Bill Summary: SB 294 (129th General Assembly)

• Expands construction/demolition debris fees: Adds asbestos and asbestos-containing materials to the fee structure (30¢/cubic yard or 60¢/ton) for disposal at licensed facilities, with additional fees for soil/water conservation and recycling programs.

• Restructures infectious waste regulations: Simplifies treatment standards, allows small generators (under 50 lbs/month) to dispose of infectious wastes as solid waste, and modifies generator registration requirements and fees ($140 instead of $300).

• Adds secondary aluminum waste disposal rules: Prohibits commingling secondary aluminum waste with municipal solid waste but allows disposal in permitted monocells/monofills at sanitary landfills.

• Expands water quality protections: Establishes in-lieu fee mitigation programs for isolated wetlands, creates Surface Water Improvement Fund for water restoration projects, and modifies mitigation hierarchies to align with federal standards (33 C.F.R. 332.3).

• Adds drinking water enforcement provisions: Creates criminal penalties for violations including false statements (felony), tampering with systems (felony), and reckless violations (misdemeanor) with fines up to $25,000 and up to 4 years imprisonment.