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Utilities director warns PFAS bills could double local wastewater costs; council asks staff to draft resolution
Summary
Utilities Director Timothy Robbins told the council that three pending state bills (SB 003, SB 268 and HB 1726) would immediately ban land application of biosolids and could raise Broken Arrow's utility costs by roughly $750,000'$1,000,000 a year; councilors directed staff to prepare a science-based resolution for legislators and DEQ.
Timothy Robbins, the city's utilities director, told the Broken Arrow City Council on March 3 that three pieces of state legislation transcribed in the meeting as "SB 003," "SB 268," and "HB 1726" would sharply restrict how municipalities handle biosolids and would include provisions addressing PFOS and PFOA, the so-called "forever chemicals." Robbins said the bills range from status-quo oversight to a full ban on land application of biosolids and could require immediate revocation of permits if enacted.
"If this was to pass, immediate passing would mean no more land application across the state immediately, and all permits would be revoked," Robbins said, describing a three-option spectrum that also includes adopting science-based chemical limits or pursuing a total ban. He said Broken Arrow's Lynn Lane facility currently dewaters biosolids and sends them to landfill placement rather than land application, and he summarized handling differences across Oklahoma and the U.S.
Robbins warned of near-term cost and operational impacts if a ban or similar restrictions pass. He estimated the RMUA region could face $1.5 million to $2 million in added operating costs and projected Broken Arrow's share at between $750,000 and $1,000,000 per year. Robbins also flagged the potential loss of a planned $48 million composting project at Haakee Creek that includes USDA grant funds and said landfill tipping fees and other solid-waste costs likely would rise.
Council members asked for clarity about the bills' legislative status; Robbins said SB 003 and related measures had not moved out of committee that week but remained on the table for future action. In discussion that followed, councilors expressed concern about shifting costs to ratepayers and about permitting and landfill capacity.
Councilor (name withheld in the transcript) moved and another councilor seconded a motion to ask staff to draft a resolution expressing the council's concerns and advocating a science-based approach that also engages DEQ and legislative representatives. City staff agreed to return with a uniform resolution the council could consider for legislative outreach.
The council's next step will be staff's draft resolution for formal consideration; no statewide policy changes occurred at the meeting.
