Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes a fee of $1.50 per barrel of oil imported into the state beginning January 1, 2010, and directs the revenue generated by the fee into a water pollution account established by this Act.

Highlights:

-Establishes a water pollution account in the State Treasury, in which the revenue generated by the oil importation fee shall be deposited, and distributes the revenue as follows (Sec. 2):

-Approximately 40 percent for grants to local governments to fund capital projects that address petroleum contamination of storm water through the implementation of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System programs; -Approximately 40 percent for grants to local governments to fund retrofit projects that address petroleum contamination of storm water, with emphasis placed on low-impact development retrofit projects; and -Approximately 20 percent for grants under existing grant programs or the grant programs listed above to the highest priority projects based upon ecological and water quality benefits, as determined by the Department of Ecology.

-Requires local governments to provide 50 percent of the funding to be eligible for a grant for a capital project that addresses petroleum contamination of storm water through the implementation of the national pollutant discharge elimination system programs, unless the project is considered a high priority project based upon ecological and water quality benefits, as determined by the Department of Ecology, and the local government demonstrates "economic hardship" in meeting the matching funds requirement (Sec. 2). -Requires local governments to demonstrate the following to be eligible for grants to fund retrofit projects that address petroleum contamination of storm water beginning January 1, 2013 (Sec. 2):

-The project has clear and substantial ecological or water quality benefits; and -The project is an identified priority based on an analysis of needs throughout the jurisdiction, basin, or watershed.

-Requires the Department of Ecology to develop criteria for administering funds and ranking projects for funding in consultation with the Puget Sound Partnership (Sec. 2). -Exempts the following from the oil importation fee (Sec. 3):

-"Small amounts" of petroleum products that are first possessed by a consumer or retailer for the purpose of sale to ultimate consumers; and -Petroleum products exported from or sold for export from the state.

-This is a substitute bill sponsored by the House Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources.

Full Bill Text