Advocacy News – Nov. 21, 2024
What’s new: The Chamber hosted a workgroup this week focusing on a bill recently introduced that would have broad ranging impacts to businesses and communities in how they utilize landfill and waste services.
SB 1052, introduced by Senator Camilleri would essentially ban the disposal of technologically enhanced naturally occurring radioactive waste (TENORM) in our landfills. While TENORM sounds like a rare type of waste stream it as actually extremely common. In fact, most TENORM is only twice as radioactive as a granite countertop.
What this means: If businesses and community facilities like wastewater treatment plants were unable to dispose of the majority of their daily waste products and instead need to send this material outside of the state, possibly Ohio but possibly even as far as Idaho or Utah.
- The other component of the bill would severely restrict the permitting of deep injection wells for landfill leachate. This would hobble the ability for landfills to receive a variety of waste streams, including PFAS that derives from municipal wastewater and salt brine from road de-icing.
What we’re saying: The Chamber is very concerned about the broad and damaging impacts of the bills to industry, and also the potential public health risks that could come with removing safe and responsible methods for disposing of this waste properly. This bill would drastically raise costs for businesses and local units of government with little or no benefit. While there is a willingness to be constructive on the issue, this is in no way an approach that is workable for the state.
For more information contact Mike Alaimo at malaimo@michamber.com