U.S. Conference of Mayors &
MWMA Legislative Agenda
Portland, Oregon
October 19-21, 2005
Background
 The
U.S. Conference of Mayors
- Issue Areas
 Municipal Waste
Management Association
and Solid Waste Advisory Council
 Legislative
Process
USCM/MWMA Solid Waste
Priorities
 Waste-to-Energy Issues
 Clean Air
Regulations
-- Attainment Status, Tools to Help Communities,
Retrofitting Trucks, Alternative Fuels
 Recycling
Control – Interstate Waste
 Climate Protection
 Flow
Chicago Resolutions

COMPREHENSIVE SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL
MANAGEMENT

SUPPORTING THE LEGAL RIGHTS OF AMERICA’S
CITIES TO REVIEW AND APPROVE SOLID WASTE
MANAGEMENT FACILITIES WITHIN THEIR
JURISDICTION

ENDORSING THE U.S. MAYORS CLIMATE
PROTECTION AGREEMENT

SUPPORTING THE CHICAGO CLIMATE EXCHANGE
Domenici-Barton Energy Policy
Act of 2005


Signed into law August 8, 2005
Expanded WTE production tax credit –
 Provides 0.9 cent/kilowatt-hour tax credit payable for a
10 year time period for electricity generated by a WTE
facility or new unit placed in service after 10/24/04 and
prior to 12/31/07
 National Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS), which
did not include WTE, not included in the final bill.
 WTE was included in the RPS for federal departments
and agencies.
Clean Air

Clear Skies Initiative currently stalled in Congress

Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR) introduced and
included WTE.

USCM/MWMA & IWSA sent in a petition to
review – EPA granted the petition to review –
Comments are due on October 24, 2005.
Refinery Bill - House
H.R. 3893 –The Gasoline for America’s Security
Act of 2005

House Passed Bill on October 7 by a vote of 212210.

Expedites the siting of oil refineries.

Permitting Authority Moved from EPA to DOE

Preempts local and state zoning authority
Refinery Bill - Senate

S. 1722 – The Gas Petroleum Refiner
Improvement and Community Empowerment Act
- Introduced 9/26/05 – Hearing on Oct 18

Would not preempt local and state zoning laws.

No changes to New Source Review

EPA would retain permitting authority
Interstate and Foreign Waste

HR 2109, H.R.2491, H.R.593, S 1198 – Directs EPA to
amend the solid waste disposal act to authorize States to
restrict receipt of foreign municipal solid waste. (Midwest
Sponsors)

H.R.70 To authorize States to regulate the receipt and disposal
of out-of-State municipal solid waste. (VA Sponsors)

All bills referred to committees – no action to date.
Railroad Transfer Stations

HR 3577 IH - Introduced July 28, 2005
Amends section 10501 of title 49, US Code, Excludes
solid waste disposal from the jurisdiction of the Surface
Transportation Board.
Sponsor: Menendez (NJ); 4 Co-sponsors (NJ)

S 1607 IS - Introduced July 29, 2005
Solid Waste Environmental Regulation Clarification
Affecting Railroads Act of 2005
Sponsor: Lautenberg (NJ), Co-sponsor: Corzine (NJ)
Status: Referred to Committee
Electronic Recycling Bills
 HR 425 National Computer Recycling Act
 Establish a grant and fee program through EPA to encourage and
promote the recycling of used computers and to promote the
development of a national infrastructure for the recycling of used
computers.
 S.510: Electronic Waste Recycling Promotion and Consumer
Protection Act




Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow waste recyclers and individual
consumers a tax credit for recycling qualified electronic waste. Defines
"qualified electronic waste" as any discarded computer display screen or
system unit.
Bans the disposal of electronic waste without recycling three years after the
enactment of this Act.
Requires the head of each Federal executive agency to recycle electronic
waste.
Requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to
study the feasibility of establishing a nationwide recycling program for
electronic waste that preempts any State recycling program.
Hurricane & Solid Waste Issues
 Regular
and Contaminated Waste Disposal
 Discussion of Suspension of Environmental
Regulations
 Tremendous Need for Technical Assistance
and Recovery Efforts
Legislative Response

Need to pay for a potential $200 billion
recovery effort
 Where does the money come from?
 Question remains – how do you rebuild the
Gulf Coast’s infrastructure?
 What can be done by the solid waste
community?