A long-standing surcharge on gasoline in Iowa may end January 1st. The penny-per-gallon fee was established in 1989 to finance cleanup of underground storage tanks that were leaking gasoline, diesel or oil. Representative Walt Rogers, a Republican from Cedar Falls, says the clean-up of all those pre-1990 tanks is done, but lawmakers are leaving 42 million dollars in a fund for any tanks that may start leaking again
The fee was charged to petroleum wholesalers, but Rogers and other legislators hope consumers see a tiny dip at the gas pump.
Three separate House committees unanimously approved the bill. It cleared the full, 100-member House on a 94 to zero vote. The bill now goes to the Senate for consideration