HB304 Alabama 2022 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Alan BakerRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2022

Title

Solid waste management sites, local approval, Sec. 22-27-48 am'd.

Summary

HB304 requires local governments to approve solid waste disposal sites before state permit decisions, adding local criteria, fees, and public notice requirements.

What This Bill Does

The bill gives counties and municipalities the authority to approve or disapprove solid waste disposal sites within their borders, and requires the state Department of Environmental Management to wait for that local approval before processing new or modified permits. It specifies criteria the local body must consider, adds local application fees, and strengthens public notice and hearing requirements. It also outlines when local approval is exempt, sets timelines for decisions, and clarifies how renewals and modifications are handled.

Who It Affects

• Local governing bodies (counties and municipalities): must approve or disapprove disposal sites, conduct public hearings, collect local fees, and issue timely decisions.
• Developers/permittees of solid waste facilities: must obtain local approval before state permit processing, may face local fees, and must follow local public-notice and hearing requirements; certain modifications may be exempt from local review.

Key Provisions

• Local governing bodies have authority to approve or disapprove disposal sites in accord with their solid waste management plan.
• The Department cannot consider new facility permit applications or modified permits unless local approval has been granted.
• Approval criteria include: consistency with the local plan, relation to development and transportation access, proximity to industries generating waste, costs and availability of public services, impact on public safety, and social/economic effects.
• Local application fee is 20 percent of the department's application/permit fee; renewed applications filed within 18 months of denial require a 50 percent local fee; simple permit renewals and certain modifications are exempt from local review.
• Public process requirements include at least one public hearing, public notice with time to comment, and availability of relevant documents; local decisions must be made within 90 days of receiving the proposal, or it is deemed approved.
• New siting decisions must follow Section 27-22-48.1; the section does not apply to industrial facilities operating on-site or to applications filed before May 25, 2017.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Solid Waste Management