sampling and monitoring, and under certain circumstances, reduce the quantity of pollutants in those
discharges. Storm water discharge regulations under this Act require a permit for certain construction
activities and discharges from industrial operations and facilities, which may aÅect our operations. If a
landÑll or transfer station discharges wastewater through a sewage system to a publicly-owned treatment
works, the facility must comply with discharge limits imposed by that treatment works. In addition, states
may adopt groundwater protection programs under this Act or the Safe Drinking Water Act that could
aÅect solid waste landÑlls. Furthermore, development which alters or aÅects wetlands must generally be
permitted prior to such development commencing, and certain mitigation requirements may be required
by the permitting agencies.
(4) The Clean Air Act, as amended. The Clean Air Act imposes limitations on emissions from
various sources, including landÑlls. In March 1996, the U.S. EPA promulgated regulations that require
large municipal solid waste landÑlls to install landÑll gas monitoring systems. These regulations apply to
landÑlls that commenced construction, reconstruction or modiÑcation on or after May 30, 1991, and,
principally, to landÑlls that can accommodate 2.5 million cubic meters or more of municipal solid waste.
The regulations apply whether the landÑll is active or closed. The date by which each aÅected landÑll is
required to have a gas collection and control system installed and made operational varies depending upon
calculated emission rates at the landÑll. Many state regulatory agencies also currently require monitoring
systems for the collection and control of certain landÑll gas. We do not expect that compliance with any
new state regulations will have a material eÅect on us.
(5) The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, as amended. This Act authorizes the
Occupational Safety and Health Administration of the U.S. Department of Labor to promulgate
occupational safety and health standards. A number of these standards, including standards for notices of
hazardous chemicals and the handling of asbestos, apply to our facilities and operations.
State Regulation. Each state in which we operate has its own laws and regulations governing solid waste
disposal, water and air pollution, and, in most cases, releases and cleanup of hazardous substances and liability
for such matters. States also have adopted regulations governing the design, operation, maintenance and
closure of landÑlls and transfer stations. Our facilities and operations are likely to be subject to these types of
requirements. In addition, our solid waste collection and landÑll operations may be aÅected by the trend in
many states toward requiring the development of solid waste reduction and recycling programs. For example,
several states have enacted laws that require counties or municipalities to adopt comprehensive plans to
reduce, through solid waste planning, composting, recycling or other programs, the volume of solid waste
deposited in landÑlls. Additionally, laws and regulations restricting the disposal of certain waste in solid waste
landÑlls, including yard waste, newspapers, beverage containers, unshredded tires, lead-acid batteries and
household appliances, have been promulgated in several states and are being considered in others. Legislative
and regulatory measures to mandate or encourage waste reduction at the source and waste recycling also are or
have been under consideration by the U.S. Congress and the U.S. EPA, respectively.
In order to construct, expand and operate a landÑll, one or more construction or operating permits, as well
as zoning and land use approvals, must be obtained. These are diÇcult and time-consuming to obtain, are
often opposed by neighboring landowners and citizens' groups, may be subject to periodic renewal and are