Washington § 70A.205.025 - Standards for solid waste handling — Areas — Landfill location.

(1) The department shall adopt rules establishing minimum functional standards for solid waste handling, consistent with the standards specified in this section. The department may classify areas of the state with respect to population density, climate, geology, status under a quarantine as defined in RCW 17.24.007, and other relevant factors bearing on solid waste disposal standards.

(2) In addition to the minimum functional standards adopted by the department under subsection (1) of this section, each landfill facility whose area at its design capacity will exceed one hundred acres and whose horizontal height at design capacity will average one hundred feet or more above existing site elevations shall comply with the standards of this subsection. This subsection applies only to wholly new solid waste landfill facilities, no part or unit of which has had construction commence before April 27, 1999.

(a) No landfill specified in this subsection may be located:

(i) So that the active area is closer than five miles to any national park or a public or private nonprofit zoological park displaying native animals in their native habitats; or

(ii) Over a sole source aquifer designated under the federal safe drinking water act, if such designation was effective before January 1, 1999.

(b) Each landfill specified in this subsection (2) shall be constructed with an impermeable berm around the entire perimeter of the active area of the landfill of such height, thickness, and design as will be sufficient to contain all material disposed in the event of a complete failure of the structural integrity of the landfill.

Effective date—1999 c 116: "This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately [April 27, 1999]." [ 1999 c 116 s 2.]