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Natural Resources Board adopts major update to landfill rules and fees
Summary
The board adopted WA-11-22, a comprehensive update to NR 500–524 to modernize landfill design, monitoring, reporting and fee schedules; staff said fee increases will fund additional reviewers and long-term care obligations while keeping protections consistent with federal standards.
Kate Strom, director of the DNR’s Waste and Materials Management Program, presented WA-11-22, a proposed rule package revising parts of NR 500–524 covering landfill design, financial responsibility, operational reporting and select fee changes. Strom said the update standardizes several plan-and-report requirements previously handled individually, introduces alternative liner and cover design options, updates feasibility guidance for landfill siting, strengthens groundwater/leachate monitoring and collection expectations, and proposes phased fee increases to support plan review and inspections. "This is the first major update of solid waste landfill regulations and fees since 2006," she told the board.
Why it matters: the changes affect all municipal and industrial landfills in the state (about 58 active sites) and set procedures for long-term care obligations and annual reporting, with the aim of maintaining or exceeding federal protections for groundwater and the environment.
Board discussion: members praised the department’s stakeholder engagement, noting six technical-advisory meetings in 2023–24 and broad input from industry groups. Marcy West asked whether fee changes would cover staff-authorized but currently unfunded positions; Strom said fee revenue should cover assigned engineers and hydrogeologists at sites but may not fully cover supervisory or legal staff. The rule includes a statutory mechanism requiring fee reductions if year-end balances exceed set thresholds.
Outcome: the board moved and adopted WA-11-22 by voice vote. The department said implementation will include phasing certain fees in 2027–28, and staff will continue to consult with stakeholders on implementation details.
