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House approves changes to solid and hazardous waste permitting to speed cleanup and reuse of remediated land
Summary
First substitute Senate Bill 271 clarifies permitting for contaminated sites, allows multiple permittees so new owners can proceed with cleanup without prior-owner agreement, and permits reuse of remediated portions of sites. Sponsors said the measure accelerates cleanup while maintaining environmental standards; debate clarified liability remains for prior polluters until cleanup standards are met.
Representative David Clark presented first substitute Senate Bill 271, an amendment package to the Solid and Hazardous Waste Act. Clark said the bill clarifies definitions, establishes rules for multiple permittees so a current owner can move forward with remediation even if a prior owner does not participate, and allows cleaned portions of a larger site to be put back into use once they meet environmental standards.
Representative King asked whether a new owner who cleans a site would indemnify the previous owner; Clark said liability for pollution created by a prior owner would remain until cleanup standards were met and documented, but the bill provides a mechanism for the executive secretary of the Hazardous Waste Board to recognize remediated portions and allow reuse.
Backers argued the measure will unblock stalled cleanups and enable productive reuse of remediated land; critics raised only a single recorded no vote. The House passed the first substitute (68 yes, 1 no).
