Cavaletto Passes Underground Storage Tank Fund Protection Bill out of Illinois House

March 31, 2009 on 1:26 pm | In News Releases | No Comments

3/31/2009

Salem….Legislation offered by State Rep. John Cavaletto (R – Salem) designed to protect the leaking underground storage tank fund from being raided by the Governor and used for unrelated budget items passed the Illinois House of Representatives on Tuesday.

In previous years, funds collected from the Illinois Motor Fuel Tax that were supposed to be dedicated to pay companies to clean up leaking underground fuel storage tanks have been diverted into the General Revenue Fund.

“I feel very strongly that dedicated funds should be left alone so they can serve the purpose they were meant to serve. Here we have honest, hard working people doing a great service for our state in cleaning up dangerous leaking storage tanks, and the state of Illinois refuses to honor its obligations,” Cavaletto said. “Something needs to be done to ensure that these people are getting paid for the work they do on behalf of the state.”

More than $54 million has been swept from the fund since 2003, causing hardship for environmental companies in Illinois that specialize in cleaning up dangerous leaking storage tanks.

The bill originated at the request of Mr. Jay Koch of Mt. Vernon. Koch is the President of United Science Industries. Currently, USI, Inc. and its subsidiaries are owed nearly $20 million for storage tank clean up work they have performed throughout the state since 2003 when the fund raids began.

HB 770 now moves to the Senate for consideration.