Dumping Rate Discount Ok’d Senate Approves Lower Rates For Producers Of Toxic Materials

The state Senate, trying to breathe new financial life into Idaho’s hazardous waste management account, has approved giving big waste producers a break on doing business with Idaho’s only commercial dump.

The 21-14 vote on Thursday came the day after senators voted 15-19 against the bill. The measure would reduce the state fee on hazardous waste dumped in Idaho from $30 a ton to $10 a ton for those who dump more than 25,000 tons.

But Sen. Cecil Ingram, R-Boise, who voted “no” on Wednesday, asked for reconsideration on Thursday. He then helped convince others to change their votes. The bill now goes to the House.

Supporters contend the lower rate for high-volume customers would lure additional waste to the Envirosafe Services of Idaho Inc. site near Grand View - enough to raise $275,000 a year more for the cashstrapped hazardous waste management account.

They praised Envirosafe Services’ record since taking over what had been a troubled site more than a dozen years ago.

But opponents said all reducing the rate would do is prompt surrounding states to do likewise, leaving Envirosafe no more competitive and the hazardous waste management account no more flush.

Sen. Clint Stennett, D-Ketchum, called it “voodoo economics.”

“You’re lowering the tax to raise revenue so we can attract more hazardous waste,” he said. “We become a magnet state for the waste and we still don’t accomplish what we’re trying to accomplish, and that’s to gather up more money.”

Envirosafe approached state officials about reducing the per-ton waste fee as a way to help the company in the increasingly competitive waste-handling market. The amount of hazardous waste being generated has declined in recent years, and so has the receipts to the state. From a high of $3.3 million in fiscal 1994, the amount is expected to reach only $1.25 million this year.

The primary recipient has been the state Division of Environmental Quality, which this year will receive about $2.5 million from the account. Money also goes to Owyhee County, Idaho’s INEEL Oversight Committee, the state Emergency Response Committee and an emergency response training program. So without the $3 million on hand at the beginning of the budget year that began last July 1, the account would already be in the red.