MO HB92

Bill Summary: HB 92 - Department of Natural Resources

• Changes state auditor audits of solid waste management districts from mandatory to discretionary, with audit costs reimbursable by the district (capped at 2% of annual allocation), and extends the freeze on solid waste management fund fee adjustments from 2017 to 2027

• Creates the "Oil and Gas Resources Fund" to administer oil and gas program provisions under Chapter 259, establishes a new fee structure review process requiring two-thirds council approval and stakeholder input, and expands the definition of "oil" to include oil-shale and oil-sand hydrocarbons

• Transfers contested case administrative appeals for environmental permits (solid waste, hazardous waste, mining, air quality, water quality, safe drinking water) to the Administrative Hearing Commission, with final decisions remaining with the respective environmental commissions and judicial review available through circuit courts of appeals

• Modifies solid waste management district grant procedures by establishing priority criteria (disability employment facilities, resource sharing, recycling programs), requiring districts to reallocate unused grant funds within five years or return them to the state fund, and prohibiting districts from competing with qualified private enterprises

• Requires coal-fired electric generating sources in nonattainment areas to develop sulfur dioxide air quality monitoring networks operating for at least 12 consecutive quarters, and modifies water pollution affordability findings to use community median household income rather than state median income