HomeMy WebLinkAboutord1990-032WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL AGENDA BILL NO. 90 -139
APR - 41990
WHATCOM COUNTY
COUNCIL .X1
SUBJECT.•
4/10/90 1 PS /Council
Emergency ordinance'declaring a two -month moratorium on _'demolition landfill permits.
ATTACHMENTS.
- Emergency Ordinance
Public Hearing Needed? Yes/ No /xx/
SUMMARY STATEMENT.•
Dr. James initiated this emergency ordinance, which will place a moratorium on demolition
landfill permits until the Health Board Advisory Committee recommends and the Council
approves regulations governing demolition landfills.
The Health Board Advisory Committee is scheduled to have a hearing on proposed regu-
lations at 8 a.m. April 20.
RECOMMENDED ACTION.•
Health Department recommends adoption of the emergency ordinance.
COMMITTEE ACTION (including dates):
COUNCIL ACTION (including dates):
4/10/90 Passed unanimously
Related File Numbers: A6go -179 Ordinance or Resolution Number. • Ord 90 -32
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INTRODUCED BY: Consent
PROPOSED BY: Health Dept.
SUBSTITUTE
ORDINANCE NO. 90 -32
DATE: 4 -10 -90
5 EMERGENCY ORDINANCE DECLARING A TWO -MONTH
6 MORATORIUM ON DEMOLITION LANDFILL PERMITS
7 WHEREAS, the Whatcom County Health Department and the Whatcom
8 County Council's Health Board Advisory Committee recommend the
9 declaration of a moratorium on demolition landfill permits; and
10 WHEREAS, the Whatcom County Health Department and the Whatcom
11 County Council's Health Board Advisory Committee are in the process of
12 developing new regulations for demolition of inert solid waste; and
13 WHEREAS, a moratorium on demolition landfill permits for a two
14 month period would allow sufficient time for the County to develop and
15 implement meaningful regulations; and
16 WHEREAS, existing regulatory requirements do not provide for
17 adequate health department assessment to assure permitting will protect
18 the health of the public; and
19 WHEREAS, existing demolition landfill regulations are not adequate
20 to insure proper citing restrictions needed to protect the public health
21 and the environment, and to prevent long -term health costs to the
22 County; and
23 WHEREAS, inadequate design standards and operational plans may
24 lead to environmental degradation and pose public health threats through
25 mismanagement and lack of closure controls and monitoring; and
26 WHEREAS, inadequate operational plans will lead to large open
27 uncontrolled dump sites which pose public health threats, may be
28 abandoned, and then left to the County for remedial action and final
29 closure costs; and
30 WHEREAS, current non - restrictive regulations will encourage the
31 development of numerous small facilities incapable of generating
32 revenues needed for proper environmental controls; and
33 WHEREAS, inadequate control and testing of leachate generated may
34 contaminate surface and groundwaters of Whatcom County; and
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2 WHEREAS, current regulations do not ensure proper closure and post
3 closure of facilities to prevent a nuisance or public health threat from
4 occurring after closure of the facility;
5 WHEREAS, the moratorium is necessary in order to protect the
6 public's safety, health and welfare;
7 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Whatcom County Council that
8 a moratorium on the granting of permits for Demolition Landfills by the
9 Whatcom County Health Department is hereby declared and shall be in
10 effect for two months; and
11 BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED that the County Council has determined that
12 an emergency does exist and this moratorium is necessary in order to
13 protect the public's safety, health and welfare.
14 ADOPTED this 10th day of A p r i 1 , 1990.
15 WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
16 ATTEST: WHATCOM QOUXW, WASHINGTON
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18 Ramona Reeves, Council Clerk Don d7Q . Ha sey, Cha�ga n
19 APPROVED AS TO FORM: (✓Approved () Denied
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21 Civil Deputy Prosecutor Shirley an Za n, Executive
22 Date: ; C If; t