Reps. Acciavatti, Brandenburg, Ruth Johnson, Huizenga, Rivet, Hager, Law, Gieleghem, Accavitti, Bieda, Caswell, DeRossett, Ehardt, Elkins, Gleason, Jamnick, Kooiman, Lipsey, Milosch, Nofs, O'Neil, Rocca, Sak, Shulman, Stahl, Stewart, Taub, Vander Veen and Woronchak offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 261.

            A resolution to urge the Ontario Minister of the Environment to establish new landfills and landfill expansions.

            Whereas, For many years, Michigan and other states and provinces have wrestled with finding the best strategies to manage solid waste to protect the environment and achieve the highest standards of health and safety.  This formidable task has been made more challenging by court decisions that have complicated lines of authority, especially with regard to the transport of solid waste across state and national borders; and

            Whereas, Michigan has been especially frustrated by increasing volumes of imported trash.  Fully one-fourth of trash deposited in Michigan landfills originates outside the state.  While issues of commerce, authority, and, more recently, security enter the discussions about imported trash across our international border, it is essential that long-term environmental concerns remain at the heart of this debate; and

            Whereas, Our neighbors in Ontario have faced difficulties with regard to the disposal of solid waste because no new landfill capacity has been established in many years.  According to leaders in key communities in Ontario, this situation could be addressed by actions that can be taken by the Ontario Minister of the Environment.  Ontario regulations promulgated under Canada's Environmental Protection Act clearly set standards for new or expanding landfills.  Using these requirements for site design, operation, closure, and financial assurance to create new landfills and expand existing facilities will help the people of Ontario deal with this issue in an effective and farsighted manner; and

            Whereas, In an effort to protect our waters, communities, and land, Michigan is in the process of establishing tougher standards of solid waste management.  In doing so, our state is taking strong steps to reduce significantly the volume of materials that take up landfill space and to increase the protections for our environment.  When our Ontario neighbors take similar actions by increasing their landfill capacity and meeting rigid standards, people on both sides of our shared border will benefit for many years to come; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we urge the Ontario Minister of the Environment to establish new landfills and landfill expansions in Ontario; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Premier of Ontario, the Office of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, and the Ontario Minister of the Environment.