The permitting process for a municipal solid waste landfill
facility(MSWLF)provides for public review of and input to permit
documents containing the applicable design and operating
conditions of the facility. The process provides for
consideration of comments received and notification to the public
of the final permit design. Public participation in the
permitting process ensures that the public is informed regarding
decision affecting the management of MSWLF's located in their
community.

Once a permit application is complete, and has been reviewed, the
Division tentatively decides whether the permit shall be issued
or denied. If the Division tentatively decides that the permit
should be issued, a draft permit is prepared. The draft permit
contains all applicable terms and conditions of the permit.

A fact sheet is prepared for every draft permit. The fact sheet
briefly sets forth the principal facts and the significant
factual, legal, methodological and policy questions considered in
preparing the draft permit. 

The Division gives public notice that a draft permit has been
prepared. The public notice allows for at least 45 days for
public comment. After close of the public comment period the
Division issues a final permit decision and responds to comments
received during the comment period. The response briefly
describes and responds to significant comments on the draft
permit raised during the public comment period, or during any
public hearing.

The Division holds a public hearing, when, on the basis of
requests, a significant degree of public interest in the draft
permit is determined. The Division may also hold a public hearing
at its discretion whenever such a hearing might clarify one or
more issues involved in the permit decision. Public notice of a
public hearing is given at least 15 days before the hearing.
Often a public hearing may be published at the same time as the
notice of the permit action.

The exact rules and requirements of the draft permit, public
notice and public hearing may be found in the "North Carolina
Solid Waste Management Rules", 15A NCAC 13B .1603(c).

This Page updated May 23, 1995