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Department of Ecology News Release - July 10, 2003
03-140
OLYMPIA - Operators of incinerators that burn solid waste will have more options under new rules proposed by the state, but they will still have to keep tight limits on air pollution.
Changes proposed by the state Department of Ecology (Ecology) will shift regulations from a prescriptive to a performance-based method. In other words, the state will no longer tell incinerator operators how to meet the regulations. Instead, the state will allow operators to choose their own methods to meet the end-of-smokestack pollution limit.
"These changes allow room for flexibility and innovation for solid-waste burning facilities to meet their air-pollution limits," said Mary Burg, manager of Ecology's air quality program. "We know that technologies are evolving, so no single state-prescribed method will fit all."
The change is significant for the Tacoma solid-waste incinerator, which has struggled to meet the state's prescriptive requirements. It could also affect three other incinerators, in Everett, Seattle and Spokane.
Ecology's Burg said she expects to see an added bonus of less toxic air pollution because the new rules set limits on heavy metals and dioxin.
In addition, the new rules apply to a wider range of incinerator types and also remove redundancy in the law.
Solid waste includes garbage, ashes, industrial wastes, swill, demolition and construction wastes, and abandoned vehicles and their parts. It also can include discharge from septic tanks and dangerous wastes. Solid-waste incinerators are a source of air pollutants, such as dioxin, mercury and sulphur dioxide.
A public hearing on the amendments will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 22, at the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department, 3629 S. "D" St., in Tacoma.
A comment period on the rule amendments is open until July 29. Written comments can be mailed to Steve Cross, Department of Ecology Air Quality Program, P.O. Box 47600, Lacey, Wash., 98514, e-mailed to rulescomments@ecy.wa.gov, or faxed to 360-407-7534.
A copy of the proposed rule amendments can be found on Ecology's Web site at http://www.ecy.wa.gov/laws-rules/activity/wac173434b.html or can be requested by calling Steve Cross at 360-407-6875 or e-mailing him at stcr461@ecy.wa.gov.
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Media contact: Sandy Howard, public information manager, 360-407-6239
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
