Interstate Waste Transport: Legislative Issues (CRS Report for Congress)
| Release Date |
Jan. 9, 2003 |
| Report Number |
RS20106 |
| Report Type |
Report |
| Authors |
James E. McCarthy, Resources, Science, and Industry Division |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
Summary:
This report discusses ten issues raised by proposed legislation to allow controls on interstate
commerce in solid waste. Such legislation has been considered in every Congress since 1990.
Renewed interest has been generated by developments in Michigan, which has seen a sharp increase
in waste imports from Canada as Toronto has closed local landfills. New York City's closure of its
last remaining landfill in March 2001 also generated concern in several states that now receive its
waste. Issues discussed in the report include whether to presumptively ban new waste shipments,
whether to grant authority to states or to local governments, what types of facilities and what types
of waste to include in a bill's authority, how to address out-of-country waste, grandfather provisions,
freeze and ratchet authority, fees on out-of-state waste, indirect measures controlling waste imports,
whether to include flow control authority, and the desirability of preconditions versus an
unconditional grant of authority. This report will be updated as developments warrant.
