HB1277

House Bill 1277 amends the payment structure for corrective actions related to petroleum storage tank leaks in Arkansas. It replaces the fixed $7,500 deductible currently required for owners or operators to access the Petroleum Storage Tank Trust Fund with a deductible amount to be set by the Arkansas Pollution Control and Ecology Commission. The bill sets a ceiling for this deductible at $30,000. Additionally, it authorizes the Commission to establish a higher deductible—between $7,500 and $30,000—in instances where an owner or operator has violated division rules. This bill aims to transition the determination of financial responsibility from a statutory mandate to a regulatory framework while allowing for tiered penalties for rule violations.