HB143 Summary

• Amends Section 22-27-48 of the Alabama Code to establish a 90-day deadline for local governing bodies to approve or deny applications for new solid waste management facilities.

• Failure of a local governing body to affirmatively approve a new facility application within 90 days of receipt constitutes automatic denial (changed from previous law where failure to act constituted approval).

• Requires local governing bodies to hold at least one public hearing with notice published 30-45 days prior, and applicants must pay a local application fee equal to 20 percent of the state department permit fee.

• Exempts simple permit renewals and certain modifications (liner/leachate design changes, waste stream changes, technology upgrades, compliance changes) from local review requirements.

• Establishes that regional planning commissions must evaluate approved proposals for consistency with regional solid waste management needs and available capacity.