In 1986, the legislature determined that it was necessary for specific
solid waste facilities to set aside assets for closure and for post-closure
care. Rules to implement this section of the statute were first adopted in 1988.
Since then rules addressing solid waste facilities have included language for
financial assurance.
Chapter 173-304 WAC, Minimum Functional
Standards for Solid Waste Handling
requires financial assurance for the following types of facilities:
inert and demolition landfills, surface impoundments, woodwaste landfills and
landspreading disposal facilities. The major components of financial assurance
are; an estimate of cost of closure and a 20 year post-closure period using a
reasonable cost estimate, the type of financial assurance instrument used
including designation of the local health department as the beneficiary of the
instrument, and a process to designate the closure and post-closure was
complete. (Checklist for Financial Assurance
Review Chapter 173-304 WAC
can assist in the review of the requirements for financial assurance
under this rule.)
Chapter 173-350 WAC, Solid Waste
Handling Standards, adopted in January of 2003, requires financial assurance
for waste tire storage facilities, fixed moderate risk waste facilities that
store more than nine thousand gallons of MRW on-site, excluding used oil, and
limited purpose landfills. The major components of financial assurance are; an
estimate of cost of closure and a 20 year post-closure period using a maximum
cost estimate (worst case scenario), the type of financial assurance instrument
used including designation of the local health department as the beneficiary of
the instrument, and a process to designate the closure and post-closure was
complete. (Checklist for Financial Assurance
Review Chapter 173-350 WAC can assist in the review of the requirements for
financial assurance under this rule.)
Chapter 173-351 WAC,
Criteria for Municipal Solid Waste Landfills
applies to municipal solid waste landfills. The major components of
financial assurance are; an estimate of cost of closure and a 30 year
post-closure period using a maximum cost estimate (worst case scenario), the
type of financial assurance instrument used including designation of the local
health department as the beneficiary of the instrument, and a process to
designate the closure and post-closure was complete. (Checklist
for Financial Assurance Review chapter 173-351 WAC
can assist in the review of the requirements for financial assurance
under this rule.)
Chapter 173-306 WAC, Special
Incinerator Ash Management Standards
applies to special incinerator ash monofills. The major components of
financial assurance are; an estimate of cost of closure and a 20 year
post-closure period using a reasonable cost estimate, the type of financial
assurance instrument used including designation of Ecology as the beneficiary of
the instrument, and a process to designate the closure and post-closure was
complete. (Checklist for Financial Assurance
Review chapter 173-306 WAC can assist in the review of the requirements for
financial assurance under this rule.)
