Senate panel advances bill to designate Big South Fork segment scenic — industry warns it could block landfills

Sen. Yeager told the committee he was proposing to designate a portion of the Big South Fork River in Scott County as a scenic river under state law to protect water quality and local tourism from the threat of a proposed large landfill.

The National Waste and Recycling Association’s vice president, Katie Evans, testified in opposition, saying the Scenic Rivers Act was not intended to be used to prohibit landfills statewide and warned the bill could "weaponize" scenic-river designations to block solid-waste projects. Her group said existing local tools—zoning, the Jackson law opt-in process, and regional planning boards—are appropriate mechanisms to regulate landfill siting.

Sen. Yeager responded that local governments in Scott County had unanimously opposed the landfill project and that the bill was narrowly targeted to one county and to permits issued after the effective date. “This bill…is pro the Big South Fork River and preserving the pristine quality of that river,” he said.

After discussion the committee voted to move SB 21 72 to the calendar by voice vote with nine ayes recorded. The bill’s sponsor said the measure would take effect upon becoming law and would not affect an existing permitted landfill with remaining permitted capacity.

Next steps: SB 21 72 will be placed on the Senate calendar for further consideration.