Montana Code Annotated 2023

TITLE 75. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

CHAPTER 11. UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANKS

Part 3. Petroleum Storage Tank Cleanup

Petroleum Storage Tank Cleanup Fee -- Collection -- Penalties -- Warrant For Distraint -- Statute Of Limitations

75-11-314. Petroleum storage tank cleanup fee -- collection -- penalties -- warrant for distraint -- statute of limitations. (1) Except as provided in subsection (4), each distributor shall pay to the department of transportation a petroleum storage tank cleanup fee for each gallon of gasoline, aviation gasoline, special fuel, or heating oil distributed by the distributor within the state and upon which the fee has not been paid by any other distributor. The fee must equal:

(a) 0.75 cent for each gallon of gasoline;

(b) 0.75 cent for each gallon of aviation gasoline;

(c) 0.75 cent for each gallon of special fuel; or

(d) 0.75 cent for each gallon of heating oil.

(2) Gasoline, aviation gasoline, special fuel, and heating oil exported or sold for export out of the state must be included in the measure of a distributor's fee.

(3) Ethanol that is blended with gasoline to be sold as ethanol-blended gasoline is subject to the fee provided in subsection (1).

(4) A fee may not be imposed or collected beginning on the first day of the first month in the first calendar quarter after the unobligated balance in the fund equals or exceeds $10 million. Whenever the unobligated fund balance, less claims anticipated for board approval within the next 90 days, is less than $6 million, the department of transportation shall, within 30 days, notify distributors by mail that the fee is reinstated beginning on the first day of the first month that begins no less than 30 days after the date of the notice. Once reinstated, the fee must be imposed and collected until the unobligated fund balance again equals or exceeds $10 million.

(5) The department of transportation shall collect the fee in the same manner as the gasoline tax and special fuel tax under Title 15, chapter 70, part 4. The provisions of 15-70-103, 15-70-111, 15-70-402, 15-70-410, 15-70-411, 15-70-416 through 15-70-418, 15-70-420, 15-70-421, 15-70-425(3), and 15-70-443 apply to the fee. The provisions of 15-70-403, 15-70-412, 15-70-425(1), and 15-70-426 do not apply to the fee.

History: En. Sec. 7, Ch. 528, L. 1989; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 298, L. 1993; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 37, L. 1999; amd. Sec. 20, Ch. 100, L. 2007; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 396, L. 2009; amd. Sec. 39, Ch. 220, L. 2015.