Kempthorne Amendment Reduces Rural Landfill Costs

Rural Idaho communities will save millions of dollars in landfill costs thanks to an amendment written by Sen. Dirk Kempthorne.

The House of Representatives gave final approval to solid waste disposal legislation last week, clearing the way for the bill to be signed by President Clinton.

The Kempthorne amendment exempts small landfills in arid climates from expensive ground water testing requirements. It was originally adopted by the Senate last May.

“There’s no need to force small landfills in dry areas to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to test ground water when there is no risk of contaminating the aquifer,” Kempthorne said.

Kempthorne estimates his amendment will save counties across the country between $7.2 million and $26.6 million a year.

Rural landfills that accept less than 20 tons of municipal solid waste a day and receive less than 25 inches of precipitation a year can qualify for the testing exemption.