(a) As used in this section, “registered contractor” means a person registered with the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection pursuant to section 22a-449k, “qualifying income” means the owner's adjusted gross income, as defined in section 12-701, for the calendar year immediately preceding the year in which costs eligible for payment were incurred under this section and “costs eligible for payment” means costs that are reasonable for payment, as determined by the guidelines established pursuant to section 22a-449d.

(b) If, in the course of removing or replacing a residential underground heating oil storage tank system, a registered contractor finds that there has been a spill, as defined in section 22a-452c, attributable to such a system, or if such contractor estimates that the remediation of such spill is likely to cost more than ten thousand dollars then such contractor shall immediately notify the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. The commissioner may assess the spill and confirm that the remediation proposed by the contractor is appropriate and necessary, or may authorize an environmental professional licensed under section 22a-133v to assess the spill and make such confirmation. Any such remediation shall be subject to approval by the commissioner. The commissioner may authorize an environmental professional licensed under section 22a-133v to make a recommendation regarding such approval. The costs of an inspection pursuant to this section shall be eligible for payment under the residential underground heating oil storage tank system clean-up program established under subsection (a) of section 22a-449c. The commissioner may revoke a registration pursuant to section 22a-449k for failure of a contractor to notify the department as required by this section.

(c) On or after July 1, 2001, to be eligible for payment pursuant to this section, an owner shall submit the following information to the commissioner, in such form as the commissioner may require, prior to entering into a contract with a registered contractor for remediation of a spill attributable to a residential underground heating oil storage tank system: (1) The name and Social Security number of the property owner; (2) a verification that such tank serves the owner's primary residence; (3) a verification of the owner's qualifying income; and (4) the name of the registered contractor who will perform the remediation. The commissioner shall, not later than thirty days following receipt of such information, send a written notice to the owner that specifies whether the owner is eligible for payment under this section, whether funds are available for the owner under this section and the amount of remediation costs for which the owner is responsible prior to receiving payment under this section.

(d) Subject to the provisions of subsection (e) of this section, an owner may be reimbursed for all reasonable costs for work commenced on or after July 1, 2001, in accordance with the following: (1) If an owner's qualifying income is less than or equal to fifty thousand dollars, the owner may be reimbursed for costs eligible for payment in excess of five hundred dollars; (2) if an owner's qualifying income is greater than fifty thousand dollars and less than or equal to one hundred thousand dollars, the owner may be reimbursed for costs eligible for payment in excess of two thousand dollars; (3) if an owner's qualifying income is greater than one hundred thousand dollars and less than or equal to one hundred fifty thousand dollars, the owner may be reimbursed for costs eligible for payment in excess of four thousand dollars; (4) if an owner's qualifying income is greater than one hundred fifty thousand dollars and less than or equal to two hundred thousand dollars, the owner may be reimbursed for costs eligible for payment in excess of five thousand dollars; (5) if an owner's qualifying income is greater than two hundred thousand dollars and less than or equal to two hundred fifty thousand dollars, the owner may be reimbursed for costs eligible for payment in excess of seven thousand five hundred dollars; (6) if an owner's qualifying income is greater than two hundred fifty thousand dollars and less than or equal to five hundred thousand dollars, the owner may be reimbursed for costs eligible for payment in excess of ten thousand dollars; (7) if an owner's qualifying income is greater than five hundred thousand dollars, the owner is not eligible for payment of costs. No registered contractor or any subcontractor of a registered contractor shall accept payment for any costs eligible for payment from said program until it has provided the owner with the information necessary to apply for a disbursement pursuant to subsection (e) of this section.

(e) (1) On or after July 1, 2001, an owner shall submit to the commissioner an application that is postmarked no later than December 31, 2001, for a disbursement from the residential underground heating oil storage tank system clean-up program, within available resources, documentation of all costs eligible for payment for work performed pursuant to a contract with the owner for the remediation of a residential underground heating oil storage tank system for the purpose of providing payment for the costs of such remediation, provided such owner has complied with the provisions of subdivisions (1) and (2) of subsection (a) of section 22a-449j and provided such remediation was completed on or before December 1, 2001. Such payments shall be made in accordance with subsection (d) of this section. Such owner shall provide to the commissioner a statement confirming that the registered contractor has been engaged by such owner to remove or to replace such residential underground heating oil storage tank system, except that a storage tank system and any associated ancillary equipment shall not be subject to such requirement and perform the remediation and shall execute an instrument which provides for payment to the program of any amounts realized by the owner, after any costs of litigation or attorney's fees have been paid, from a judgment or settlement regarding any claim for the costs of such remediation made against an insurance policy or any person.

(2) In any service contract entered into between a registered contractor and an owner for the remediation of a residential underground heating oil storage tank system, the registered contractor shall clearly identify all costs, including markup costs, that are not or may not be eligible for payment from said program.

(3) The owner shall submit documentation, satisfactory to the commissioner, of any costs associated with such remediation. The commissioner may deny payment of remediation costs that the commissioner determines are unreasonable based on the guidelines established pursuant to subsection (b) of section 22a-449d on and after the date the commissioner establishes such guidelines. The commissioner shall deny any such costs if the owner fails to comply with subsection (c) of this section and any such costs in excess of fifty thousand dollars unless the commissioner determines such additional costs are warranted to protect public health and the environment.

(4) A copy of the commissioner's decision shall be sent to the owner by certified mail, return receipt requested. Any owner aggrieved by a decision of the commissioner may, not more than twenty days after the date the decision was issued, request a hearing before the commissioner in accordance with chapter 54. After such hearing, the commissioner shall consider the information submitted and affirm or modify the decision. A copy of the affirmed or modified decision shall be sent to the owner by certified mail, return receipt requested.

(5) No owner shall be entitled to reimbursement both under this section and section 22a-449l.

(June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-9, S. 36, 131; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3, S. 430; P.A. 11-80, S. 1; June 12 Sp. Sess. P.A. 12-1, S. 259.)

History: June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-9 effective July 1, 2001; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3 substituted “program” for “subaccount” in Subsecs. (b), (d) and (e) and amended Subsec. (e)(1) to delete “Account” from title of board and provide for disbursement “within available resources” (Revisor's note: In Subsec. (b), an internal reference to Sec. 22a-449c(b) was changed editorially by the Revisors to Sec. 22a-449c(a) for accuracy); pursuant to P.A. 11-80, “Commissioner of Environmental Protection” and “Department of Environmental Protection” were changed editorially by the Revisors to “Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection” and “Department of Energy and Environmental Protection”, respectively, effective July 1, 2011; June 12 Sp. Sess. P.A. 12-1 changed “Underground Storage Tank Petroleum Clean-Up Board” and “review board” to “commissioner”, changed “account” to “program” and made technical changes, effective June 15, 2012.