(a)
In accordance with regulations adopted pursuant to Section 7713, the secretary shall establish a fee schedule, which shall be paid by each surface transporter of hazardous materials in California in an amount sufficient to fund the appropriation from the prevention account and to maintain a prudent reserve of two months’ operating costs, less amounts transferred from the response account pursuant to subdivision (d).
(b)
The
secretary shall, to the extent practicable, identify programs, equipment, and facilities applicable to specific surface transportation modes, and shall establish fees for each surface transportation mode to cover the costs of the programs, equipment, and facilities applicable to that specific surface transportation mode. Fees to cover the costs of programs, equipment, and facilities applicable to all or several surface transportation modes shall be paid in equal shares by surface transportation modes.
(c)
The secretary may authorize payment of fees through contributions in kind of equipment, materials, or services.
(d)
For the purposes of the fees authorized by this section, “surface transportation mode” shall not include pipelines subject to the fee assessed pursuant to Section 51019 of the Government Code or any natural gas pipeline.
(e)
This section shall become inoperative on December 31, 1995.