Bill Positions

Bill Number: SB 653

Bill Title: Environment - Coal Combustion By-Products - Minimum Standards - Beneficial Uses

Bill Sponsor(s): Senators Lenett, Madaleno, and Raskin

Subject: Environment & Energy

Committee: EHE

Bill Summary: This bill would have required regulations that specify the following: a person using or disposing of coal combustion by-products must comply with specified standards if the by-products come into contact with the ground; a person making specified use of coal combustion by-products must comply with regulations and permit provisions; and a person using coal combustion by-products for specified purposes use engineering practices that are at least as protective of the environment and public health as the practices required for landfill disposal of coal combustion by-products.

History: In 2010 this bill died in the Senate EHE Committee without a vote.

Chamber Position: Oppose

Position Summary: The actions of the General Assembly in 2009 provided the authority for MDE to take regulatory action in this area, and it is the Maryland Chamber's position that MDE has acted timely to implement a regulatory program for the beneficial use of CCBs that is more than protective of the environment and public health. SB 653 would have only slowed the regulatory program implementation and inject greater uncertainty into the marketplace. The environmental policy goal of the state should be to encourage and facilitate the beneficial reuse of these materials and reduce the need for landfills. For these reasons, the Maryland Chamber opposed this bill.

Position Statement: To view the Chamber's complete position statement, click here (pdf).

Chamber Staff: Allyson Black

General Assembly: Click here to view the bill on the Maryland General Assembly's website.