A bill to amend the Solid Waste Disposal Act to provide for onsite storage in certain remote areas.

119th Congress Introduced by Lisa Murkowski and 1 co-sponsor

Amends the Solid Waste Disposal Act to allow on-site waste storage in designated remote areas under defined conditions with safeguards.

Introduced in Senate

Overview

S. 4856, introduced in the Senate during the 119th Congress, proposes an amendment to the Solid Waste Disposal Act with a specific focus on allowing on-site storage in certain remote areas. The bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, with Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski listed as co-sponsors.

Purpose and Intent

The primary aim is to modify federal solid waste disposal requirements to permit on-site storage in designated remote locations.

The bill appears to target situations where transporting waste to distant facilities is impractical or cost-prohibitive, seeking to provide a streamlined or delineated framework for on-site containment prior to disposal or processing.

Key Provisions (as described by the bill’s title and summary)

Amends the Solid Waste Disposal Act to authorize on-site storage in certain remote areas.

Establishes criteria or conditions under which on-site storage would be permissible, including possible safeguards and timeframes.

Potentially delineates responsibilities for facility operators, waste generators, and local/tribal authorities in remote regions.

May include reporting, recordkeeping, and inspection requirements to ensure environmental protections are maintained during on-site storage.

Note: The specific design details (e.g., storage duration limits, containment standards, monitoring requirements, access controls, emergency procedures, and penalties for non-compliance) are not provided in the summary provided. The actual bill text would specify these elements.

Who Would Be Affected

Waste generators in remote areas where on-site storage is authorized by the bill.

Facility operators and owners of remote disposal sites or processing facilities.

Local governments, tribal authorities, and state environmental agencies overseeing waste management in remote regions.

Regulators and inspectors responsible for ensuring compliance with storage standards and environmental safeguards.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

Introduced in the Senate and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works on June 23, 2026.

Co-sponsors include Senators Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski, indicating bipartisan interest.

The bill’s progression will depend on committee review, potential markups, and consideration on the Senate floor, followed by potential House action and reconciliation if there are parallel measures.

Potential Impacts and Considerations

Environmental: On-site storage could reduce transport needs in remote areas but would require robust containment, monitoring, and spill response to prevent environmental harm.

Operational: Remote-area flexibility may lower disposal costs and improve waste management accessibility for isolated communities or operations.

Regulatory: The amendment would need to align with existing federal standards for containment, groundwater protection, spill prevention, and emergency response.

Public Health and Safety: Safeguards would be essential to protect nearby residents and ecosystems from leaks, leaks, or improper handling.

If you’d like, I can compare this bill to current provisions within the Solid Waste Disposal Act or identify specific sections once the full text is available.