The Montana Petroleum Tank Release Compensation Board
2012 Maximum Reimbursable Rates
Board staff has posted the 2012 rates for maximum reimbursable costs for corrective action plans (CPA's), reports and standard Rates. The Board has been tracking costs associated with the standardized formats since January 2005. The consultants requested costs associated with the ARM 17.58.341(8) to obtain the maximum reimbursable costs. The consultant should contact the DEQ PTS case manager for costs not contained among the lists, to determine the man-hours necessary. You'll find the link for the maximum reimbursable costs by selecting the Codes, Rates & Tasks link under the PTRCB Resources contained within the left margin. You can find the link to the Administrative Rules of Montana (ARM 17.58.341(8)) by selecting the "Rules" link under the Legal References, also found in the left margin.
Recent Board Rule Changes
The Petroleum Tank Release Compensation Board’s proposed rule amendments, published as MONTANA ADMINISTRATIVE REGISTER (MAR) Notice No. 17-313 and 17-321, have become rule. The proposed rule changes indicated in MAR notice 17-313 became effective March 24, 2011 and MAR notice 17-321 became effective September 30, 2011.
Amendments to ARM 17.58.336(5) consist of language changes to improve the clarity of the rule and ammendments to ARM 17.58.326 update the Board's applicable laws and rules to be consistent with recent firecode changes. Post-release noncompliance results in the suspension of claims and subjects an owner/operator to a diminished rate of reimbursement, depending on the particular circumstances of the noncompliance.
You'll find all of the updated administrative rules for the PTRCB by following our "Rules" link found in the left margin.
AST Self-inspection Checklists
Two new aboveground storage tank self-inspection checklists have been created in an effort to assist Abovegroung Storage Tank (AST) owners with determining compliance with Fund eligibility requirements. These checklists have been added to our Forms/Worksheets webpage. One checklist is for tanks connected to a fuel burner and the other checklist is for all other aboveground storage tanks.
The Board is considering a change to the eligibility statute (75-11-308 MCA), which would grant eligibility to owners of AST releases if the ASTs at the facility had an inspection done within the prior three years. Reimbursement would be adjusted based on any non-compliance. The Inspection would allow the AST owners to know that a release would be eligible before a release occured. The checklists can help the owner determine what, if anything, needs to be corrected at the facility in order for the facility to be in complaince with the Board's applicable laws and rules for Fund eligibility. We recommend that Owners use the checklists to perform a self inspection at their facility so they know they are in compliance and so they are prepared to have an inspection conducted at some later date.
