UST Fund News from CORE Environmental

INFORMATION HEARD FROM THOSE WHO DEAL WITH THE FUND Eight Recent Items as to the California UST Fund

No. 1 –  The Fund’s Payment Unit recently hired two payments analysts and a manager, and it expects to hire two additional payments analysts next year. The Fund also has four engineering geologists coming onboard as well.

No. 2 –  The Fund’s estimated revenue for the 2017/2018 fiscal year is about $330 million with $185 million allocated for reimbursement, with 20% earmarked for Class D claimants. This is an increase from last year and it is because the Fund is “activating more Letters of Commitment” (“LOCs”).

No. 3 –  The Fund is now reviewing Budget change requests (“BCRs”) for the fiscal year 2017-2018 (“FY 17/18”). The Fund estimates review should take 60 to 90 days, and if a claimant does not receive a response in 30 days, it should contact the Fund through the correct Fund “mailbox,” here is the email - USTCleanUpFund.

No. 4 –  Claimants should submit Project Execution Plans (“PEPs”) with their BCRs. However, the Fund admits that it is “just not there yet” in having the PEP process replace BCRs. So for now use the two processes in tandem.

No. 5 –  The Fund is working through February and March 2017 reimbursement requests (“RRs”). The Fund reports that one of its “time sinks” is the first RR, in other words, RR #1. CORE Environmental, Inc. (a nonprofit advocate for cleanups) has suggested a dedicated channel at the Fund that would review only first RRs. The Fund staff seem very receptive to the idea.

No. 6 –  The School Districts Account is “in good shape.” No new money is scheduled to be added to this account in FY17/18.

No. 7 –  As for the Commingled Plume Account Program, the Fund says claimants need to submit their PEPs as soon as possible, or there may be no funding available.

No. 8 –  Legislative Update relevant to the Fund: At the end of the 2017 legislative year, SB 5 (De Leon) passed both the State Senate and the State Assembly, designating $370 million to clean up sources of drinking water, among other things. However, SB 623 (Monning), the bill for a “water fee” to clean up shallow groundwater to protect small drinking water systems and wells, passed the Senate, but not the Assembly (so it will be ad-dressed in 2018).

September 19, 2017

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• Create & support solutions to funding necessary for groundwater investigation and remediation
• Encourage site closures based on sound science
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