49-761. Rule making authority for solid waste facilities; exemption; financial assurance; recycling facilities

A. The department shall adopt rules regarding the storage, processing, treatment and disposal of solid waste as prescribed by subsections B through M of this section. In adopting rules, the department shall consider the nature of the waste streams at the facilities to be regulated. The department shall also consider other applicable federal and state laws and rules in an effort to avoid practices or requirements that duplicate, are inconsistent with or will result in dual regulation with other applicable rules and laws. Facilities that obtain and maintain coverage under a general permit established by the department pursuant to section 49-706 are exempt from rules adopted pursuant to this section. In adopting rules for solid waste facilities, the director may include requirements for corrective actions in response to a release, as defined in section 49-281, from a solid waste facility that violates or results in a violation of any provision of this chapter, rule adopted pursuant to this chapter or solid waste facility plan approved pursuant to this chapter. These rules shall be consistent with section 49-762.08, subsection B, subsection C, paragraphs 1 and 2 and subsections D and E.

B. For purposes of administering 42 United States Code section 6945, as amended November 8, 1984, 40 C.F.R. part 258 is adopted by reference except as prescribed by paragraph 2 of this subsection. This subsection, as it applies to municipal solid waste landfills, governs if there is any conflict between this subsection and any other statute relating to solid waste. Municipal solid waste landfill facility plans submitted pursuant to section 49-762 shall comply with this subsection. In administering this subsection or in adopting or administering any rules adopted pursuant to this subsection, the department shall ensure that any discretion allowed to a director of an approved state pursuant to the federal regulations is maintained. The following apply to the department's administration of 42 United States Code section 6945 and to the department's adoption of rules for municipal solid waste landfills:

1. The department may adopt rules for municipal solid waste landfills. Rules adopted pursuant to this paragraph shall not be more stringent than or conflict with 40 C.F.R. part 258 for nonprocedural standards, except that the department may adopt aquifer protection standards that are more stringent than 40 C.F.R. part 258 if those standards are consistent with and no more stringent than standards developed pursuant to chapter 2, article 3 of this title, or if the standards are adopted pursuant to article 9 of this chapter. Rules adopted pursuant to this paragraph are effective on the concurrence of the administrator with this state's municipal solid waste landfill program.

2. 40 C.F.R. part 258, table I is not adopted in its entirety. The department shall use aquifer water quality standards that have been adopted by the department pursuant to section 49-223 and shall use those portions of table I that are more restrictive than the standards adopted pursuant to section 49-223.

C. The department shall adopt rules for those solid waste land disposal facilities that are not municipal solid waste landfills. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection shall not be more stringent than or conflict with 40 C.F.R. part 257 for nonprocedural standards, except that the department may adopt aquifer protection standards that are more stringent than 40 C.F.R. part 257 if these standards are consistent with and no more stringent than standards developed pursuant to chapter 2, article 3 of this title, or if the standards are adopted pursuant to article 9 of this chapter. In administering this subsection, the department shall ensure that any discretion allowed to a director of an approved state pursuant to the federal regulations is maintained in the department's rules. Aquifer protection provisions adopted pursuant to this subsection do not apply to an owner or operator of a solid waste facility if the owner or operator submits an administratively complete application for an aquifer protection permit pursuant to chapter 2, article 3 of this title before the date that the owner or operator is required to submit a solid waste facility plan.

D. The department shall adopt rules to define biohazardous medical waste and to regulate biohazardous medical waste and medical sharps to include all of the following:

1. A definition for biohazardous medical waste that includes wastes that contain material that is likely to transmit etiologic agents that have been shown to cause or contribute to increased human morbidity or mortality of epidemiologic significance. The department shall consult with the department of health services in making this determination.

2. Reasonably necessary rules regarding the storage, collection, transportation, treatment and disposal of biohazardous medical waste and medical sharps, beginning with the placement by the generator of the waste in containers for the purpose of waste collection. The department may require payment of a fee for the licensure of a transporter of biohazardous medical waste. After July 20, 2011, the department shall establish by rule a fee for the licensure of a transporter of biohazardous medical waste, including a maximum fee. As part of the rule making process, there must be public notice and comment and a review of the rule by the joint legislative budget committee. After September 30, 2013, the department shall not increase that fee by rule without specific statutory authority for the increase. The fees shall be deposited, pursuant to sections 35-146 and 35-147, in the solid waste fee fund established by section 49-881. In the case of self-hauling of waste by the generator, all storage facilities under the generator's control and all waste handling practices including storage, treatment and transportation shall be in accordance with these rules. The department shall also adopt reasonably necessary rules regarding the tracking of biohazardous medical waste and medical sharps.

E. The department may adopt reasonably necessary rules regarding the storage, collection, transportation, treatment and disposal of nonbiohazardous medical waste beginning with the placement by the generator of the waste in containers for the purpose of waste collection. In the case of self-hauling of the waste by the generator, all storage facilities under the generator's control and all waste handling practices including storage, treatment and transportation shall be in accordance with these rules.

F. The department shall adopt rules for the application of sludge from a wastewater treatment facility to land for use as fertilizer or beneficial soil amendment. For the purposes of this subsection, " sludge" has the same meaning as sewage sludge as defined in 40 Code of Federal Regulations section 122.2 in effect on January 1, 1998.

G. The department shall adopt rules regarding the storage, processing, treatment or disposal of solid waste at solid waste facilities that are identified in section 49-762.01. The rules shall allow the owner or operator to certify compliance with the department's statutes and rules instead of obtaining a solid waste facility plan approval. The rules shall provide that the applicant at its option may request approval of a solid waste facility plan rather than certifying compliance.

H. The department shall issue by rule best management practices for the classes of solid waste facilities set forth in section 49-762.02.

I. The department shall adopt reasonably necessary rules establishing minimum standards for storing, collecting, transporting, disposing and reclaiming solid waste, including garbage, trash, rubbish, manure and other objectionable wastes. These rules shall provide for inspecting premises, containers, processes, equipment and vehicles, and for abating as environmental nuisances any premises, containers, processes, equipment or vehicles that do not comply with the minimum standards of these rules. The rules adopted pursuant to this subsection do not apply to sites that are either regulated by section 49-762, 49-762.01 or 49-762.02 or exempted by section 49-701, paragraph 29 or section 49-701.01. Notwithstanding any other provision of this subsection, rules adopted pursuant to this subsection shall apply to defining environmental nuisances pursuant to section 49-141.

J. The department shall adopt rules relating to financial assurance requirements. The rules shall indicate the types of financial assurance mechanisms to be required and the content, terms and conditions of each financial mechanism, including circumstances under which the department may take action on the financial assurance mechanism for facility closure, postclosure care if necessary and corrective action for known releases. The financial assurance mechanisms shall include all of the following:

1. Surety bond.

2. Certificate of deposit.

3. Trust fund with pay-in period.

4. Letter of credit.

5. Insurance policy.

6. Certificate of self-insurance.

7. Deposit with the state treasurer.

8. Evidence of ability to meet any of the following:

(a) Corporate financial test.

(b) Local government financial test.

(c) Corporate guarantee test.

(d) Local government guarantee test.

(e) Political subdivision financial test that shall require the department to consider the entity's bond rating, income stream, assets, liabilities and assessed valuation of taxable property.

9. Multiple financial assurance mechanisms.

10. Additional financial assurance mechanisms that may be acceptable to the director.

K. The department shall adopt rules that prescribe standards to be used in determining if a site is a recycling facility.

L. The director may adopt rules that prescribe standards to be used in determining if a solid waste facility includes significant solid waste transfer activities that warrant the facility's regulation as a transfer facility.

M. The department shall adopt facility design, construction, operation, closure and postclosure maintenance rules for biosolids processing facilities and household waste composting facilities that must obtain plan approval pursuant to section 49-762.