VETOES

in the fund. Given this State's recent history, however, the

effect of this language is not free from doubt.     There are also

other interpretative questions raised by the proposed
legislation.

Nevertheless, I remain concerned about the inability of
municipalities and small businesses to obtain the required
financial assurance. By this letter, I am directing the
Insurance Commissioner to work with the insurance industry to
make reasonable coverage available through the Commercial
Casualty Underwriting Association (CCUA). And because I am
especially concerned about municipalities who are unable to
financially respond to a release, I am directing the Department
of the Environment to utilize existing funds for containment,
clean-up, and restoration to assist the municipalities this year.
Appropriate State agencies shall immediately begin to identify
and develop an adequate assurance mechanism to address this
serious problem.

For the longer term, I will also appoint a special workgroup to
review and evaluate the problem of underground storage tanks, and
proposed legislative solutions to the environmental and financial
issues that are present. The workgroup will be composed of the
Secretary of Budget and Fiscal Planning, the Secretary of the
Department of the Environment, the Insurance Commissioner, a
member of the Governor's immediate staff, a representative of the
Maryland Municipal League, a representative of the General
Assembly appointed by the Speaker and the President, and other
members as necessary. The workgroup should make legislative
recommendations for the 1990 Session of the General Assembly.

For the above reasons, I have decided to veto Senate Bill 581.

Sincerely,

William Donald Schaefer

Governor

Senate Bill No. 581

AN ACT concerning

Water Quality - Maryland Oil Disaster Containment,
Clean-up and Contingency Fund and
Maryland Underground Storage Tank Fund

FOR the purpose of prohibiting a person from transferring
gasoline into the State without a license; requiring a
licensee to pay a fee per gallon of gasoline transferred
into the State; including a fee to transfer gasoline within
the fees to be paid into the Maryland Oil Disaster

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