EPA delays air emission rules for municipal landfills

EPA will halt implementation of two emissions rules for municipal solid waste landfills 

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plans to halt the implementation of two rules relating to emissions at municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills. The “Standards of Performance for Municipal Solid Waste Landfills” and “Emission Guidance and Compliance Times for Municipal Solid Waste Landfills” were finalized in August 2016 and set specific emission standards for new and existing landfills. The EPA estimates that the rules affect close to 1,000 MSW facilities nationwide, many of which are operated by counties.

According to a statement from the EPA, the 2016 regulations would cost MSW facilities more than $100 million per year to install and monitor air emission systems. Posted in the Federal Register on May 31, the EPA officially announced it will implement a 90-day stay at the request of three industry groups.

EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt claimed the temporary hold will allow stakeholders “to review these requirements, assess economic impacts and provide feedback to the agency.” The EPA will continue reevaluating the two rules until Aug. 29.

Specifically, the EPA plans to “reconsider” six topics within the rule:

• Tier 4 emissions reporting
• Annual liquids reporting
• Corrective action timeline procedures
• Overlapping applicability with other rules
• The definition of cover penetration, and
• Design approval.

The United States contains more than 2,000 active landfills and counties play an integral role in collecting and storing municipal waste. Local governments are major owners of MSW facilities and are subject to the cost of complying with environmental regulations.

NACo supports uniform landfill standards that are performance-based.