Research, Development, and Demonstration Permits for Municipal Solid Waste Landfills

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is revising the Criteria for Municipal Solid Waste Landfills (MSWLF) to allow states to issue research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) permits for new and existing MSWLF units and lateral expansions. Today's rule will allow Directors of approved state programs to provide a variance from certain MSWLF criteria, provided that MSWLF owners/operators demonstrate that compliance with the RD&D permit will not increase risk to human health and the environment over compliance with a standard MSWLF permit. EPA is finalizing this alternative permit authority to promote innovative technologies associated with landfilling of municipal solid waste. RD&D permits may provide a variance from existing requirements for run-on control systems, liquids restrictions, and the final cover requirements. No variance from any other requirements of MSWLF criteria, unless already provided for in the existing regulations, are allowed under today's rule.