any person who contracts with the state to transact insurance under this act is subject to the Wyoming Insurance Code as if the state were an insurer with a certificate of authority to transact the insurance in this state.
35-11-1304. Account created; premiums to be deposited; payment of expenses and claims.
There is created a mine subsidence loss insurance account. All premiums, fees, amounts recovered under the program and, where appropriate, grants shall be deposited into this account. The legislature shall authorize expenditures by appropriation from the account as necessary to defray the administrative expenses of the program but not claims for losses under policies. The remaining funds in the account shall be used and are appropriated to pay claims for losses under insurance policies under this act.
35-11-1414. Short title; purpose; department report.
(a) This article is known and may be cited as the "Storage Tank Act of 2007".
(b) The legislature recognizes the threat to the public health, safety, welfare and the environment caused by pollution to soil and water from underground and aboveground storage tanks. The purpose of this article is to take primacy of the underground storage tank program and to provide funding to take corrective actions at sites contaminated by underground storage tanks and aboveground storage tanks.
(c) The legislature also recognizes that owners and operators cannot take corrective action without placing their businesses' existence in financial jeopardy. The legislature finds that, because Wyoming is a large rural state, it is in the public interest to take corrective action at contaminated sites so that fuel will continue to be readily available throughout Wyoming.
(d) The department shall prepare an annual report for the legislature identifying the actions taken and monies expended pursuant to this article.
(a) As used in this article:
(i) "Corrective action" means an action taken to investigate, minimize, eliminate or clean up a release to protect the public health, safety and welfare or the environment;
(ii) "Corrective action account" means the account established in W.S. 35-11-1424;
(iii) "Department" means the department of environmental quality through its solid and hazardous waste division;
(iv) "Environmental pollution financial responsibility account" or "financial responsibility account" means the account established in W.S. 35-11-1427;
(v) "Operator" means any person in control of, or having responsibility for, the daily operation of the tank;
(vi) "Owner" means:
(A) In the case of an underground storage tank in use or brought into use on or after November 8, 1984, any person who owns an underground storage tank while it is used for the storage, use or dispensing of regulated substances;
(B) In the case of an underground storage tank in use before November 8, 1984, but no longer in use after that date, any person who owned such a tank immediately before the discontinuation of its use;
(C) Any person who owns an aboveground storage tank meeting the definition of paragraph (xi) of this subsection;
(D) In the case of a site contaminated by an aboveground or underground storage tank regulated under this article and where all tanks have been permanently closed, any person who owns the site.
(vii) "Regulated substance" means:
(A) Any substance defined in section 101(14) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 but not including any substance regulated as a hazardous waste under subtitle C of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act; and
(B) Petroleum, including crude oil or any fraction thereof, which is liquid at standard conditions of temperature and pressure (60 degrees Fahrenheit and 14.7 pounds per square inch absolute).
(viii) "Release" means any spilling, leaking, emitting, discharging, escaping, leaching or disposing from a tank into groundwater, surface water or subsurface soils;
(ix) "Underground storage tank" means and includes any one (1) or combination of underground storage tanks, including underground pipes connected thereto, used to contain an accumulation of regulated substances, and the volume of which, including the volume of the underground pipes connected thereto, is ten percent (10%) or more beneath the surface of the ground, but does not include:
(A) A farm or residential underground storage tank of one thousand one hundred (1,100) gallons or less capacity used for storing motor fuel for noncommercial or agricultural purposes;
(B) An underground storage tank used for storing heating oil for consumptive use on the premises where stored;
(C) Septic tanks;
(D) A pipeline facility, including gathering lines, regulated under:
(I) Repealed by Laws 2017, ch. 35, § 3.
(II) Repealed by Laws 2017, ch. 35, § 3.
(III) An intrastate pipeline facility regulated under state laws, as provided in 49 U.S.C. chapter 601, which is determined by the United States secretary of transportation to be connected to a pipeline or to be operated or intended to be capable of operating at pipeline pressure or as an integral part of a pipeline;
(IV) 49 U.S.C. chapter 601.
(E) Surface impoundments, pits, ponds or lagoons;
(F) Storm water or wastewater collection systems including oil/water separators used to separate oil and water at oil production sites, gas processing plants and refineries;
(G) Flow-through process tanks;
(H) Liquid traps or associated gathering lines directly related to oil or gas production and gathering operations;
(J) Storage tanks situated in an underground area, if the storage tank is situated upon or above the surface of the floor;
(K) Underground storage tanks of one hundred ten (110) gallons or less of holding capacity;
(M) Underground storage tanks containing de minimus concentrations of regulated substances;
(N) Emergency spill or overflow containment underground storage tank systems that are expeditiously emptied after use;
(O) An underground storage tank system holding hazardous wastes listed or identified under Subtitle C of the federal Solid Waste Disposal Act or a mixture of such hazardous waste and other regulated substances;
(P) A wastewater treatment tank system that is part of a wastewater treatment facility regulated under section 307(b) or 402 of the federal Clean Water Act;
(Q) Any equipment or machinery that contains regulated substances for operational purposes such as hydraulic lift tanks and electrical equipment tanks.
(x) Repealed by Laws 2019, ch. 186, § 2.
(xi) "Aboveground storage tank" means any one (1) or a combination of containers, vessels and enclosures, including structures and appurtenances connected to them, constructed of nonearthen materials including but not limited to concrete, steel or plastic which provides structural support, the volume of which including the pipes connected thereto is more than ninety percent (90%) above the surface of the ground, which is used by a dealer to dispense gasoline or diesel fuels;
(xii) "Dealer" means a person meeting the definition of W.S. 39-17-101(a)(v) or 39-17-201(a)(vi);
(xiii) "Tank" means and includes both underground and aboveground storage tanks as defined by this act.
(a) The council shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary to administer this article after recommendation from the director of the department, the administrators of the various divisions and their respective advisory boards. The rules shall include but shall not be limited to rules and regulations which:
(i) Provide for performance, operating and installation standards for underground storage tanks which shall be no less or no more stringent than the federal standards. The rules shall include, but shall not be limited to, standards for upgrading existing facilities, abandonment, closure, compatibility, construction, design, installation, record maintenance and release detection, spill and overfill, inspection procedures and compliance deadlines. The rules shall include standards for aboveground storage tanks determined by the council to be necessary to meet the goals of this paragraph;
(ii) Require proof of financial assurance as required by federal law for underground storage tanks;
(iii) Specify the requirements for delegating installation or modification inspection authority including but not limited to requirements for inspectors;
(iv) Establish a procedure or procedures for reporting any release from a tank;
(v) Require taking corrective action in response to a reported release from a tank. These rules may include provisions under which priorities for corrective action may be established considering the state resources available to take corrective actions and the threat posed to public health, safety and welfare or the environment;
(vi) Require records for compliance with repairs and upgrades to be maintained for the operational life of the tank;
(vii) Adopt the requirements for notification to the department when there is a change of ownership or control over a tank in accordance with W.S. 35-11-1420(a);
(viii) Specify the requirements for notifying the department of installations or modifications in accordance with W.S. 35-11-1420(b);
(ix) Specify standards for restoration of the environment;
(x) Require proof of financial assurance for aboveground storage tanks if the owner of the aboveground storage tank desires to be eligible for coverage under the financial responsibility account.
Nothing in this article shall be construed as creating an insurance company nor in any way subjecting the accounts created to the laws of the state regulating insurance or insurance companies.
35-11-1419. Tank registration; proof of insurance.
(a) After each new installation or modification of a regulated storage tank system the owner of a tank shall register the tank with the department on forms developed and furnished by the department. The registration form shall be submitted under oath or affirmation. The forms shall include but not be limited to:
(i) The name, address and telephone number of the tank owner;
(ii) The name, address and telephone number of the tank operator;
(iii) A description of the location of the facility where the tank is maintained or operated and the location of the tank at that facility;
(iv) The type and age of each tank at the facility;
(v) The type of substance stored or contained in the tank;
(vi) The size of each tank;
(vii) Whether the tank is currently in use, and if not, the most recent date of use of the tank if known;
(viii) The most recent date the tank was tested and a copy of the test results if not previously submitted;
(ix) Whether the owner of the tank has insurance or other types of financial assurance to cover at least thirty thousand dollars ($30,000.00) as specified in W.S. 35-11-1428(c)(i);
(x) Proof as required by federal law that an owner of more than one hundred (100) underground storage tanks anywhere in the United States has insurance, or other environmental pollution financial responsibility instrument, indicating at least two million dollars ($2,000,000.00) in liability protection for releases occurring from any of those regulated tanks; and
(xi) Other information as may be required by rules and regulations.
35-11-1420. Tank notification required; change of owner; installation requirements; inspections.
(a) In the event of the transfer of any tank to a different owner, notification of the transfer shall be provided to the department by the new and former owners. Such notifications shall be made on forms developed and provided by the department and shall include:
(i) The name, address and telephone number of the former and new tank owner;
(ii) The name, address and telephone number of the former and new tank operator;
(iii) A description of the location of the facility where the tank is maintained or operated and the location of the tank at that facility; and
(iv) Proof of insurance or other types of financial assurance by the new or former owner as applicable.
(b) No person shall install or substantially modify, or cause to be installed or substantially modified, any new or replacement tank without thirty (30) days prior notification to the department. Upon completion of the installation or modification the owner shall notify the department and the department shall within ten (10) days of receiving notification of completion, inspect the site or have the site inspected by a qualified state, local government or private inspector. No tank shall be operated until the department determines the installation or modification meets the applicable standards and the department has issued a written inspection letter to the tank owner stating that the facility, as constructed or modified, meets state standards, except that if the department has not inspected the tank within fifteen (15) days after receiving notice of completion, the tank may be operated without written notification of the department until the tank is inspected.
(c) The department shall collect an installation or modification fee of five hundred dollars ($500.00) for each tank or for all multiple tanks installed or modified at the same time and at the same site. The fees collected under this subsection shall be deposited in the general fund.
(d) If an owner or operator is unable to comply with subsection (b) of this section because of an emergency, he shall inform the department as soon as possible after the emergency is known. The owner or operator shall provide the information on the installation or modifications as required by this section without delay thereafter but within five (5) working days from the time the department is informed of the emergency.
(a) When requested by an authorized agent of the state the owner or operator shall:
(i) Provide information to determine compliance with the statutes and rules and regulations;
(ii) Provide access to any site or premises where a tank is located or where any records relevant to the operation of a tank are kept;
(iii) Provide copies of any records relevant to the operation of a tank;
(iv) Allow the authorized agent to obtain samples of the regulated substances;
(v) Allow the authorized agent to inspect or conduct the monitoring or testing of the tank system; and
(vi) Allow the authorized agent entry on the premises to do assessments and corrective actions.
(b) A duplicate sample taken by or for the state for testing shall be provided to the tank owner if requested by the owner. A duplicate copy of the analytical report from the department pertaining to the samples taken shall be provided as soon as practicable to the tank owner.
(c) No person conducting an inspection under this section shall unreasonably interfere with the operations, business or work, of any person at the site being inspected. The tank owner or operator shall be given the opportunity to accompany any person making an inspection.
(d) In carrying out a corrective action the department has the right to construct and maintain any structure, monitor well, recovery system or any other reasonable and necessary item associated with taking corrective action.
(e) The department shall give a minimum of seven (7) working days notice prior to an investigation unless an emergency exists.
(a) The department shall notify the affected public of all confirmed releases requiring a plan for soil and groundwater remediation, and upon request, provide or make available to the interested public information concerning the nature of the release and the corrective actions planned or taken.
(b) Any person having an interest that is or may be adversely affected may intervene as a matter of right in any civil action for remedies specified in this act.
35-11-1424. Corrective action account created; use of monies; cost recovery.
(a) There is created the corrective action account. This account is intended to provide for financial assurance coverage required by federal law and shall be used by the department to take corrective action in response to a release and to remediate orphan sites and solid waste landfills. The department shall use monies from the corrective action account as appropriated by the legislature for the administration of this article, W.S. 35-11-533 through 35-11-537 and 35-11-1701. Interest earned by this account shall be deposited in the general fund. Monies in the corrective action account may also be used for the state drinking water and water pollution control revolving loan accounts pursuant to W.S. 16-1-201 through 16-1-207 and 16-1-301 through 16-1-308. Except as provided in subsection (p) of this section, and contingent on availability of money in the corrective action account, the director shall distribute monies in the corrective action account to the solid waste landfill remediation account created by W.S. 35-11-535 and the orphan site remediation account created pursuant to W.S. 35-11-1701 on July 1 of each specified year in an amount up to:
(i) 2019-one million dollars ($1,000,000.00) to the solid waste landfill remediation account and one million dollars ($1,000,000.00) to the orphan site remediation account;
(ii) 2020-four million dollars ($4,000,000.00) to the solid waste landfill remediation account and one million dollars ($1,000,000.00) to the orphan site remediation account;
(iii) 2021 – five million dollars ($5,000,000.00) to the solid waste landfill remediation account and one million dollars ($1,000,000.00) to the orphan site remediation account;
(iv) 2022 – five million dollars ($5,000,000.00) to the solid waste landfill remediation account and one million dollars ($1,000,000.00) to the orphan site remediation account;
(v) 2023 – six million dollars ($6,000,000.00) to the solid waste landfill remediation account and one million dollars ($1,000,000.00) to the orphan site remediation account;
(vi) 2024 through 2028 – provided that in no event shall monies plus net accounts receivable in the corrective action account on July 1 of any year of this period be less than two million dollars ($2,000,000.00), the director shall:
(A) Determine expected expenditures from the corrective action account for the underground storage tank program for the next fiscal year and retain monies equal to that amount in the corrective action account;
(B) Deposit up to one million dollars ($1,000,000.00) from the remainder of the monies in the corrective action account into the orphan site remediation account; and
(C) Deposit the remainder of the monies from the corrective action account into the solid waste landfill remediation account.
(vii) 2029 and each year thereafter-the director shall determine expected expenditures from the corrective action account for the underground storage tank program for the next fiscal year and retain monies equal to that amount in the corrective action account, with the remainder of the monies being divided and deposited at the director's discretion into the solid waste landfill remediation account and the orphan site remediation account, but in no event shall monies plus net accounts receivable in the corrective action account on July 1 of any year be less than two million dollars ($2,000,000.00).
(b) The department shall establish priority lists of sites contaminated by tanks. The priorities shall be based on public health, safety and welfare and environmental concerns. The council after recommendation from the director of the department, the administrator of the various divisions and their respective advisory boards shall promulgate rules and regulations for defining priorities.
(c) The department shall use corrective action account monies to take corrective actions at sites contaminated by tanks. The department shall take corrective actions based on the sites' placement on the priority list. However, if an emergency threat to public health, safety and welfare or to the environment exists, or costs of cleanup may be significantly reduced, a site may be moved up on the priority list for immediate corrective action.
(d) For a site to be eligible for use of monies in the corrective action account, the owner or operator of the site shall, if required, pay the tank fee required by W.S. 35-11-1425, conduct a minimum site assessment, as defined by rule and regulation, and, if contamination is found, take action to prevent continuing contamination. The department shall notify all owners and operators on record at the department of the minimum site assessment requirements. Sites which do not meet the eligibility requirements specified in this subsection shall not be eligible for use of any monies in the corrective action account. Owners and operators of these ineligible sites shall not use the corrective action account for proof of financial assurance for the sites. Pending determination of the site's eligibility, the department may use corrective action account monies for corrective actions at a contaminated site.
(e) Sites where tanks have been removed or abandoned in accordance with any government regulations effective at the time of abandonment may become eligible for use of corrective action account monies if the person who owns the site pays a two hundred dollar ($200.00) annual fee per site and conducts a site assessment as required by subsection (d) of this section. The annual fee per site required under this subsection shall be paid for a maximum of ten (10) years and shall then lapse until corrective action is undertaken by the department. Failure to meet these requirements may subject the person who owns the site to suit for corrective action or cost recovery. The fee collected under this subsection shall be deposited in the corrective action account. The department shall notify all the owners and operators who are on record at the department who have removed or properly abandoned a tank of the provisions of this subsection.
(f) If, after due diligence, no owner or operator can be found, a contaminated site shall be placed on the priority list in appropriate rank with other sites. If an owner or operator of a site which is not in compliance and the owner or operator refuses to comply with subsection (d) of this section is discovered, that site shall be considered as ineligible for use of corrective action account monies and shall be treated as defined in subsection (g) of this section.
(g) The department may, by an action brought by the attorney general against an owner or operator, recover reasonable and necessary expenses incurred by the department in taking a corrective action. These recoverable expenses include but are not limited to costs of investigating a release, administrative costs and reasonable attorney fees. The department's certification of expenses is prima facie evidence the expenses are reasonable and necessary. Expenses recovered under this section shall be deposited in the corrective action account unless otherwise required by state or federal law. The department may sue for recovery of expenses only if:
(i) The owner or operator has failed to take the actions required for that site in subsection (d) of this section; or
(ii) The owner or operator had tank insurance for that site at the time of the release. However no such recovery under this subsection may exceed the limits or coverage of the insurance policy in question.
(h) The state has a right of subrogation to any insurance policies in existence at the time of the release to the extent of any rights the owner may have had under that policy. This right of subrogation shall apply regardless of the owner's eligibility to use corrective action account monies under subsection (d) of this section. In implementing this section the department shall:
(i) Notify all known owners and operators, past and present, of sites where contamination from a tank is known to exist and request information relating to any insurance policies they possess or possessed at the time of release that may provide coverage for corrective action or cleanup of the contamination at the site;
(ii) Notify all insurance companies which have been identified to the department pursuant to W.S. 35-11-1419 and may have issued insurance policies that provide coverage for contamination from tanks and request copies of any such policies. In notifying insurance companies the department shall provide the insurance company with the name of all known owners, past and present, and the legal description of the site upon which the tank is or was located. The department notification shall require each insurance company to notify the department whenever there is a change in the insurance policy, including cancellation.
(j) Nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize payments for the repair, removal or replacement of any tank or equipment.
(k) Nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize payments or commitments for payments in amounts in excess of the monies available.
(m) Within thirty (30) days after receipt of notification that the corrective action account has become incapable of paying for assured corrective actions, the owner or operator shall obtain alternate financial assurance.
(n) Any person or insurance company notified by the department under paragraph (h)(i) or (ii) of this section shall provide the requested information to the department within thirty (30) days of receipt of the notification. In addition to other remedies provided for in this act, failure of any insurance company to provide copies of the requested policies shall result in the statute of limitations provided in subsection (o) of this section being tolled for any action the department may bring in subrogation until such time as the policy is discovered.
(o) Notwithstanding any other applicable period of limitation, upon notification by any owner, operator or insurance company of any insurance coverage in existence, the department shall have five (5) years to commence any action for the recovery of proceeds under the applicable policy.
(p) The director is authorized to withhold distributions from the corrective action account to the solid waste remediation account and the orphan site remediation account as provided in subsection (a) of this section in the event of:
(i) An emergency involving a leaking underground storage tank which requires immediate corrective action which will require an expenditure of monies in excess of the monies available in the corrective action account; or
(ii) Monies in the account are less than the amount required by federal law to provide for financial assurance coverage or adequate leaking underground storage tank remediation.
(q) The director shall submit a report to the joint minerals, business and economic development interim committee by June 15, 2019 and by June 15 of every year thereafter, describing the amount to be withheld in the corrective action account pursuant to subsections (a) and (p) of this section, and the factors used in making those determinations, and describing the distributions of monies from the corrective action account to the solid waste landfill remediation account and the orphan site remediation account.
(r) Repealed by Laws 2018, ch. 12, § 2.
35-11-1425. Tank fee; deposit into corrective action account; late fee.
(a) On or before January 1 of each year the owner of a tank shall pay a fee to the department of two hundred dollars ($200.00) per tank owned. This fee shall be deposited in the corrective action account.
(b) On April 1 of each year the department may assess a late payment fee of one hundred dollars ($100.00) per tank or contaminated site against any owner who has not paid the annual fee required pursuant to subsection (a) of this section or W.S. 35-11-1424(e). This late fee shall be paid by the owner and shall be in addition to the annual fee required pursuant to subsection (a) of this section or W.S. 35-11-1424(e) and shall be deposited in the department's corrective action account.
(c) The change from July 1 to January 1 for the due date of storage tank fees shall be revenue neutral. The department shall collect one-half (1/2) of the annual fee on July 1, 2007 and shall collect the full annual fee on January 1, 2008 and annually thereafter.
Any owner or operator, department or other person taking a corrective action shall restore the environment to a condition and quality consistent with standards established in rules and regulations.
There is created the environmental pollution financial responsibility account. This account is intended to provide for financial assurance coverage required by federal law for underground storage tanks and establish financial assurance coverage for aboveground storage tanks and shall be for the purpose of compensating third parties for damage caused by releases from one (1) or more tanks. Interest earned by the account shall be deposited in the general fund.
35-11-1428. Uses of financial responsibility account monies.
(a) As provided in this section, the department shall, on application by an owner or operator, direct the payment of monies from the financial responsibility account to satisfy judgments against the owner or operator for third party property damage or personal injury.
(b) The attorney general shall be served by certified mail return receipt requested with a copy of the complaint filed in any suit initiated against an owner or operator for third party property damage or personal injury. Service of the complaint on the attorney general is a jurisdictional requirement in order to maintain the suit. The attorney general shall be notified in writing by certified mail return receipt requested of any judgment, compromise, settlement or release entered into by an owner or operator. As provided in this section, the department shall, on application by an owner or operator, direct the payment of monies from the financial responsibility account to pay settlements for third party property damage or personal injury on terms negotiated by the attorney general and approved by the council.
(c) The monies from the financial responsibility account shall only be used to pay judgments and settlements not to exceed one million dollars ($1,000,000.00), for all the damages arising from releases from one (1) or more of the tanks on a site, provided that the owner or operator:
(i) Shall remain liable for payment of the judgment or settlement up to, but not exceeding, thirty thousand dollars ($30,000.00). The department may bring an action against the owner or operator to recover any amount paid by the department pursuant to a judgment or settlement for which the owner or operator remains liable under this paragraph;
(ii) Has not been relieved of his responsibility for the judgment or settlement by operation of law or otherwise. For purposes of this paragraph, an owner or operator shall not be deemed to have been relieved of his responsibility for the judgment or settlement by virtue of the Governmental Claims Act; and
(iii) Pays the tank fee required by W.S. 35-11-1424(e) or 35-11-1425, conducts a minimum site assessment, as defined by rule and regulation, and, if contamination is found, takes action to prevent continuing contamination.
(d) Nothing herein shall be construed to authorize the department to obligate funds from the financial responsibility account for payment of costs which may be associated with, but are not integral to, the personal injury or property damage such as the costs for modifying, removing or replacing tanks.
(e) The department shall establish a priority list for purposes of the financial responsibility account. The department shall not approve use of monies from the financial responsibility account if there are insufficient monies in the account to fund the application before the department and all other outstanding commitments.
(f) Nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize commitments to cover property or personal injury damages in excess of the balance in the financial responsibility account.
(g) Within thirty (30) days after receipt of notification that the financial responsibility account has become incapable of paying for assured third party compensation costs, the owner or operator shall obtain alternate financial assurance.
35-11-1429. Tank requirements; rulemaking authority.
(a) Cathodic protection shall be installed and operated on all internally lined underground storage tanks no later than June 30, 2008.
(b) All underground storage tank systems that dispense more than five hundred thousand (500,000) gallons per month of a regulated substance shall be replaced with double wall tanks and lines with interstitial leak monitoring no later than June 30, 2012, or thirty (30) years from the date of installation of the underground storage tank, whichever is later.
(c) Double wall underground storage tanks and lines with interstitial leak monitoring shall be installed whenever any underground storage tank is installed.
(d) Double wall underground storage tank system lines with interstitial leak monitoring shall be installed whenever any line is installed on any underground storage tank system. Except piping connected to field-constructed underground storage tank systems with a capacity exceeding fifty thousand (50,000) gallons or piping that is used for an airport hydrant system, if existing single wall underground piping connected to an underground storage tank system fails due to corrosion or fails and has been recalled by the manufacturer, the entire run of single wall piping shall be replaced with double wall piping with interstitial monitoring regardless of the length of piping requiring repair.
(e) The council may promulgate rules and regulations to administer this section after recommendation from the director.
(f) A double wall and interstitially monitored underground storage tank or underground piping installed after December 1, 2005, shall be interstitially monitored for the lifetime of the tank or piping.
(g) Except essential homeland security systems, emergency generator systems and systems used for other disaster relief efforts, if a new piping interstitial monitoring system is installed and sump sensors are used as standalone automatic leak detectors, the system shall be configured to shut off the flow of product in that piping run when a sump sensor triggers an alarm.