Washington Report: NACS, PMAA and SIGMA Blast Congress for Raiding LUST Trust Fund

The groups reiterate to Congress that the industry is strongly opposed to efforts that would raid $3 billion from the Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund.

April 19, 2012

WASHINGTON - Yesterday NACS, PMAA and SIGMA sent a letter to U.S. House and Senate leaders expressing the convenience and fuel retailing industry€™s opposition to any efforts that seek to raid $3 billion from the federal Leaking Underground Storage Tank (LUST) Trust Fund and divert future revenues collected for that program to offset the Highway Trust Fund.

Since the program€™s inception in 1986, the LUST Trust Fund has accumulated roughly $3.2 billion, collects approximately $194 million in fees and earns $127 million in interest. However, Congress only appropriates around $112 million per year. "Rather than spend the money on its intended purpose, Members of both parties have steadily used the funds to balance the books instead of protecting the health and water security of your constituents," the groups wrote, adding:

"As you battle over funding streams for the highway bill, you have decided to exchange one trust fund for another. Simply because you have continually failed to adequately fund a program you designated to prevent releases and to clean up vital land and water sites within your communities, is not reason enough to divert these monies to highway construction projects unrelated to environmental protection.

"Congress has once again missed an opportunity to demonstrate fiscal responsibility and help your communities and constituents by funding cleanup projects, bringing these unused land resources back into the economy and employing potentially thousands of workers in your state. Further, by raiding the trust fund and reducing future resources generated by the fee, you threaten to weaken the very program designed to prevent future contamination.

"Again, we urge you to reject any efforts that divert resources from the LUST Trust Fund for non-tank related purposes and to support funding of this program to clean up contaminated lands, put people back to work and help this economy grow."

Although the Senate has already passed its version of a two-year extension highway bill, the House is still in negotiations.

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