Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Solid Waste Deq topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Senate adopts amendment reiterating DEQ oversight for Solitude Landfill; Legislature debates waste‑stream authority
Summary
The Utah Senate passed an amendment to SCR 1 on Jan. 28, 2004, clarifying that exemptions from daily cover or changes to the Solitude Landfill waste stream require review by the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). Senators debated whether significant waste‑stream changes should also require legislative approval; sponsor Senator Valentine said he will pursue separate legislation to address the broader policy question.
The Utah Senate on Jan. 28 adopted an amendment to Senate Concurrent Resolution 1 (SCR 1) that reiterates the requirement that Solitude Landfill’s exemptions from daily cover and any changes to its waste stream must go through the Department of Environmental Quality for review.
Senator Valentine, who offered the amendment described as first amendment under his name, told colleagues the change “reiterates the fact that Solitude Landfill is going to receive an exemption that if it receives an exemption from daily cover requirements, it's going to have to go through the process with DEQ.” He said the amendment also affirms that changes to the approved waste stream must be handled through DEQ procedure.
The amendment was prompted by concerns from senators who feared the resolution, as originally framed, could be read to allow substantive waste‑stream changes without additional scrutiny. Senator Bramble and others asked if the task force overseeing solid‑waste issues should instead consider legislative approval for changed waste streams. Senator Hatch read provisions of the existing DEQ permit and noted the permit already requires executive‑secretary approval for expansions or changed waste acceptance.
“Those are legitimate questions and they're policy questions that I think probably do need to be addressed,” Hatch said, emphasizing the need for further review and possible task‑force work. Senator Valentine said he had opened a bill file on the broader topic but would allow the current resolution to proceed with the amendment so the specific Solitude matter would not be held up.
The amendment carried on a voice vote. Later the Senate voted to pass SCR 1 on third reading; the clerk announced the measure received recorded aye votes and will be referred to the House for further consideration.
What happens next: Senator Valentine indicated he will pursue separate legislation to address whether changes in waste streams should require legislative approval; task‑force review was also discussed as a likely venue for the broader policy debate.
