SCS/HB 151 - This act amends law pertaining to the generation and disposal of hazardous waste. Small quantity generators of hazardous waste will not have to report more often than annually.

FEES ON HAZARDOUS WASTE FACILITIES - The act imposes fees on hazardous waste disposal facilities. No such fee shall be imposed upon lead-acid batteries which are lawfully stored for the purpose of recycling nor shall such fees be imposed upon smelter slag. The amount of the fee is based on the method of disposal. The fees shall be assessed on a calendar year basis based on units authorized to operate on July 1 of the year, and fees shall be paid by December 31 each year. If more than one unit is operated on a site, then only the fee on the unit with the highest rate is assessed. Fees on facilities shall be assessed as according to the following schedule:

Type of Disposal Fee f/Commercial Unit Fee f/Private Unit

Land Disposal $42,500 $36,125

Incinerator $37,200 $31,600

Energy Recovery $31,875 $27,100

Other $21,250 $10,625

FEES ON GENERATION AND DISPOSAL OF HAZARDOUS WASTE - The act eliminates the fees on hazardous wastes based upon the method of storage and the waste's characteristics. The act imposes fees on hazardous waste which is generated or disposed of in Missouri, or both, but only one fee will be assessed on any given amount of waste. The fee shall be based upon the method of disposal according to the following schedule:

Method of Disposal Fee per Ton

Recycling $2.60

Energy Recovery (Fuel $5.20 Blending

Other $7.80

The base rate of the fees shall be adjusted annually by the Hazardous Waste Commission to bring in one million five hundred fifty thousand dollars per year. The minimum annual fee shall be fifty dollars, and the maximum annual fee shall be seventy-five thousand dollars per generating site and one hundred and fifty thousand dollars per company. The total annual fee under the act for facilities and generation and disposal of hazardous waste shall not exceed two hundred thousand dollars per company.

A cement kiln operation may annually purchase up to three credits toward the generator fees. A credit shall be for fees applied on thirty-five thousand tons of waste. The first credit shall cost $87,500 ($2.50 per ton), the second credit shall cost $122,500 ($3.50 per ton) and the third credit shall cost $157,500 ($4.50 per ton). Payments for purchase of credits shall be placed in the Hazardous Waste Remedial Fund. The credits may be used as payment of generator fees. Credits may be used by the purchaser. Credits may only be transferred by the kiln to a person from whom the kiln receives waste, and only in proportion to waste actually received.

Fees on generation or disposal of hazardous waste shall not apply to: 1) wastes generated by hospitals, 2) waste discharged to a publicly-owned treatment works, 3) waste disposed of under an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous waste site remedial plan, 4) smelter slag waste, or 5) waste generated by the state or a political subdivision.

If the Hazardous Waste Remedial Fund balance exceeds twelve million dollars, the base rate of the fees shall be reduced so that the balance falls below twelve million dollars during the next year.

This portion of the act is similar to SB 145 from 1997.

This portion of the act has a January 1, 1998 effective date.

DISPOSAL OF SHARPS AND INFECTIOUS WASTE - The act removes the requirement for shredded sharps , such as used needles, syringes and scalpels, to be transported in rigid, leak-proof containers. Shredded sharps may be landfilled. Infectious waste shall be transported in containers which have tight-fitting lids and shall be leak-proof on the bottom and sides. Infectious waste containing sharps shall be transported in puncture-resistant containers. Infectious waste which has been rendered innocuous may be landfilled. This portion of the act is similar to SB 447.
OTTO FAJEN