01-03-1985 Council Packet Special Meeting

Home Browse Search

The Council and state agencies are implementing other fc-derally mandated programs that relate directly or indirectly to the Council's solid waste program. Among these are the federal Water Pollution Control Act (Public Law 92-500), Clean Water Act of 1977 (Public Law 95-217) and Clean Air Act (Public Law 95-95). Wherever possible, this guide reflects a coordinative approach to these efforts to provide effective support and yet minimize duplication. State Legislation Planning and controlling solid waste generation, transportation and disposal in Minnesota are the responsibilities of counties, municipalities, regional govern- ments and state agencies. These public entities have various independent and joint responsibilities and statutory authorities largely under the state Waste Management Act. In the Metropolitan Area, municipalities, townships and counties are responsi- ble for regulating collection and transportation of solid waste and certain aspects of facility location and operation. Counties are directed to prepare master plans that describe and govern existing and proposed solid waste activities, functions and facilities of the county and municipalities within the county's jurisdiction (Minn. Stat., sec. 473.803). These plans, in turn, are governed by and required to be consistent with the Council's guide on solid waste management. Municipalities and counties are authorized to own and operate solid waste disposal facilities, and have various powers with respect to financing such facilities and executing contracts involving ownership and operation. The Council and counties have shared responsibilities in implementing a devel- opment process for waste reduction and resource recovery and solid waste landfill siting in the Metropolitan Area (see Figure 1-1). The counties must amend their master plans to implement waste reduction and resource recovery facilities and activities. The siting and reduction/recovery process is governed by and must be consistent with the Council's solid waste guide. The Council and counties have authority to implement the process, including control over the flow of waste and authority in some cases to override local community vetos of siting decisions. In addition six counties have located eligible sites for the land disposal of municipal solid waste. Sites approved by the Council are part of a metropolitan inventory of eligible sites. The Council determines the number of sites counties must acquire based on the amount of recovery and recycling that can be achieved. The counties have the responsi- bility of acquiring the landfills from the metropolitan inventory. Concurrent with metropolitan solid waste siting efforts are other siting efforts and responsihilities. The Council has the responsibility of finding disposal sites for sewage sludge and incinerator ash (residual solids) produced from the region's sewage treatment plants and for investigating alternatives to land disposal of these materials. The treatment plants are operatea by the Metropolitan Waste Control Commission, which must acquire the selected disposal sites in accordance with the Council's Water Resources Management Guide and its solid waste guide. At V 'ate level, the Minnesota Waste Management Board has the responsibility of de , oping acceptable management practices for the disposal of hazardous waste, including responsibilities for hazardous waste planning, siting, permit- ting and financing. The Waste Management Board also has authority to finance and regulate certain aspects of solid waste facilities and activities outside the Metropolitan Area. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is respon- sible for adopting a state solid waste plan and waste facility regulations.