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House approves amendments to limit landfill to construction and demolition waste after local objections
Summary
The House adopted an amendment to HCR 101 to remove references to 'class 5' landfills and explicitly tie allowable waste to the statutory definition of construction and demolition waste (section 19‑6‑102). Members raised environmental and traffic concerns from nearby towns; HCR 101 passed 53–16.
House members considered HCR 101, a resolution concerning approval conditions for a proposed landfill, and adopted a floor amendment that deleted multiple references to “class 5” landfill classification and instead cross‑referenced the statutory definition of construction and demolition waste (section 19‑6‑102). The amendment also inserted a new sentence: “Any other types of waste require additional legislative approval.”
Representative Urquhart explained that the change was intended to eliminate ambiguity in DEQ rules about class 4 versus class 5 landfills and to make the statute rely on the clearer statutory definition. The amendment was adopted by the House.
Several members spoke in opposition citing local impacts. Representative Cox delivered a petition and warned that a proposed landfill site lies within 2,500 feet of a state park and within the zone of a municipal water source, and she argued that the increased truck traffic would overwhelm Lehi City’s Main Street without funds for an East–West corridor. Other opponents referenced proximity to airports, groundwater and arsenic testing and expressed skepticism about whether protections were sufficient.
Sponsors and proponents responded that DEQ had reviewed the application and issued permits, that mitigation measures (road paving, berm construction and operational commitments) had been promised by the applicant, and that limiting permitted waste to construction and demolition debris reduces the risk of the site converting to municipal waste without further legislative approval.
After discussion, HCR 101 passed the House 53 yes to 16 no and will be sent to the Senate for further action.
Next steps: The resolution, as amended, is referred to the Senate; the amendment relies on DEQ statutes (section 19‑6‑102) and will constrain permitted waste to construction and demolition materials unless the Legislature later approves additional waste types.
