Posted: | March 4, 2013 04:11 PM |
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From: | Representative Neal P. Goodman |
To: | All House members |
Subject: | Prohibit New Landfills Near Sources of Public Drinking Water |
In the near future, I will be re-introducing legislation from last session (former HB 988) that would prohibit new landfills from being located within one mile of a reservoir that serves as a source for public drinking water. This legislation passed the House of Representatives in a past legislative session. This legislation would apply to new municipal waste, residual waste, and construction and demolition waste landfills. Modifications, extensions, additions or renewals of existing permitted facilities would not be affected by this legislation. Current department regulations permit a municipal waste landfill within a ¼ mile upgradient and within 300 feet downgradient of a public or private water source. This setback is not enough, and this requirement can be waived by DEP when, among other things, the applicant can demonstrate a replacement water source for the public. We prohibit landfills within 900 feet of a school, park, or playground. It is only common sense that landfills should be located at least that far from public drinking water sources. Water is one of our most precious natural resources. Our lives depend upon it, and so we must do everything we can to protect our public drinking water sources from pollutants, especially from landfills. Previous co-sponsors: BOBACK, CALTAGIRONE, COHEN, CONKLIN, D. COSTA, DeLUCA, FABRIZIO, GEORGE, GIBBONS, HARHAI, HORNAMAN, JOHNSON, KORTZ, KULA, MILLARD, MIRABITO, MULLERY, MURT, M. O'BRIEN, PAYTON, SANTARSIERO, K. SMITH, SWANGER, WAGNER and YOUNGBLOOD |
Introduced as HB1058