SD7 - Report of the Solid Waste Commission on Hazardous Wastes

  • Published: 1984
  • Author: Solid Waste Commission
  • Enabling Authority: Senate Joint Resolution 37 (Regular Session, 1983)

Executive Summary:
The Solid Waste Commission was created by the 1973 General Assembly in Senatte Bill No. 856 directing the Commission to study the management of solid waste and to advise the Governor and Legislature. As defined by the Commission, its objectives are:

- To analyze the problems associated with the management of all types of solid wastes and report findings;

- To develop recommendations and implement programs designed to improve waste management; and

- To sponsor legislation to improve solid waste management.

As specified by legislation, the Commission is composed of six State legislators, seven citizens with technical expertise, and two citizens representing an environmental interest. The legislators are assigned to the Commission by the Speaker of the House or the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections. Citizen appointments are made by the Governor, normally for four-year terms. A chairman is elected biannually among the members of the Commission. The current chairman, Dr. Robert F. Testin, is one of seven citizen-technical appointees.

The responsibilities of the Solid Waste Commission are met through the activities of working committees formed to address specific waste management issues. In addition, the member legislators form the Legislative Committee, providing valuable support to the Commission in the Senate and House of Delegates. Committees and their membership are as follows:

Hazardous Waste Committee

Mr. R. E. Dorer - Chairman
Sen. Joseph V. Gartlan, Jr.
Dr. Michael Markels, Jr.
Mr. William T. Reed, III
Del. James W. Robinson

Low-Level Waste Committee

Del. R. Beasley Jones - Chairman
Mr. Martin R. Adams
Del. C. Richard Cranwell
Mr. Frank H. Miller, Jr.
Dr. Robert F. Testin

Resource Recovery Committee

Mr. Callis H. Atkins - Chairman
Del. Frank D. Hargrove
Del. R. Beasley Jones
Mr. Frank H. Miller, Jr.
Mr. Jonathan M." Murdoch-Kitt
Mr. David M. Rothwell

Legislative Committee

Sen. Stanley C. Walker - Chairman
Sen. Joseph V. Gartlan, Jr.
Del. C. Richard Cranwell
Del. Frank D. Hargrove
Del. R. Beasley Jones
Del. James W. Robinson

Program Committee

Dr. Robert F. Testin - Chairman
Mr. Callis H. Atkins
Mr. Jonathan M. Murdoch-Kitt

The Commission office in the General Assembly Building houses the Commission's executive director and a secretary. This staff provides daily liaison with other State offices, such as the Health Department and the Governor's Office, and administration of the Commission's work program.

The body of this report is a summary of the current status on each of the major waste management topics as briefly stated below.

1. Hazardous Waste. Continuing the study of hazardous waste facility siting legislation pursuant to S.J.R. No. 37, the Commission prepared and distributed a draft siting bill. Six public hearings were held in locations across the state to solicit comment on the siting process. There was a significant amount of participation in the hearings from a variety of interest groups. Both written and oral comments were received and considered. The draft bill was revised to incorporate comments and considered for recommendati0n to the 1984 General Assembly.

2. Low-Level Radioactive Waste. The Commission continues to sponsor a public participation program to involve Virginians in the State's developing role for management of low-level radioactive waste (LLW). Responding to suggestions from the public, the Commission recommended delay of a study to select sites suitable for underground disposal of LLW being conducted by the State Health Department to provide for a study of alternatives to shallow land burial as a method of disposal.

As provided by the Federal Low-Level Radioactive Waste Policy Act, eight eligible states organized the Southeast Compact to provide for regional management of LLW. The Compact has established a sixteen-member commission to carry out the mission of the Compact. Virginia members of the Southeast Compact Commission appointed by the Governor are Sen. Joseph V. Gartlan, Jr., also a member of the Solid Waste Commission, and Mr. Timothy J. Sullivan, Executive Assistant to the Governor. Formal approval of the Southeast Compact is now before the U.S. Congress.

3. High Level Radioactive Waste. In accordance with the Federal Nuclear Waste Policy Act, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is identifying sites for the location of two repositories for the permanent disposal of high level radioactive waste. Virginia is one of the seventeen states being screened to determine the location of crystalline rock formations suitable for the siting of the second repository. The DOE is required to perform the site identification in consultation with state legislatures and governors. As directed by the Speaker of the House, the Solid Waste Commission has become the legislative contact for the issue. The Commission will prepare to advise the Legislature of Virginia's status in the future siting decisions.

4. Resource Recovery. An increasing number of resource recovery efforts in public and private sectors indicates a favorable·climate for recycling and waste-to-energy activities that are economically viable and beneficial to health and environment. The Commission plans to intensify its efforts in 1984 to ensure that Virginia localities are informed of practical resource recovery alternatives.

Detailed reports of these four topics and a discussion of plans for the coming year follow.