109th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 274
To impose certain limitations on the receipt of out-of-State municipal
solid waste, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 6, 2005
Mrs. JO ANN DAVIS of Virginia introduced the following bill; which was referred
to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
A BILL
To impose certain limitations on the receipt of out-of-State municipal
solid waste, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `Solid Waste Interstate Transportation Act of
2005'.
SEC. 2. INTERSTATE TRANSPORTATION AND DISPOSAL OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE.
(a) In General- Subtitle D of the Solid Waste Disposal Act (42 U.S.C. 6941
et seq.) is amended by adding after section 4010 the following new section:
`SEC. 4011. RECEIPT AND DISPOSAL OF OUT-OF-STATE MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE.
`(a) Presumptive Ban on Receipt of Out-of-State Waste- No landfill or incinerator
may receive any out-of-State municipal solid waste for disposal or incineration
unless the waste is received pursuant to--
`(1) a host community agreement in accordance with subsection (b) or (c);
or
`(2) an exemption under subsection (d).
`(b) Existing Host Community Agreements- Except as provided in subsection
(e), (f), or (g), out-of-State municipal solid waste may be received at a
landfill or incinerator for disposal or incineration pursuant to a host community
agreement entered into before the enactment of this section if--
`(1) the agreement specifically authorizes the owner or operator to accept,
at the landfill or incinerator, out-of-State municipal solid waste; and
`(2) the owner or operator complies with all of the terms and conditions
of the host community agreement.
The owner or operator shall provide a copy of the host community agreement,
within 90 days after the enactment of this section, to the State and affected
local government and make such a copy available for inspection by the public
in the affected local community.
`(c) New Host Community Agreements-
`(1) EXEMPTION FROM BAN- Except as provided in subsection (e), out-of-State
municipal solid waste may be received at a landfill or incinerator for disposal
or incineration pursuant to a host community agreement entered into or amended
on or after the enactment of this section (in this section referred to as
a `new host community agreement') if the agreement specifically authorizes
the receipt of such waste and meets the requirements of paragraphs (2) through
(6) of this subsection.
`(2) REQUIREMENTS FOR AUTHORIZATION- An authorization to receive out-of-State
municipal solid waste pursuant to a new host community agreement shall be
granted by formal action at a meeting; be recorded in writing in the official
record of the meeting; and remain in effect according to its terms. Such
authorization shall specify terms and conditions, including an amount of
out-of-State municipal solid waste that an owner or operator may receive
and the duration of the authorization.
`(3) INFORMATION- Prior to seeking an authorization to receive out-of-State
municipal solid waste pursuant to a new host community agreement under this
subsection, the owner or operator of the facility seeking such authorization
shall provide (and make readily available to the State, each contiguous
local government and Indian tribe, and any other interested person for inspection
and copying) each of the following items of information:
`(A) A brief description of the facility, including, with respect to both
the facility and any planned expansion of the facility, the size, the
ultimate waste capacity, and the anticipated monthly and yearly quantities
of waste to be handled. Such quantities shall be expressed in terms of
volume.
`(B) A map of the facility site indicating location in relation to the
local road system and topography and general hydrogeological features.
The map shall indicate any buffer zones to be acquired by the owner or
operator as well as all facility units.
`(C) A description of the then current environmental characteristics of
the site, a description of ground water use in the area, and a discussion
of alterations that may be necessitated by, or occur as a result of, the
facility. The description of groundwater use shall include identification
of private wells and public drinking water sources.
`(D) A description of environmental controls typically required to be
used on the site (pursuant to permit requirements), including run on or
run off management, or both, air pollution control devices, source separation
procedures (if any), methane monitoring and control, landfill covers,
liners or leachate collection systems, and monitoring programs. In addition,
the description shall include a description of any waste residuals generated
by the facility, including leachate or ash, and the planned management
of the residuals.
`(E) A description of site access controls to be employed, and roadway
improvements to be made, by the owner or operator, and an estimate of
the timing and extent of increased local truck traffic.
`(F) A list of all required Federal, State, and local permits.
`(G) Estimates of the personnel requirements of the facility, including
information regarding the probable skill and education levels required
for jobs at the facility. To the extent practicable, the information shall
distinguish between employment statistics for preoperational and postoperational
levels.
`(H) Any information that is required by State or Federal law to be provided
with respect to any violations of environmental laws (including regulations)
by the owner, the operator, and any subsidiary of the owner or operator,
the disposition of enforcement proceedings taken with respect to the violations,
and corrective action and rehabilitation measures taken as a result of
the proceedings.
`(I) Any information that is required by State or Federal law to be provided
with respect to gifts and contributions made by the owner or operator.
`(J) Any information that is required by State or Federal law to be provided
with respect to compliance by the owner or operator with the State solid
waste management plan.
`(4) PRIOR NOTIFICATION- Prior to taking formal action with respect to granting
authorization to receive out-of-State municipal solid waste pursuant to
a new host community agreement under this subsection, an affected local
government shall--
`(A) notify the State, contiguous local governments, and any contiguous
Indian tribes;
`(B) publish notice of the action in a newspaper of general circulation
in the affected area at least 15 days before holding a hearing under subparagraph
(C), except where State law provides for an alternate form of public notification;
`(C) provide an opportunity for public comment, including at least 1 public
hearing; and
`(D) make publicly available the entire text of the new host community
agreement.
`(5) SUBSEQUENT NOTIFICATION- Promptly, but not later than 90 days after
an authorization is granted pursuant to a new host community agreement under
this subsection, the affected local government shall notify the Governor,
contiguous local governments, and any contiguous Indian tribes of such authorization.
`(6) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY- The owner or operator of a facility authorized
to receive out-of-State municipal solid waste pursuant to a new host community
agreement under this subsection shall ensure that copies of the entire text
of such agreement are readily available to the public and are provided within
5 days after a request from any person. Such owner or operator may recover
reasonable costs of providing each copy.
`(A) IN GENERAL- A State may enact a law or laws with respect to the entry,
by an affected local government in the State, into a host community agreement,
as it relates to the interstate transportation of solid waste.
`(B) NO DISCRIMINATION- In enacting a law or laws pursuant to subparagraph
(A), a State shall act in a consistent manner that does not discriminate
against the receipt of out-of-State municipal solid waste on the basis
of State of origin.
`(d) Exemption for Waste not Subject to Host Community Agreements-
`(1) EXEMPTION FROM BAN- Except as provided in subsection (e), out-of-State
municipal solid waste received at a landfill or incinerator shall be exempt
from the presumptive ban contained in subsection (a) if the owner or operator
of the landfill or incinerator provides to the State in which the landfill
or incinerator is located and to the affected local government either of
the following:
`(A) PERMIT- Information establishing that, before the enactment of this
section, the owner or operator of the landfill or incinerator has received
a State permit that specifically authorizes the owner or operator to accept,
at the landfill or incinerator, such out-of-State municipal solid waste.
This subparagraph shall be effective only if the owner or operator complies
with all of the terms and conditions of the permit after the date of enactment
of this section and notifies the affected local government of the permit
as soon as practicable but not later than 90 days after the date of enactment
of this section.
`(B) CONTRACT- Information establishing that the owner or operator of
the landfill or incinerator has entered into a binding contract before
January 4, 2005, that commits to the delivery to and receipt at the landfill
or incinerator of a specific quantity of out-of-State municipal solid
waste and that the owner or operator of the landfill or incinerator has
permitted capacity actually available on the date of enactment of this
section for receipt of the specific quantity of out-of-State municipal
solid waste committed to in the contract. This subparagraph shall be effective
only for the longer of--
`(i) the life of the contract (not including any renewal, novation,
or extension thereof); or
`(ii) a period of 3 years after the date of enactment of this section,
and only with respect to the amount of the obligation in the contract.
`(2) AVAILABILITY OF DOCUMENTATION- The owner or operator of a landfill
or incinerator receiving out-of-State municipal solid waste pursuant to
an exemption under paragraph (1) shall make available for inspection by
the public in the affected local community a copy of the permit or contract
referred to in paragraph (1). The owner or operator may omit any proprietary
information contained in contracts.
`(3) DENIED OR REVOKED PERMITS- A landfill or incinerator may not receive
for disposal or incineration out-of-State municipal solid waste pursuant
to an exemption under paragraph (1) if the operating permit for the landfill
or incinerator (or renewal thereof) was denied or revoked by the appropriate
State agency before the date of enactment of this section, unless such permit
or license (or renewal) has been reinstated as of such date of enactment.
`(e) Required Compliance- Exemptions under subsections (b), (c), and (d) shall
not apply to a landfill or incinerator during any period with respect to which
the State in which the facility is located has administratively determined
that the facility is not in compliance with applicable Federal, State, or
local laws and regulations relating to--
`(1) facility operation, design, and construction;
`(2) in the case of landfills, facility location standards, leachate collection
standards, groundwater monitoring standards, runoff controls, emission controls,
landfill cover and dust suppression requirements, environmental controls,
and standards for financial assurance and for closure and postclosure and
corrective action; and
`(3) the applicable requirements of the Clean Air Act and this Act.
`(f) Authority of State to Restrict Out-of-State Municipal Solid Waste-
`(1) LIMITATIONS ON AMOUNT OF WASTE RECEIVED-
`(A) LIMIT FOR ALL FACILITIES IN THE STATE- A State may limit the amount
of out-of-State municipal solid waste received annually at each landfill
or incinerator in the State to the limitation amount described in paragraph
(2), except as provided in this subsection. No such limit may conflict--
`(i) with provisions of a permit specifically authorizing the owner
or operator to accept, at the facility, out-of-State municipal solid
waste; or
`(ii) with a host community agreement entered into between the owner
or operator of any such landfill or incinerator and the affected local
government that, before January 4, 2005, specifically authorizes the
landfill or incinerator to receive out-of-State municipal solid waste.
`(B) CONFLICT- If a facility received less than 100,000 tons of out-of-State
municipal solid waste during the previous year, a limit referred to in
subparagraph (A) shall be treated as conflicting with--
`(i) a permit if the permit establishes a higher limit or does not establish
any limit on the amount of out-of-State municipal solid waste which
may be received annually at the facility; and
`(ii) a host community agreement if the host community agreement establishes
a higher limit or does not establish any limit on the amount of out-of-State
municipal solid waste which may be received annually at the facility,
but only to the extent that the landfill or incinerator, at the time
the host community agreement was entered into, had specifically permitted
capacity to receive the solid waste authorized by the host community
agreement.
`(C) LIMIT FOR PARTICULAR FACILITIES- An affected local government that
has not executed a host community agreement with a particular landfill
or incinerator may limit the amount of out-of-State municipal solid waste
received annually at the landfill or incinerator concerned to the limitation
amount described in paragraph (2). No such limit may conflict with provisions
of a permit specifically authorizing the owner or operator to accept,
at the facility, out-of-State municipal solid waste.
`(D) EFFECT ON OTHER LAWS- Nothing in this subsection shall be interpreted
or construed to supersede any State law relating to contracts.
`(2) LIMITATION AMOUNT- For any landfill or incinerator that commenced receiving
documented out-of-State municipal solid waste before the date of enactment
of this section, the limitation amount referred to in paragraph (1) for
any year shall be equal to the amount of out-of-State municipal solid waste
received at the landfill or incinerator concerned during calendar year 1993,
or, in the case of a State which did not require documentation of the sort
required by this paragraph to be kept for calendar year 1993, the first
subsequent calendar year for which the State required such documentation.
The documentation referred to in this paragraph shall be such as would result
in civil or criminal penalties under State law in case of false or misleading
information. Such documentation shall include the amount of waste received
in 1993, or such other baseline year as is provided for in this paragraph,
and may include place of origin, identity of the generator, date of shipment,
and type of waste.
`(3) NO DISCRIMINATION- In establishing a limitation under this subsection,
a State shall act in a consistent manner that does not discriminate against
any shipments of out-of-State municipal solid waste on the basis of State
of origin.
`(g) Limitations on Prospective Waste Flows-
`(1) STATE AUTHORITY TO DENY PERMITS- A State may provide by law that the
State will deny or refuse to renew, and a State that does not provide for
renewal of permits may provide by law that the State will, upon State review
of the permit or application for amendment to the permit, revoke all or
part of or refuse to amend, a permit for the construction, expansion, increase
in capacity, transfer of ownership, or operation of a landfill or incinerator,
or for a major modification to an existing landfill or incinerator, if--
`(A) the State has approved a State or local comprehensive municipal solid
waste management plan developed under Federal or State law; and
`(B) the denial, refusal to renew or amend, or revocation is based on
a determination, pursuant to a State law authorizing the denial, refusal
to renew or amend, or revocation, that there is not a local or regional
need for the landfill or incinerator in the State.
`(A) IN GENERAL- A State may provide by law that a State permit issued
or renewed after the date of enactment of this section, and, in the case
of a State that does not provide for renewal of permits, a State permit
amended or reviewed by the State, for the construction, expansion, increase
in capacity, transfer of ownership, or operation of a municipal solid
waste landfill or incinerator shall include a requirement that not more
than a specified percentage of the total amount of municipal solid waste
received annually at the landfill or incinerator may be out-of-State municipal
solid waste. A percentage limitation established by a State under this
subparagraph shall not be less than 20 percent.
`(B) HOST COMMUNITY AGREEMENT- Notwithstanding subparagraphs (A) and (C),
a landfill or incinerator acting pursuant to a host community agreement
entered into prior to January 4, 2005, that specifically authorizes the
landfill or incinerator to receive a specific quantity of out-of-State
municipal solid waste annually may receive the specific quantity authorized
under the host community agreement, but only to the extent that the landfill
or incinerator, at the time the host community agreement was entered into,
had specifically permitted capacity to receive the solid waste authorized
by the host community agreement.
`(C) NONDISCRIMINATION- An annual percentage limitation referred to in
subparagraph (A)--
`(i) shall be uniform for all municipal solid waste landfills and incinerators
in the State; and
`(ii) may not discriminate against out-of-State municipal solid waste
according to the State of origin.
`(h) Authority of State to Restrict Out-of-State Municipal Solid Waste Based
on Recycling Programs-
`(A) LIMITATION- A State may limit the amount of out-of-State municipal
solid waste received annually at each landfill or incinerator in the State
to the amount of out-of-State municipal solid waste received at the landfill
or incinerator concerned during calendar year 1995 if the State has enacted
a comprehensive, statewide recycling program. No such limit may conflict--
`(i) with provisions of a permit specifically authorizing the owner
or operator to accept, at the facility, out-of-State municipal solid
waste; or
`(ii) with a host community agreement entered into between the owner
or operator of any such landfill or incinerator and the affected local
government.
`(B) CONFLICT- A limit referred to in subparagraph (A) shall be treated
as conflicting with--
`(i) a permit if the permit establishes a higher limit or does not establish
any limit on the amount of out-of-State municipal solid waste which
may be received annually at the facility; and
`(ii) a host community agreement if the host community agreement establishes
a higher limit or does not establish any limit on the amount of out-of-State
municipal solid waste which may be received annually at the facility,
but only to the extent that the landfill or incinerator, at the time
the host community agreement was entered into, had specifically permitted
capacity to receive the solid waste authorized by the host community
agreement.
`(2) NO DISCRIMINATION- In establishing a limitation under this subsection,
a State shall act in a consistent manner that does not discriminate against
any shipments of out-of-State municipal solid waste on the basis of State
of origin.
`(3) EFFECT ON OTHER LAWS- Nothing in this subsection shall be interpreted
or construed to supersede any State law relating to contracts.
`(4) DEFINITION- As used in this subsection, the term `comprehensive, statewide
recycling program' means a law of statewide applicability that requires
the generators of municipal solid waste to separate all of the following
materials for recycling as a condition of disposing of the waste at landfills
or incinerators in the State:
`(A) Aluminum containers.
`(B) Corrugated paper or other container board.
`(D) Magazines or other material printed on similar paper.
`(E) Newspapers or other material printed on newsprint.
`(I) Containers for carbonated or malt beverages that are primarily made
of a combination of steel and aluminum.
`(i) Cost Recovery Surcharge-
`(1) AUTHORITY- A State may impose and collect a cost recovery charge on
the processing, combustion, or disposal in a landfill or incinerator of
out-of-State municipal solid waste in the State in accordance with this
subsection.
`(2) AMOUNT OF SURCHARGE- The amount of the cost recovery surcharge may
be no greater than the amount necessary to recover those costs determined
in conformance with paragraph (4) and in no event may exceed $3.00 per ton
of waste.
`(3) USE OF SURCHARGE COLLECTED- All cost recovery surcharges collected
by a State shall be used to fund those solid waste management programs administered
by the State or its political subdivision that incur costs for which the
surcharge is collected.
`(4) CONDITIONS- (A) Subject to subparagraphs (B) and (C), a State may impose
and collect a cost recovery surcharge on the processing, combustion, or
disposal within the State of out-of-State municipal solid waste if--
`(i) the State demonstrates a cost to the State or its political subdivisions
arising from the processing, combustion, or disposal within the State
of a volume of municipal solid waste from a source outside the State;
`(ii) the surcharge is based on those costs demonstrated under clause
(i) that, if not paid for through the surcharge, would otherwise have
to be paid or subsidized by the State or its political subdivisions; and
`(iii) the surcharge is compensatory and is not discriminatory.
`(B) In no event shall a cost recovery surcharge be imposed by a State to
the extent that the cost for which recovery is sought is otherwise paid,
recovered, or offset by any other fee or tax paid to the State or its political
subdivision in connection with the generation, transportation, treatment,
processing, combustion, or disposal of solid waste. Any provision in a host
community agreement that places responsibility for payment or reimbursement
for fees under this subsection on the host community is hereby declared
null and void.
`(C) The grant of a subsidy by a State with respect to entities disposing
of waste generated within the State does not constitute discrimination for
purposes of subparagraph (A)(iii).
`(5) DEFINITIONS- As used in this subsection:
`(A) The term `costs' means the costs incurred by the State for the implementation
of its laws governing the processing, combustion, or disposal of municipal
solid waste, limited to the issuance of new permits and renewal of or
modification of permits, inspection and compliance monitoring, enforcement,
and costs associated with technical assistance, data management, and collection
of fees.
`(B) The term `processing' means any activity to reduce the volume of
solid waste or alter its chemical, biological or physical state, through
processes such as thermal treatment, bailing, composting, crushing, shredding,
separation, or compaction.
`(j) Inspections- A State may require that a State-employed or authorized
inspector be onsite during any or all hours of operation at any facility that
receives out-of-State municipal solid waste. Such inspectors shall be authorized
to ensure the enforcement of Federal, State, and local laws and regulations
relating to the receipt of out-of-State municipal solid waste, and to ensure
that out-of-State municipal solid waste received at a transfer facility or
other interim holding facility remains identifiable as out-of-State municipal
solid waste when transferred to a landfill or incinerator. The State may require
reimbursement from the facility for reasonable costs of providing such inspectors.
`(k) Implementation and Enforcement- Any State may adopt such laws and regulations,
not inconsistent with this section, as are necessary to implement and enforce
this section, including provisions for penalties.
`(l) Effect on Interstate Commerce- No State or local government action taken
as authorized by this section, including the establishment of a limit pursuant
to subsection (f) or the enactment or execution of a law or regulation described
in subsection (c)(7), (g), (h), (i), or (k), shall be considered to impose
an undue burden on interstate commerce or to otherwise impair, restrain, or
discriminate against interstate commerce.
`(m) Annual State Report- Each year the owner or operator of each landfill
or incinerator receiving out-of-State municipal solid waste shall submit to
the Governor of the State in which the landfill or incinerator is located
information specifying the amount of out-of-State municipal solid waste received
for disposal during the preceding year, its place of origin, the identity
of the generator, the date of shipments, and the type of waste received. Each
year each such State shall publish and make available to the public a report
containing information on the amount of out-of-State municipal solid waste
received for disposal in the State during the preceding year.
`(n) Definitions- For purposes of this section:
`(1) AFFECTED LOCAL GOVERNMENT- The term `affected local government' means--
`(A) the public body authorized by State law to plan for the management
of municipal solid waste, a majority of the members of which are elected
officials, for the area in which a landfill or incinerator is located
or proposed to be located;
`(B) if there is no such body authorized by State law, the elected officials
of the city, town, township, borough, county, or parish exercising primary
responsibility over municipal solid waste management or the use of land
in the jurisdiction in which a landfill or incinerator is located or proposed
to be located; or
`(C) contiguous units of local government located in each of 2 or more
adjoining States acting jointly as an affected local government, pursuant
to the authority provided in section 1005(b), for purposes of providing
authorization under subsection (b), (c), or (d) for municipal solid waste
generated in the jurisdiction of one of those units of local government
and received for disposal or incineration in the jurisdiction of another.
`(2) HOST COMMUNITY AGREEMENT- The term `host community agreement' means
a written, legally binding agreement, lawfully entered into between an owner
or operator of a landfill or incinerator and an affected local government
that specifically authorizes the landfill or incinerator to receive out-of-State
municipal solid waste.
`(3) MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE-
`(A) WASTE INCLUDED- Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the term
`municipal solid waste' means--
`(i) all waste materials discarded for disposal by households, including
single and multifamily residences, and hotels and motels;
`(ii) sewage sludge and residuals from any sewage treatment plant;
`(iii) combustion ash generated by resource recovery facilities or municipal
incinerators;
`(iv) petroleum contaminated soil; and
`(v) all waste materials discarded for disposal that were generated
by commercial, institutional, municipal, and industrial sources, to
the extent such materials--
`(I) are essentially the same as materials described in clause (i);
and
`(II) were collected and disposed of with other municipal solid waste
described in clause (i) or subclause (I) of this clause as part of
normal municipal solid waste collection services, except that this
subclause does not apply to hazardous materials other than hazardous
materials that, pursuant to regulations issued under section 3001(d),
are not subject to regulation under subtitle C.
Examples of municipal solid waste include food and yard waste, paper,
clothing, appliances, consumer product packaging, disposable diapers,
office supplies, cosmetics, glass and metal food containers, and household
hazardous waste. Such term shall include debris resulting from construction,
remodeling, repair, or demolition of structures.
`(B) WASTE NOT INCLUDED- The term `municipal solid waste' does not include
any of the following:
`(i) Any solid waste identified or listed as a hazardous waste under
section 3001, except for household hazardous waste.
`(ii) Any solid waste, including contaminated soil (other than petroleum
contaminated soil) and debris, resulting from--
`(I) a response action taken under section 104 or 106 of the Comprehensive
Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (42 U.S.C.
9604 or 9606);
`(II) a response action taken under a State law with authorities comparable
to the authorities of such section 104 or 106; or
`(III) a corrective action taken under this Act.
`(iii) Recyclable materials that have been separated, at the source
of the waste, from waste otherwise destined for disposal or that have
been managed separately from waste destined for disposal.
`(iv) Scrap rubber to be used as a fuel source.
`(v) Materials and products returned from a dispenser or distributor
to the manufacturer or an agent of the manufacturer for credit, evaluation,
and possible reuse.
`(vi) Any solid waste that is--
`(I) generated by an industrial facility; and
`(II) transported for the purpose of treatment, storage, or disposal
to a facility or unit thereof that is owned or operated by the generator
of the waste, located on property owned by the generator or a company
with which the generator is affiliated, or the capacity of which is
contractually dedicated exclusively to a specific generator, so long
as the disposal area complies with local and State land use and zoning
regulations applicable to the disposal site.
`(vii) Any medical waste that is segregated from or not mixed with solid
waste.
`(viii) Waste from manufacturing or processing (including pollution
control) operations not essentially the same as waste normally generated
by households.
`(4) OUT-OF-STATE MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE- The term `out-of-State municipal
solid waste' means, with respect to any State, municipal solid waste generated
outside of the State. The term includes municipal solid waste generated
outside of the United States and includes municipal solid waste generated
outside of the State that has passed through a transfer facility or other
interim holding facility inside the State.
`(5) RECYCLABLE MATERIALS- The term `recyclable materials' means materials
that are diverted, separated from, or separately managed from materials
otherwise destined for disposal as solid waste, by collecting, sorting,
or processing for use as raw materials or feedstocks in lieu of, or in addition
to, virgin materials, including petroleum, in the manufacture of usable
materials or products.
`(6) SPECIFICALLY AUTHORIZES- (A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B),
the term `specifically authorizes' refers to an explicit authorization,
contained in a host community agreement or permit, to import municipal solid
waste from outside the State. Such authorization may include a reference
to a fixed radius surrounding the landfill or incinerator which includes
an area outside the State or a reference to `any place of origin', reference
to specific places outside the State, or use of such phrases as `regardless
of origin' or `outside the State'.
`(B) If a landfill or incinerator received 100,000 tons of out-of-State
municipal solid waste or more during the previous year, when applied to
such landfill or incinerator the term `specifically authorizes' refers to
an explicit authorization, contained in a host community agreement or permit,
to import specific volumes or other specific quantities of municipal solid
waste from outside the State.
`(C) The language for a specific authorization under this paragraph must
clearly and affirmatively state the approval or consent of the affected
local government or State for receipt of municipal solid waste from sources
or locations outside the State from which the owner or operator of a landfill
or incinerator proposes to import it. The term shall not include general
references to the receipt of waste from outside the jurisdiction of the
affected local government.'.
(b) Table of Contents- The table of contents of the Solid Waste Disposal Act
(42 U.S.C. prec. 6901) is amended by adding after the item relating to section
4010 the following new item:
`Sec. 4011. Receipt and disposal of out-of-State municipal solid waste.'.
(c) Incident Reports- Not later than one year after the date of the enactment
of this Act and annually for the next two years, the General Accounting Office
shall submit a report to the Committee on Commerce of the House of Representatives
and the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate that contains
the following information:
(1) Available information for each State that imports municipal solid waste
detailing any incidents or circumstances where waste materials that are
not authorized by permit to be disposed of at a landfill or incinerator
have been discovered in the imported municipal solid waste during the transportation,
processing, or disposal of such waste. Such unauthorized waste materials
can include hazardous waste, medical waste, radioactive waste, and industrial
waste.
(2) For each incident or circumstance identified under paragraph (1), an
indication of the method or circumstances of detection, and the identity
of the source of the waste, the transporter, and the disposal facility.
(3) For each incident or circumstance identified under paragraph (1), an
indication of whether anyone was cited for a violation, and if so the nature
of the violation and any penalty assessed.
END