A. For the privilege of loading gasoline or special fuel from a rack at a refinery or pipeline terminal in this state into a cargo tank, there is imposed a fee on the distributor at a rate provided in Subsection C of this section on each gallon of gasoline or special fuel loaded in New Mexico on which the petroleum products loading fee has not been previously paid.

B. For the privilege of importing gasoline or special fuel into this state for resale or consumption in this state there is imposed a fee determined as provided in Subsection C of this section on each load of gasoline or special fuel imported into New Mexico for resale or consumption on which the petroleum products loading fee has not been previously paid. For the purposes of this section, "load" means eight thousand gallons of gasoline or special fuel. To determine how many loads a person is to report under the provisions of this section, the person shall divide by eight thousand the total gallons of gasoline reported for the purposes of Section 7-13-3 NMSA 1978 as adjusted under the provisions of Section 7-13-4 NMSA 1978 and the total gallons of special fuels received in New Mexico less any gallons exempted under Section 7-13A-4 NMSA 1978. Loads shall be calculated to the nearest one-hundredth of a load.

C. The fee imposed by this section is and may be referred to as the "petroleum products loading fee" and shall be one hundred fifty dollars ($150) per load or whichever of the following applies:

(1) in the event the secretary of environment certifies that the unobligated balance of the corrective action fund at the end of the prior fiscal year equals or exceeds eighteen million dollars ($18,000,000) the fee shall be set at forty dollars ($40.00) per load;

(2) in the event the secretary of environment certifies that the unobligated balance of the corrective action fund at the end of the prior fiscal year exceeds twelve million dollars ($12,000,000) but is less than eighteen million dollars ($18,000,000) the fee shall be set at eighty dollars ($80.00) per load;

(3) in the event the secretary of environment certifies that the unobligated balance of the corrective action fund at the end of the prior fiscal year exceeds six million dollars ($6,000,000) but is less than twelve million dollars ($12,000,000) the fee shall be set at one hundred twenty dollars ($120) per load; and

(4) in the event the secretary of environment certifies that the unobligated balance of the corrective action fund at the end of the prior fiscal year is less than six million dollars ($6,000,000) the fee shall be set at one hundred fifty dollars ($150) per load.

D. The amount of the petroleum products loading fee set pursuant to Paragraph (1), (2), (3) or (4) of Subsection C of this section shall be imposed on the first day of the month following expiration of ninety days after the end of the fiscal year for which the certification was made.

E. As used in this section, "unobligated balance of the corrective action fund" means corrective action fund equity less all known or anticipated liabilities against the fund."

History: 1978 Comp., § 7-13A-3, enacted by Laws 1990, ch. 124, § 16; 1996, ch. 82, § 2.

Cross references. — For distribution of petroleum products loading fee, see 7-1-6.25 NMSA 1978.

For ground water protection corrective action fund, see 74-6B-7 NMSA 1978.

The 1996 amendment, effective July 1, 1996, rewrote Subsection C and added Subsections D and E.