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Committee advances landfill bill after calls to close ash‑reuse loopholes
Summary
Witnesses supported HB 16‑73 to protect aquifers from landfill impacts but urged tighter language to prevent incinerator ash being reused in roads or as daily cover; Board of Water Supply and environmental groups recommended amendments.
HB 16‑73 drew testimony centered on landfill safeguards and potential pathways for incinerator ash to spread into the environment. Glenn Haai of the Department of Health said the department stood on written testimony and would answer questions; Ernie Lau of the Board of Water Supply emphasized concerns that reusing ash in roads could create new contamination pathways.
"Where could it end? Could it end up in an area where as the road starts to degrade, will some of this material start to actually leach out with rainfall and then start to seep down into the aquifer?" Lau asked the committee. Mike Ewell of Energy Justice Network urged the committee to adopt language used in a related Senate bill to ensure ash is placed only in double‑lined landfills and not used as road fill or daily cover.
Committee members discussed possible amendments and the chair recommended passing HB 16‑73 with an HD 1 and taking Department of Health's option 1; members also requested the committee report note public testimony and potential amendments to address ash reuse.
