High Hazard Train Route Oil Spill Preparedness Fund; uses.

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(2) The fund shall consist of:

(a) All moneys placed in the fund as provided by law; and

(b) Any gifts, grants, donations, endowments or bequests from any public or private source.

(3) Moneys in the fund are continuously appropriated to the Department of Environmental Quality to be used only to pay the costs of the department incurred to:

(a) Review, under ORS 468B.431, contingency plans for high hazard train routes required under ORS 468B.427;

(b) Verify proof of financial responsibility required by ORS 468B.433;

(c) Develop, review and revise the portions of the oil spill response plan required by ORS 468B.495 and 468B.500 that relate to high hazard train routes; and

(d) Participate in training, response exercises, inspections and tests in order to verify:

(A) Equipment inventories; and

(B) The abilities of the following to prevent and respond to oil spill or release emergencies related to high hazard train routes and to undertake other activities intended to maintain the capabilities for emergency response related to high hazard train routes:

(i) The state;

(ii) Municipalities; or

(iii) Railroads that own or operate high hazard train routes.

(4) Notwithstanding any contrary provision of subsection (3) of this section, moneys in the High Hazard Train Route Oil Spill Preparedness Fund may not be used to pay the costs of the department that may be paid with moneys deposited in the Oil Spill Prevention Fund established under ORS 468B.410. [2019 c.581 §14]

Note: Sections 13a to 13d, chapter 581, Oregon Laws 2019, provide:

Sec. 13a. Contingency planning fee. (1) Subject to subsections (2) and (3) of this section, each railroad that is required to submit a contingency plan for a high hazard train route under section 5 of this 2019 Act [468B.427] shall pay to the Department of Transportation in each year a fee equal to the amount that the Department of Environmental Quality finds and determines to be necessary to defray the costs of only those duties imposed on the Department of Environmental Quality by law for which costs may be paid from the High Hazard Train Route Oil Spill Preparedness Fund established under section 14 of this 2019 Act [468B.435].

(2) In each calendar year, the percentage rate of the fee required to be paid shall be determined by orders entered by the Department of Transportation on or after March 1 of each year. The department shall provide notice of the order to each railroad. Each railroad shall pay to the Department of Transportation the fee or portion of the fee as computed pursuant to this subsection on a date, as specified in the notice, that is at least 15 days after the date of mailing the notice.

(3) The total of the fees payable by railroads described in subsection (1) of this section may not exceed five hundredths of one percent of the combined gross operating revenues derived within this state of all railroads described in subsection (1) of this section.

(4) Payment of each fee or portion of the fee, verification of gross operating revenues by the railroad and any refunds of overpayment of the fee shall be made in the manner provided for and at the same time as payment of the fee required under ORS 824.010 and subject to ORS 824.012. Notwithstanding ORS 824.010 (1) and (4), the fee provided for in this section shall be in addition to all other fees paid or payable by railroads to the Department of Transportation.

(5) Fees collected under this section shall be paid into the State Treasury and deposited in the High Hazard Train Route Oil Spill Preparedness Fund established under section 14 of this 2019 Act. [2019 c.581 §13a]

Sec. 13b. Definitions. As used in this section and section 13c of this 2019 Act:

(1) "Oil" has the meaning given that term in ORS 468B.300 except that "oil" does not mean gasoline or any other petroleum related product that has been processed such that it is capable of being used as a fuel for the propulsion of a motor vehicle.

(2) "Owner" means the person who has the ultimate control over, and the right to use or sell, oil being shipped.

(3) "Person" means an individual, trust, firm, joint stock company, corporation, partnership, joint venture, consortium, association, state, municipality, commission, political subdivision of a state or any interstate body, any commercial entity and the federal government or any agency of the federal government.

(4) "Tank railroad car" means a loaded or unloaded railroad car or rolling stock designated to transport oil as part of a single train that transports:

(a) 20 or more tank railroad cars in a continuous block that are loaded with oil; or

(b) 35 or more tank railroad cars loaded with oil that are spread throughout the entirety of the rolling stock, not including the locomotive, that make up the train. [2019 c.581 §13b]

Sec. 13c. Tank railroad car fee. (1)(a) The owner of oil at the time the oil is transported by loaded tank railroad car in this state shall pay to the Department of Revenue a fee not to exceed $20 for each tank railroad car loaded with oil.

(b) If the loaded tank railroad car enters this state from outside of this state, the fee shall be imposed on the owner of the oil at the time the loaded tank railroad car enters this state.

(c) If the tank railroad car is loaded with oil in this state, the fee shall be imposed upon the loading of the oil into or onto the tank railroad car for transport in or through this state.

(2) The Department of Environmental Quality and the Department of the State Fire Marshal shall establish by rule the amount of the fee required under this section as necessary to provide funding for programs authorized to be funded by moneys in the High Hazard Train Route Oil Spill Preparedness Fund established under ORS 468B.435 and the Oil and Hazardous Material Transportation by Rail Action Fund established under ORS 453.394.

(3) Any oil that the Constitution or laws of the United States prohibit the state from taxing is exempt from the fee imposed under this section.

(4)(a) Each owner of oil transported by loaded tank railroad car shall remit payment of the fee established under this section on a quarterly basis.

(b) Each owner of oil transported by loaded tank railroad car shall register with the Department of Revenue at least 30 days prior to the date that the owner’s oil is transported by loaded tank railroad car in this state.

(c) Each owner of oil transported by loaded tank railroad car shall keep at the person’s registered place of business complete and accurate records of any petroleum products sold, purchased by, or brought in or caused to be brought in to the place of business.

(d) The Department of Revenue, upon oral or written reasonable notice, may make such examinations of the books, papers, records and equipment required to be kept under this subsection as it may deem necessary in carrying out this section.

(5) The Department of Revenue is authorized to establish those rules and procedures for the implementation and enforcement of this section that are consistent with this section’s provisions and are considered necessary and appropriate.

(6) The provisions of ORS chapters 305 and 314 as to liens, delinquencies, claims for refund, issuance of refunds, conferences, appeals to the Oregon Tax Court, stay of collection pending appeal, cancellation, waiver, reduction or compromise of fees, penalties or interest, subpoenaing and examining witnesses and books and papers, and the issuance of warrants and the procedures relating thereto, shall apply to the collection of fees, penalties and interest by the Department of Revenue under this section, except where the context requires otherwise.

(7) All moneys received by the Department of Revenue under this section shall be deposited in the State Treasury and credited to a suspense account established under ORS 293.445. After payment of administration expenses incurred by the department in the administration of this section and of refunds or credits arising from erroneous overpayments, the balance of the money shall be transferred to the High Hazard Train Route Oil Spill Preparedness Fund established under ORS 468B.435 and to the Oil and Hazardous Material Transportation by Rail Action Fund established under ORS 453.394, in the proportionate amounts that each agency found and determined to be necessary under subsection (2) of this section. [2019 c.581 §13c; 2021 c.539 §146]

Note: The name of the office of the State Fire Marshal is being changed to the Department of the State Fire Marshal. The name change becomes operative on July 1, 2023. See sections 89 and 155a, chapter 539, Oregon Laws 2021. Between July 1, 2022, and July 1, 2023, references to the Department of the State Fire Marshal shall be construed to mean the office of the State Fire Marshal in the Department of State Police. See section 155c, chapter 539, Oregon Laws 2021.

Note: The amendments to section 13c, chapter 581, Oregon Laws 2019, by section 146, chapter 539, Oregon Laws 2021, become operative July 1, 2022. See section 155, chapter 539, Oregon Laws 2021. The text that is operative until July 1, 2022, is set forth for the user’s convenience.

Sec. 13c. (1)(a) The owner of oil at the time the oil is transported by loaded tank railroad car in this state shall pay to the Department of Revenue a fee not to exceed $20 for each tank railroad car loaded with oil.

(b) If the loaded tank railroad car enters this state from outside of this state, the fee shall be imposed on the owner of the oil at the time the loaded tank railroad car enters this state.

(c) If the tank railroad car is loaded with oil in this state, the fee shall be imposed upon the loading of the oil into or onto the tank railroad car for transport in or through this state.

(2) The Department of Environmental Quality and the office of the State Fire Marshal shall establish by rule the amount of the fee required under this section as necessary to provide funding for programs authorized to be funded by moneys in the High Hazard Train Route Oil Spill Preparedness Fund established under section 14 of this 2019 Act [468B.435] and the Oil and Hazardous Material Transportation by Rail Action Fund established under ORS 453.394.

(3) Any oil that the Constitution or laws of the United States prohibit the state from taxing is exempt from the fee imposed under this section.

(4)(a) Each owner of oil transported by loaded tank railroad car shall remit payment of the fee established under this section on a quarterly basis.

(b) Each owner of oil transported by loaded tank railroad car shall register with the Department of Revenue at least 30 days prior to the date that the owner’s oil is transported by loaded tank railroad car in this state.

(c) Each owner of oil transported by loaded tank railroad car shall keep at the person’s registered place of business complete and accurate records of any petroleum products sold, purchased by, or brought in or caused to be brought in to the place of business.

(d) The Department of Revenue, upon oral or written reasonable notice, may make such examinations of the books, papers, records and equipment required to be kept under this subsection as it may deem necessary in carrying out this section.

(5) The Department of Revenue is authorized to establish those rules and procedures for the implementation and enforcement of this section that are consistent with this section’s provisions and are considered necessary and appropriate.

(6) The provisions of ORS chapters 305 and 314 as to liens, delinquencies, claims for refund, issuance of refunds, conferences, appeals to the Oregon Tax Court, stay of collection pending appeal, cancellation, waiver, reduction or compromise of fees, penalties or interest, subpoenaing and examining witnesses and books and papers, and the issuance of warrants and the procedures relating thereto, shall apply to the collection of fees, penalties and interest by the Department of Revenue under this section, except where the context requires otherwise.

(7) All moneys received by the Department of Revenue under this section shall be deposited in the State Treasury and credited to a suspense account established under ORS 293.445. After payment of administration expenses incurred by the department in the administration of this section and of refunds or credits arising from erroneous overpayments, the balance of the money shall be transferred to the High Hazard Train Route Oil Spill Preparedness Fund established under section 14 of this 2019 Act and to the Oil and Hazardous Material Transportation by Rail Action Fund established under ORS 453.394, in the proportionate amounts that each agency found and determined to be necessary under subsection (2) of this section.

Sec. 13d. Sunset. (1) Sections 13a to 13c of this 2019 Act are repealed on January 2, 2027.

(2) Any moneys remaining in the High Hazard Train Route Oil Spill Preparedness Fund established under section 14 of this 2019 Act [468B.435] and the Oil and Hazardous Material Transportation by Rail Action Fund established under ORS 453.394 on the date of the repeal specified in subsection (1) of this section that were collected pursuant to sections 13a to 13c of this 2019 Act that are unexpended, unobligated and not subject to any conditions shall be refunded to the payors without interest. [2019 c.581 §13d]


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