Solid Waste > Solid Waste Rules Under Development > Criteria for Municipal Solid Waste Landfills Chapter 173-351, WAC

Rule Development - Criteria for Municipal Solid Waste Landfills Chapter 173-351, WAC

Overview of Rule Amendment

In August 2007 the Department of Ecology (Ecology) began the process to amend the existing rule, Chapter 173-351 WAC, Criteria for Municipal Solid Waste Landfills. The purpose of this regulation is to establish minimum state-wide standards for all municipal solid waste landfill (MSWLF) units under the authority of chapter 70.95 RCW. Jurisdictional health departments can enact ordinances or issue permits equally as or more stringent than this regulation.

This rule making will propose amendments to:

• Adopt new federal regulations and allow for issuance of Research, Development and Demonstration (RD&D) permits
• Eliminate equivalent and arid liner designs
• Extend greater flexibility for alternate liner designs consistent with federal regulations
• Address “general housekeeping” issues such as providing clarifications, making formatting changes, and ensuring that the rule is consistent with WAC 173-350, Solid Waste Handling Standards.

The anticipated revisions will impact all municipal solid waste landfill facilities in the state.

Public Involvement

Ecology has developed several ways to inform the public about this rule amendment to meet public involvement requirements in the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 34.05 RCW):

1. Web Site. Ecology regularly updates this rule development web page with information on rule activities, including how to comment on the proposed rule.
2. Email Notices (ListServ). Ecology created the WAC 173-351, Criteria for Municipal Solid Waste Landfills electronic mailing list (ListServ) to email information and notices to persons interested in the proposed rule amendments. Ecology encourages interested persons, including those involved with municipal solid waste landfills and the public to sign up.
3. Public Workshops. Ecology will hold two (2) informal public workshops in the winter of 2008 where interested persons can ask questions about the rule revisions and comment on the rule before it is proposed. The public is invited to these workshops. Please check back on this website for more information on the date and time of the workshops.
4. Public Hearings. Ecology will conduct two (2) public hearings in the winter of 2008 where formal comments on this rule can be submitted. Please check back on this website for more information on the date and time of the hearings.

Contact Information

For more information about this rule proposal contact:
Wayne Krafft
Phone: (509) 329-3438
Email: akra461@ecy.wa.gov.

Milestones & Timeline

WAC 173-351, Criteria for Municipal Solid Waste Landfills	Date * Target Date
CR-101 Filed: PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY	Aug 21, 2007
Public Workshops	* October 2008
CR-102 Filed: PROPOSED RULE MAKING	* December 2008
Public Hearings	* January 2009
Close of Comment Period (7 days after last Hearing)	* January 2009
CR-103 Filed: RULE-MAKING ORDER	* April 2009
Effective Date of Rule	* May 2009

* Note: target dates are estimates and may change