Palm Beach County officials are taking proactive steps to address potential changes in air pollution regulations that could significantly impact local waste management operations. During a recent Solid Waste Authority meeting on February 14, 2024, discussions centered around the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) proposed modifications to air pollution control systems, which may require increased use of reagents and chemicals.

The authority is collaborating with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to conduct tests aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of these operational changes. A planned 10-day testing period will assess whether increasing the use of lime and carbon can effectively reduce emissions without causing downstream issues. This initiative is crucial as it could influence the county's solid waste management plan and potentially incur tens of millions of dollars in costs.

In addition to testing, the authority is working with industry groups, including the Florida Waste Energy Coalition and the Waste Energy Association, to voice concerns to the EPA. There is also consideration of legal action against the EPA for failing to perform a required residual risk assessment. Board members discussed the possibility of reaching out to congressional representatives for assistance in securing a 60-day extension on the comment period for the proposed changes.

The board emphasized the importance of a unified response from affected facilities across the nation, with suggestions to engage other impacted plants to strengthen their collective voice. The authority is seeking direction from board members on how to proceed, particularly in terms of legislative outreach and further investigation into the implications of the proposed regulations.

As the situation develops, the Solid Waste Authority remains committed to ensuring that any changes to air quality regulations are manageable and do not adversely affect the community or financial resources. The next steps will involve collaboration with industry peers and continued dialogue with federal representatives to advocate for the county's interests.