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Developed and maintained by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems.
1999 SESSION
990003408WHEREAS, Virginia ranks second in the nation in the amount of municipal waste imported from other states, and the tonnage imported is likely to increase as other states close landfills; and
WHEREAS, the negative impacts of truck, rail, and barge traffic and litter, odors, and noise associated with waste imports occur not just at the location of final disposal but also along waste transportation routes; and
WHEREAS, current landfill technology has the potential to fail, leading to long-term cleanup and other associated costs; and
WHEREAS, the importation of waste runs counter to the repeatedly expressed strong desire of Virginia's citizens for clean air, land, and water and for the preservation of Virginia's unique historic and cultural character, and it is essential to promote and preserve these attributes; and
WHEREAS, the Commonwealth has demonstrated the ability to attract good jobs and to promote sound economic development without relying on the importation of garbage; and
WHEREAS, in 1995, 23 state governors wrote to the Commerce Committee of the United States House of Representatives urging passage of legislation allowing states and localities the power to regulate waste entering their jurisdictions; and
WHEREAS, legislation is pending before the Commerce Committee of the United States House of Representatives that would provide states and localities with the authority to control the importation of waste, a power that is essential to the public health, safety, and welfare of all citizens of Virginia; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the [ House of Delegates, the Senate Senate, the House of Delegates
] concurring, That the Congress of the United States be urged to enact legislation giving
states and localities the power to control waste imports into their
jurisdictions, including the following provisions: (i) a ban on waste imports
in the absence of specific approval from the disposal site host community and
governor of the host state; (ii) authorization for governors to freeze solid
waste imports at 1993 levels; (iii) authorization for states to consider
whether a disposal facility is needed locally when deciding whether to grant a
permit; and (iv) authorization for states to limit the percentage of a disposal
facility's capacity that can be filled with waste from other states; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the [ House of Delegates Senate ] transmit
copies of this resolution to the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives,
the President of the United States Senate, and the members of the Virginia Congressional
Delegation in order that they may be apprised of the sense of the Virginia
General Assembly in this matter.