House votes to extend some solid waste permits by seven years

Some solid waste permits issued by the Pollution Control Agency could be extended for seven years under the provisions of a bill passed 130-0 by the House Thursday.

Rep. Dan Fabian

Sponsored by Rep. Dan Fabian (R-Roseau) and Sen. Bill Ingebrigtsen (R-Alexandria), SF844*/HF771 would provide and extension for class 1 demolition debris landfills operating with a solid waste permit under a 2005 PCA guidance.

Fabian said the bill addresses “a pressing issue” in much of rural Minnesota, where small demolition landfills accept an array of building materials and some feel burdened by state regulations.

Fabian hopes the bill “will foster a conversation” between the agency and landfill operators who believe the PCA is causing uncertainty with its rulemaking procedures.

“This has been going on for many, many years,” Fabian said.

He offered an amendment, which was adopted, to change the extension from five years to seven years.

The amended bill now heads back to the Senate.