HCS SS#2 SCS SB 225 -- HAZARDOUS WASTE

SPONSOR:  Cauthorn (Hobbs)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on
Conservation and Natural Resources by a vote of 12 to 0.

Currently, each operator of a solid waste sanitary landfill or a
transfer station in Missouri collects a charge of $1.50 per ton,
and each operator of the solid waste demolition landfill collects
$1 per ton for deposit into the Solid Waste Management Fund.
These charges are adjusted annually by the same percentage as the
increase in the federal Consumer Price Index (CPI).  This
substitute requires that no annual adjustment be made to the
charges imposed during October 1, 2005, to October 1, 2009,
except those needed to fund the operating costs of the Department
of Natural Resources.  During this time, no annual increase will
exceed the percentage increase measured by the CPI.  The
substitute decreases the percentage dedicated to the elimination
of illegal solid waste disposal from 42% to 39% and increases the
percentage that will be allocated through grants to participating
cities, counties, and districts from 58% to 61%.  Of the 61%, 40%
must be allocated based on the population of each district, and
60% will be allocated based on the amount of revenue generated
within each district.  The minimum a district may receive is
increased from $45,000 to $95,000.

The substitute eliminates the requirement that generators located
outside the state must register with the department.  Missouri
treatment, storage, and disposal facilities are required to pay a
fee equal to $5 per ton or a portion thereof, not to exceed
$52,000 but not less than $150 per site per year, for all
hazardous waste received from outside the state.  Payment for any
other expenditures which are not covered under the federal
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability
Act of 1980 will be received by the Hazardous Waste Fund.
Currently, 40% of all moneys collected by the department pursuant
to hazardous waste regulation is deposited into the Hazardous
Waste Remedial Fund and 60% deposited into the Hazardous Waste
Fund.  The substitute allows for all moneys collected to be
deposited into the Hazardous Waste Fund and eliminates the
Hazardous Waste Remedial Fund.

The waste tire fee expired on January 1, 2004.  The substitute
reimposes the fee until January 1, 2010.  The department must
give preference to contract bids for waste tire cleanups from
vendors that are Missouri residents, employ Missouri workers, or
use the tires for fuel or to manufacture a useful product.  The
department may consider prior performance in the awarding of the
contract.  A vendor will not be given a preference for a bid to
fill a landfill with waste tires, waste tire chips, or waste tire
shreds, including landfill cover.

The substitute extends the operation of the Dry Cleaning
Emergency Response Fund to 2012 and exempts dry cleaners who use
non-chlorinated solvents from the program.

A fee of 50 cents will be imposed on each lead-acid battery sold.
This fee is to be administered, collected, and enforced by the
Department of Revenue.

The substitute contains an emergency clause.

FISCAL NOTE:  Estimated Effect on General Revenue Fund of a Cost
of $89,088 to $2,334,760 in FY 2006, a Cost of $34,992 to
$503,500 in FY 2007, and a Cost of $35,870 to an Income of
Unknown in FY 2008.  Estimated Effect on Other State Funds of a
Cost of $225,768 to an Income of Unknown in FY 2006, a Cost of
$1,356,568 to an Income of Unknown in FY 2007, and a Cost of
$1,356,568 to an Income of Unknown in FY 2008.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the hazardous waste fee is
currently not applied on an equitable basis.  Missouri owned and
operated cement kilns are at a disadvantage and cannot compete
with kilns in surrounding states.  The bill, while increasing
fees paid per ton, will distribute the fees more equitably and
equally; therefore, creating a system where Missouri corporations
paying into the Hazardous Waste Fund are receiving a dollar for
dollar benefit.

Testifying for the bill were Senator Cauthorn; and Continental
Cement.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Kristina Jenkins, Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
93rd General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated August 25, 2005 at 1:21 pm