Uranium mill tailings remedial action program fund - creation - oversight committee - repeal

(1) The general assembly hereby declares that the purpose of creating the uranium mill tailings remedial action program fund is to provide a funding source to match federal funds available under the federal Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act of 1978, 42 U.S.C. sec. 7901 et seq., for the purpose of cleaning up certain sites designated in Colorado for cleanup. The general assembly states that its intent in enacting this section is to assure that Colorado has those state moneys set aside in order to obtain the federal funds before those federal funds are completely used in cleaning up other sites or are no longer available. The general assembly further intends that the amount of moneys transferred into this new fund from the severance tax trust fund and the amounts which will be awarded from the local government severance tax fund and the local government mineral impact fund should be sufficient to clean up all of the federal designated sites in Colorado without additional appropriation, transfers, or awards.

(2) There is hereby created in the office of the state treasurer the uranium mill tailings remedial action program fund for the sole purpose of providing a state match to federal funds available for the cleanup of uranium mill tailing sites as designated for cleanup under the federal Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act of 1978, 42 U.S.C. sec. 7901 et seq. The fund shall consist of moneys transferred to the fund from the severance tax trust fund in accordance with section 39-29-109 (5) as it existed prior to its repeal and any other moneys made available or appropriated into the uranium mill tailings remedial action program fund pursuant to subsection (3) of this section. The moneys in the uranium mill tailings remedial action program fund available for remedial costs only shall not exceed fifty-seven million dollars. Moneys in the fund shall be subject to annual appropriation. All interest derived from the deposit and investment of moneys in the uranium mill tailings remedial action program fund shall be credited to such fund. Any unexpended and unencumbered moneys in the uranium mill tailings remedial action program fund at the end of the 1998-99 fiscal year shall be credited and transferred to the local government severance tax fund established pursuant to section 39-29-110.

(3) (a) The state treasurer may accept and credit to the uranium mill tailings remedial action program fund any donations received by the state for the express purpose of projects for the cleanup of uranium mill tailings. The donations may include any amounts made available from the local government severance tax fund and the local government mineral impact fund as directed by the executive director of the department of local affairs pursuant to section 39-29-110 and section 34-63-102, C.R.S. It is the intent of the general assembly that a minimum of six million dollars be retained in the local government severance tax fund and the local government mineral impact fund for grants and loans to local communities.