Committee reaffirms funding status for municipal solid‑waste closures and transfer stations
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The House Minerals Committee voted unanimously to pass House Bill 14, a recurring measure that updates the state’s priority list for municipal solid‑waste transfer stations and landfill closures under the cease‑and‑transfer program.
Todd Parfitt, director of the Department of Environmental Quality, and Suzanne Ingalls, administrator of DEQ’s Solid and Hazardous Waste Division, briefed the committee on the program’s progress since its 2013 inception. Ingalls said the agency originally identified 52 eligible projects with an estimated total cost of about $96.2 million. Since program inception, the Legislature has deposited roughly $69.9 million into the program account, split between grants and loans.
As of September 2024 DEQ had funded 37 projects (13 transfer stations and 23 landfill closures, plus one carcass‑management project), Ingalls said, and there remain 14 projects on the updated priority list: six transfer stations and eight landfill closures. Including returned funds from projects that came in under budget and loan repayments, Ingalls said the account balance is about $23.5 million (reported in testimony as $23,514,167.96) available for remaining projects.
Committee members questioned program details, including a carcass management project in Fremont County that purchased bear‑proof containers, and long‑term monitoring and post‑closure responsibilities for landfill closures. Ingalls explained that landfill closure permits include groundwater monitoring and a post‑closure monitoring period of up to 30 years, extendable if contamination persists. She said local operators are responsible for ongoing monitoring costs.
Director Parfitt and Ingalls said the program has successfully reduced the number of unlined, small landfills that posed long‑term groundwater risks and that the program could be considered for sunsetting once the originally authorized projects are funded through the State Loan and Investment Board.
Ashley Harpstreet, executive director of the Wyoming Association of Municipalities, testified in support and described the program as “a positive, welcomed program throughout the state.” After public and organizational testimony, Representative Lolli moved the bill; Representative Riggins seconded, and the committee approved it on a 9‑0 roll call.
The bill updates the active priority list and makes the revised list effective immediately upon becoming law, per the bill text presented to the committee. DEQ staff told legislators they will return to the Legislature if revised cost estimates show additional funding is needed for projects on the list.
Todd Parfitt, director of the Department of Environmental Quality, and Suzanne Ingalls, administrator of DEQ’s Solid and Hazardous Waste Division, briefed the committee on the program’s progress since its 2013 inception. Ingalls said the agency originally identified 52 eligible projects with an estimated total cost of about $96.2 million. Since program inception, the Legislature has deposited roughly $69.9 million into the program account, split between grants and loans.
As of September 2024 DEQ had funded 37 projects (13 transfer stations and 23 landfill closures, plus one carcass‑management project), Ingalls said, and there remain 14 projects on the updated priority list: six transfer stations and eight landfill closures. Including returned funds from projects that came in under budget and loan repayments, Ingalls said the account balance is about $23.5 million (reported in testimony as $23,514,167.96) available for remaining projects.
Committee members questioned program details, including a carcass management project in Fremont County that purchased bear‑proof containers, and long‑term monitoring and post‑closure responsibilities for landfill closures. Ingalls explained that landfill closure permits include groundwater monitoring and a post‑closure monitoring period of up to 30 years, extendable if contamination persists. She said local operators are responsible for ongoing monitoring costs.
Director Parfitt and Ingalls said the program has successfully reduced the number of unlined, small landfills that posed long‑term groundwater risks and that the program could be considered for sunsetting once the originally authorized projects are funded through the State Loan and Investment Board.
Ashley Harpstreet, executive director of the Wyoming Association of Municipalities, testified in support and described the program as “a positive, welcomed program throughout the state.” After public and organizational testimony, Representative Lolli moved the bill; Representative Riggins seconded, and the committee approved it on a 9‑0 roll call.
The bill updates the active priority list and makes the revised list effective immediately upon becoming law, per the bill text presented to the committee. DEQ staff told legislators they will return to the Legislature if revised cost estimates show additional funding is needed for projects on the list.
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