Rep. Morris co-authors bill that allows for better utilization of industrial waste in Indiana

Tuesday, April 12, 2011 7:00 pm

Start Date:  4/12/2011  All Day  
End Date:  4/12/2011    
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Rep. Bob Morris (R- Fort Wayne) co-authored House Bill 1112, land application of industrial waste products.

House Bill 1112 requires the Commission of the Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) to approve or deny an application for a permit concerning the land application of a material or for marketing and distribution of a biosolid or an industrial waste product within 180 days after receiving the application.

"This is a bill that can directly improve how we deal with industrial waste within our district," said Rep. Morris. "By establishing specific guidelines for handling industrial waste, we will be able to better utilize it to benefit local industries."

Some of the following are also provisions of HB 1112:

  • Prohibits IDEM from discriminating against the use of industrial waste products on the basis that the industrial waste products lack biological carbon
  • Prohibits IDEM from imposing requirements beyond criteria found in applicable Water Pollution Control Board rules, unless necessary for protection of human health and the environment
  • Prohibits IDEM from requiring that the finished soil amendment, soil substitute or material to be land applied must be of a particular economic value
  • Requires for certain pollutants subject to an established pollutant limit or concentration, that an industrial waste product or the finished soil amendment, soil substitute or material to be land applied satisfies IDEM's risk integrated system
  • Requires IDEM in the case of a pollutant present in industrial waste products that does not have an established pollutant limit or concentration, to weigh the benefits of a finished soil amendments, soil substitute or material to be land applied against the risks to human health and the environment

"This is a win-win situation; both the steel industry and farmers will benefit from this legislation. The steel industry will no longer need to ship non harmful industrial waste far away, which is costly, and farmers can use this composted byproduct to help their agriculture endeavors," said Rep. Morris.

House Bill 1112 passed the House and was assigned to the Committee on Energy and Environmental Affair in the Senate for further debate.
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