HCS SS SCS SB 539 -- ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

SPONSOR:  Schaefer (Ruzicka)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Rural
Community Development by a vote of 10 to 0.

This substitute changes the laws regarding environmental
protections.  In its main provisions, the substitute:

(1)  Prohibits the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District from
assessing a residential district property owner any fee, charge,
or tax for storm water management services if the district does
not directly provide sanitary sewer services to the property and
the storm water runoff from the property does not flow or is not
conveyed to a sewer maintained by the district;

(2)  Allows the state to distribute economic stimulus funds
provided under the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
of 2009 to local governments, public water or sewer districts,
and other eligible entities to assist in the construction of
public drinking water and water pollution control projects as
approved by the Safe Drinking Water Commission or the Clean Water
Commission;

(3)  Allows the Department of Natural Resources to analyze the
potential for increased utilization of landfill gas as an
alternative energy source;

(4)  Authorizes the department to enter into cooperative
agreements with other states, political subdivisions, private
entities, and educational institutions in order to seek and
obtain federal grants;

(5)  Allows funds appropriated to the department for
energy-related activities to be used to carry out agreements,
contracts, sub-grants, or cooperative arrangements with other
governmental and non-profit organizations;

(6)  Creates the Energy Futures Fund to be used for
energy-related activities including energy efficiency programs,
energy studies, energy resource analyses, energy projects, and
related departmental administration costs; and

(7)  Allows the Clean Water Commission to charge fees for
construction permits, operating permits, and operator's
certifications related to water pollution control until December
31, 2010.  Currently, the commission can only charge these fees
until December 31, 2009.

The provisions regarding the funds appropriated to the department
for energy-related activities will expire January 1, 2012.

The substitute contains an emergency clause.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on General Revenue Fund in FY 2010,
FY 2011, and FY 2012.  Estimated Cost on Other State Funds of
$188,108 in FY 2010, $2,586,074 in FY 2011, and $5,601,882 in FY
2012.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the bill will allow the
Department of Natural Resources to issue grants with money from
federal stimulus moneys.  By allowing the Clean Water Commission
to charge certain fees until December 31, 2010, it will give the
commission one more year to talk with people who pay the fees to
determine which services should continue.  Once an agreement is
reached regarding the services, the commission will be able to
set the fee at an appropriate level.  The Metropolitan St. Louis
Sewer District must collect storm water fees, but people using
septic tanks do not want to pay for this service.  The bill
specifies that if a person does not receive sanitary sewer
services from the district, he or she will not pay the storm
water charges.

Testifying for the bill were Senator Pearce; Associated
Industries of Missouri; National Solid Waste Management
Association; Missouri Association of Municipal Utilities;
Associated General Contractors of Missouri; Metropolitan St.
Louis Sewer District; Department of Natural Resources; Tom
Rackers, Waste Corporation, Fred Weber, and St. Louis Composting;
and Genesis Group.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Missouri House of Representatives
95th General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated November 17, 2009 at 9:26 am