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The Florida Senate

2006 Florida Statutes

SECTION 7125
Landfill management escrow account.
Section 403.7125, Florida Statutes 2006

403.7125  Landfill management escrow account.--

(1)  As used in this section:

(a)  "Landfill" means any solid waste land disposal area for which a permit, other than a general permit, is required by s. 403.707 that receives solid waste for disposal in or upon land other than a land-spreading site, injection well, or a surface impoundment.

(b)  "Closure" means the ceasing operation of a landfill and securing such landfill so that it does not pose a significant threat to public health or the environment and includes long-term monitoring and maintenance of a landfill.

(c)  "Owner or operator" means, in addition to the usual meanings of the term, any owner of record of any interest in land whereon a landfill is or has been located and any person or corporation which owns a majority interest in any other corporation which is the owner or operator of a landfill.

(2)  Every owner or operator of a landfill is jointly and severally liable for the improper operation and closure of the landfill, as provided by law.

(3)  The owner or operator of a landfill shall establish a fee, or a surcharge on existing fees or other appropriate revenue-producing mechanism, to ensure the availability of financial resources for the proper closure of the landfill. However, the disposal of solid waste by persons on their own property, as described in s. 403.707(2), is exempt from the provisions of this section.

(a)  The revenue-producing mechanism must produce revenue at a rate sufficient to generate funds to meet state and federal landfill closure requirements.

(b)  The revenue shall be deposited in an interest-bearing escrow account to be held and administered by the owner or operator. The owner or operator shall file with the department an annual audit of the account. The audit shall be conducted by an independent certified public accountant. Failure to collect or report such revenue, except as allowed in subsection (4), is a noncriminal violation punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000 for each offense. The owner or operator may make expenditures from the account and its accumulated interest only for the purpose of landfill closure and, if such expenditures do not deplete the fund to the detriment of eventual closure, for planning and construction of resource recovery or landfill facilities. Any moneys remaining in the account after paying for proper and complete closure, as determined by the department, shall, if the owner or operator does not operate a landfill, be deposited by the owner or operator into the general fund or the appropriate solid waste fund of the local government of jurisdiction.

(c)  The revenue generated under this subsection and any accumulated interest thereon may be applied to the payment of, or pledged as security for, the payment of revenue bonds issued in whole or in part for the purpose of complying with state and federal landfill closure requirements. Such application or pledge may be made directly in the proceedings authorizing such bonds or in an agreement with an insurer of bonds to assure such insurer of additional security therefor.

(d)  The provisions of s. 212.055 that relate to raising of revenues for landfill closure or long-term maintenance do not relieve a landfill owner or operator from the obligations of this section.

(4)  An owner or operator may establish proof of financial responsibility with the department in lieu of the requirements of subsection (3). Such proof may include surety bonds, certificates of deposit, securities, letters of credit, or other documents showing that the owner or operator has sufficient financial resources to cover, at a minimum, the costs of complying with landfill closure requirements. The owner or operator shall estimate such costs to the satisfaction of the department.

(5)  This section does not repeal, limit, or abrogate any other law authorizing local governments to fix, levy, or charge rates, fees, or charges for the purpose of complying with state and federal landfill closure requirements.

(6)  The department shall adopt rules to implement this section.

History.--s. 40, ch. 88-130; s. 70, ch. 91-221; s. 22, ch. 93-207.