Legislature Passes Bill Calling for Waste-Energy Plant Review

The Legislature has passed and sent to Gov. George Deukmejian a bill designed to ensure that the environmental impact of proposed waste-to-energy plants are thoroughly reviewed.

The measure, by Assemblyman Byron Sher (D-Palo Alto), requires air pollution districts to assess the health risk from the plants--especially from air pollutants--and determine that the projects would not cause a significant increase in illness and death.

Further, as new emission standards are developed by local agencies, the plants, such as Pacific Waste Management Corp.’s proposed Irwindale facility, swould be required to add new pollution control equipment.

The Senate passed Sher’s bill on a 34-0 vote Aug. 29, and the Assembly passed it 77 to 0. It was the only major bill on waste-to-energy issues to win passage in both houses. Deukmejian has not indicated whether he plans to sign the measure.

More than a dozen bills affecting construction of the high-tech incinerators were introduced in the Legislature this year, most of them aimed at curbing construction. Thirty-four of the plants are being built or are on the drawing boards in the state.