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Waste 2 Resources Program

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

Public Workshops. Ecology held two (2) informal public workshops where interested persons asked questions about the rule revision and comments on the rule. The first workshop was held in Lacey, WA July 12, 2011 at 10:00 AM in the Ecology HQ Auditorium. The second workshop was held in Moses Lake, WA on July 19, 2011 beginning at 1:00 PM in the afternoon at Big Bend Community College - Masto Conference Center Room 1870.
Draft rule amendments are available for review and comment beginning 6/15/2011 for the Informal Comment Period: 6/15/2011 - 7/29/2011. Submit comments to Kathleen Scanlan, Rule and Policy Specialist via:

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.

Public Involvement

Ecology 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):

Web Site. Ecology regularly updates this rule development web page with information on rule activities, including how to comment on the proposed rule.

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.

Public Hearings. Ecology will conduct a hearing 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 hearing.

Contact Information


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

Milestones & Timeline

WAC 173-351, Criteria for Municipal Solid Waste Landfills Date
CR-101 Filed: PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY Aug 21, 2007
Draft rule/EPA review 2010/2011
Informal Comment Period (6/15/11 - 7/29/11)
Public Workshop #1: Lacey, WA
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Ecology HQ - Auditorium Room ROA-32
300 Desmond Dr. Olympia, WA 98504
July 12, 2011
(Lacey, WA)
Informal Comment Period (6/15/11 - 7/29/11)
Public Workshop #2: Moses Lake, WA
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Big Bend Community College Room 1870
Masto Conference Center
7611 Bolling St. NE, Moses Lake, WA 98837
July 19, 2011
(Moses Lake, WA)
CR-102 Filed: PROPOSED RULE MAKING Spring 2012
Public Hearings (formal public comment period) Spring 2012
Close of Formal Comment Period (7 days after last public hearing) Spring 2012
CR-103 Filed: RULE-MAKING ORDER Summer 2012
Effective Date of Rule Summer 2012

* Note: target dates are estimates and may change


References

Rule: WAC 173-351
Law: RCW 70.95
40CFR 258

More Information

Public Involvement

Rule Documents

Sign up for email notifications (ListServ)

Contact Us

Rule and Policy Specialist
Kathleen Scanlan
Dept of Ecology
PO Box 47600
Olympia, WA 98504-7600
(360) 407-6559
ksca461@ecy.wa.gov