HB304 Summary

• Amends Section 22-27-48 to require local governing body approval of solid waste management sites before state department consideration of permit applications for new or modified facilities.

• Establishes six evaluation criteria for local governing bodies to consider when approving or disapproving solid waste management sites, including consistency with local waste management plans, location relative to development and transportation, proximity to waste-generating industries, public services availability, public safety impacts, and social and economic community impacts.

• Requires an application fee equal to 20 percent of the state department's permit fee for local approval; renewed applications within 18 months of denial require a fee of 50 percent of the state permit fee.

• Exempts simple permit renewals and certain limited permit modifications (liner changes, waste stream adjustments, fill sequence changes, technology improvements, and compliance modifications) from local review requirements.

• Establishes a 90-day decision deadline for local governing bodies, with failure to act constituting automatic approval; requires at least one public hearing with 30-45 days' notice prior to decision on proposed modifications.