2015 Oklahoma Statutes
Title 17. Corporation Commission
§17-351. Legislative findings and intent - Purpose.

A. The Legislature finds that:

1. Significant quantities of petroleum are being stored in storage tank systems in this state;

2. Spills, leaks and other releases of petroleum from such storage tank systems have occurred, are occurring and will continue to occur;

3. Such releases often pose a significant threat to the public health and safety, the quality of the water, and other natural resources in this state;

4. Where pollution has occurred, remedial measures have often been delayed for long periods while determination as to the liability and extent of liability are made;

5. Such delays result in the continuation and intensification of the threat to the public health, safety and welfare, in greater damage to the environment, and in significantly higher costs to contain and remove the pollution;

6. Adequate financial resources must be readily available to enable responsible parties and other persons to take the corrective action necessary to rehabilitate such contaminated sites; and

7. Such adequate financial resources may be provided by the creation of a petroleum storage tank program established by the Oklahoma Petroleum Storage Tank Release Indemnity Program and funded by an assessment on the sale of motor fuel, diesel fuel, and blending materials in this state by a distributor.

B. The Legislature declares that, in order to provide for rehabilitation of as many pollution sites resulting from releases of petroleum from storage tank systems, as soon as possible, voluntary corrective action should be encouraged, provided that such corrective action is conducted in a manner and to a level of completion which will protect the public health, safety and welfare and will minimize damage to the environment. To accomplish this purpose, any person entitled to reimbursement pursuant to the provisions of this act shall be reimbursed for certain allowable costs in connection with such corrective action, subject to the conditions specified by this act.

Added by Laws 1989, c. 90, § 20, emerg. eff. April 21, 1989. Amended by Laws 1991, c. 181, § 2, eff. July 1, 1991; Laws 2005, c. 435, § 18, eff. Nov. 1, 2005.