Bill would give Ecology greater role in landfill permits and penalties

House Bill 1154, presented by Representative Doerr to the Environment & Energy Committee, would change how permits and enforcement for landfills and other solid-waste handling facilities are coordinated between jurisdictional health departments and the Washington Department of Ecology.

Under current practice, local jurisdictional health departments (JHDs) issue permits for solid-waste facilities and Ecology may review and, in some cases, appeal permit issuance to the Pollution Control Hearings Board. HB 1154 would require Ecology to review and approve every landfill permit or renewal before the JHD could issue or renew it. The bill also would authorize Ecology to require JHDs to amend proposed landfill permits to ensure they conform to applicable laws and rules, allow Ecology to suspend a permit or facility that is operating in violation of permit or state solid-waste regulations, and permit both JHDs and Ecology to impose civil penalties of up to $10,000 per day for violations. The bill creates an appeal path to the Pollution…