Colorado § 25-15-505 - Grounds for approval.

§ 25-15-505. Grounds for approval.

(1) A governing body having jurisdiction shall approve or disapprove an application for a hazardous waste incinerator or processor site certificate of designation within one hundred eighty days after receiving such application. Such governing body having jurisdiction may approve an application for a certificate of designation upon a finding of all of the following factors:

(a) That the proposed hazardous waste incinerator or processor site would not pose a significant threat to the health or safety of the public or the environment, taking into consideration:

(I) The density of population in the areas neighboring such proposed site;

(II) The density of population in the areas that are adjacent to any portion of delivery roads to such proposed site and that lie within a fifty-mile radius of such proposed site; and

(III) The risk of accidents or crashes occurring during the transportation of waste to or at the proposed site;

(b) That the applicant has documented such applicant's financial ability to operate the proposed hazardous waste incinerator or processor;

(c) That the applicant, taking into account such applicant's prior performance records, if any, in the treatment, storage, disposal, processing, or incineration of hazardous waste, has documented sufficient reliability, expertise, and competency to operate and manage the proposed hazardous waste incinerator or processor; and

(d) That the proposed site conforms to the comprehensive land use plans and relevant land use regulations of the governing body having jurisdiction; except that, to the extent the commission has promulgated a rule imposing a condition on incinerator or processor operation pursuant to section 25-15-302, such comprehensive land use plans and rules shall not impose a condition more stringent than that contained in such state rule.

(2) In considering an application for a proposed hazardous waste incinerator or processor, the governing body having jurisdiction shall take into account the effect that such hazardous waste incinerator or processor will have on the surrounding property, taking into consideration the types of processing to be used, wind and climatic conditions, and both the quality and quantity of public and private infrastructure necessary to facilitate the construction and subsequent operation of such incinerator, processor, or site.

(3) (a) Prior to the issuance of a certificate of designation for a hazardous waste incinerator or processor, the application, comprehensive land use plans, any relevant zoning ordinances, and any other pertinent information shall be presented to the governing body having jurisdiction at a public hearing to be held after notice. Such notice shall contain the date, time, and location of the hearing and shall state that the matter to be considered at such hearing is the applicant's application for a hazardous waste incinerator or processor. Such notice shall be published in a newspaper having general circulation in the county or municipality in which the proposed hazardous waste incinerator or processor site is located at least ten days but no more than thirty days prior to the date of such hearing. Any such notice shall be printed prominently in at least ten-point, bold-faced type. Such notice shall be posted at the proposed hazardous waste incinerator or processor site for a period beginning at least thirty days before such public hearing and continuing through the date of such hearing.

(b) At any public hearing held pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (a) of this subsection (3), the governing body having jurisdiction shall hear or receive any written or oral testimony presented by the applicant and by governmental entities and residents or any interested party concerning such proposed incinerator or processor site. All such testimony shall be considered by the governing body having jurisdiction in making a decision concerning such application.

(4) The governing body having jurisdiction shall notify the department of the approval or disapproval of any application for a hazardous waste incinerator or processor certificate of designation within five days after such approval or disapproval.

(5) The governing body having jurisdiction over a hazardous waste incinerator or processor may enact local procedural rules in order to implement the provisions of this part 5. If a local procedural rule conflicts with any of the provisions of this article, the provisions of this article shall control.

Source: L. 92: Entire part added, p. 1266, § 1, effective July 1; (1)(d) amended, p. 1261, § 27, effective August 1. L. 2002: Entire section amended, p. 90, § 5, effective March 22. L. 2026: (1)(a)(III) amended, (HB 26-1237), ch. 117, p. 469, § 21, effective August 12.