HB 2229 — An Act amending the act of July 7, 1980 (P.L.380, No.97), known as the Solid Waste Management Act, in general provisions, further providing for powers and duties of the department.

Bill Text

• Printer's No. PN2922 View text Current pdf

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This bill amends the Solid Waste Management Act to enhance the powers and duties of the Department of Environmental Protection regarding hazardous waste sites and notices of violation.

• Section 104

  (17) administer funds collected by the United States Government and granted to Pennsylvania for the purpose of closing, maintaining or monitoring abandoned or closed hazardous waste storage, treatment or disposal sites and for the purpose of action to abate or prevent pollution at such sites. If Congress has not authorized the collection of such funds within one year after the effective date of this act, or if the department finds that the funding program authorized is inadequate, the department shall transmit to the General Assembly within 15 months after the effective date of this act a proposal for the establishment of a fund in Pennsylvania comprised of surcharges collected from users of hazardous waste storage, treatment and disposal facilities excluding captive facilities in the Commonwealth. Such fund shall be proposed for the purpose of closing, maintaining or monitoring hazardous waste storage, treatment or disposal sites excluding captive facilities which have been abandoned or which have been closed for at least 20 years, and for the purpose of taking action to abate or prevent pollution at such closed or abandoned sites;

  This provision establishes a duty for the department to propose a new fund to manage hazardous waste sites if federal funding is inadequate.

• Section 104

  (18) encourage the beneficial use or processing of municipal waste or residual waste when the department determines that such use does not harm or present a threat of harm to the health, safety or welfare of the people or environment of this Commonwealth. The department shall establish waste regulations to effectuate the beneficial use of municipal and residual waste, including regulations for the issuance of general permits for any category of beneficial use or processing of municipal waste or residual waste on a regional or Statewide basis in accordance with the regulations adopted by the Environmental Quality Board. The department may or may not require insurance under section 502(e) or bonds under section 505(a) for any general permit or class of general permits promulgated under this paragraph. Except with the written approval of the department, no waste may be stored for longer than one year. Residual wastes being stored shall be monitored for changes in physical and chemical properties, including leachability, pursuant to applicable regulations, by the person or municipality beneficially using or processing such waste. The department may require the submission of periodic analyses or other information to ensure that the quality of residual waste to be beneficially used or processed does not change. A municipality or person beneficially using or processing the residual waste shall immediately notify the department, upon forms provided by department, of any change in the physical or chemical properties of the residual waste, including leachability; and the department shall conduct an investigation and order necessary corrective action. Upon receipt of a signed, written complaint of any person whose health, safety or welfare may be adversely affected by a physical or chemical change in the properties of residual waste to be beneficially used or processed, including leachability, the department shall determine the validity of the complaint and take appropriate action;

  This provision expands the department's authority to regulate and monitor the beneficial use of waste, improving environmental safety.

• Section 104

  (19) if the department receives a notice of noncompliance issued by the United States Environmental Protection Agency for a violation of 15 U.S.C. Ch. 53 (relating to toxic substances control), forward the notice to the municipality where the violation occurred within 14 calendar days of receipt;

  This adds a requirement for the department to notify municipalities of federal noncompliance notices, improving local awareness and responsiveness.

• Section 104

  (20) provide a copy of all notices of violation issued under the authority of this act to the municipality where the recipient facility or site is located. A municipality may request at any time not to receive copies of notices of violation or noncompliance referenced in this paragraph and paragraph (19). The request must be in writing from an authorized municipal representative to the regional waste program manager in the appropriate regional office of the department;

  This provision mandates that municipalities receive copies of all notices of violation, allowing for better local oversight.

Action History

1. June 24, 2026

   Removed from table

2. March 23, 2026

   Laid on the table

3. March 23, 2026

   First consideration

4. March 23, 2026

   Reported as committed

5. February 20, 2026

   Referred to Environmental & Natural Resource Protection

Sponsors

• Zachary Mako · Primary
• Charity Grimm Krupa · Cosponsor
• Robert Freeman · Cosponsor
• Barbara Gleim · Cosponsor
• R. Lee James · Cosponsor
• Seth Grove · Cosponsor

Votes

Subjects