Background
The District has secured an approximately 1,000-acre site in northeast Madison County through a land exchange with the Idaho Department of Lands. The site is far from populated areas and sits outside of the region’s projected 100-year path of growth.

The District has the responsibility to develop, operate, and maintain the future landfill; comply with all state and federal regulations; protect public health and the environment; provide adequate reserves; mitigate existing and future long-term environmental liability; and protect the residents and businesses with a sustainable solid waste program.

The Facility
The District’s MSWLF master plan capacity is established by tonnage. According to the EPA 2013 Fact Sheet, the average American generates about 4.4 pounds of municipal solid waste each day. For the District, the average waste generated is over 7 pounds of municipal solid waste each day. Reasons for the increased generation rate over the national average include the high number of visitors during the summer months and the waste generated from the local mining and agricultural industries. The national average for construction and demolition waste is estimated to be 2.8 pounds per person per day. The District’s construction and demolition waste generation rates are similar.

Based on current waste generation rates, the regional landfill will process approximately 200 tons per day. The facility capacity will provide an estimated life expectancy of approximately 50 years based on current regional growth projections.

Permitting
The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (IDEQ) is the designated State agency responsible for regulating most solid waste management facilities in Idaho with additional oversight from the State’s regional health districts.

MSWLFs can be subject to four phases of approvals. The first is site certification by IDEQ. The next phase is facility design approval by IDEQ, which includes design of the landfill unit and the groundwater monitoring system. The third phase, which can occur simultaneously with design review, is approval of the operations plan by the regional health district. The final phase is the approval of closure/post-closure plans, also by the reginal health district. The estimated time frame to complete all four phases of approval is one to three years.

The District and its engineering consultants, Forsgren Associates and Great West Engineering, are working through the various permitting processes to secure required approvals from multiple state and federal agencies.

Permitting Status Update, May 2022
On behalf of the District, the engineering consultants prepared a preliminary engineering report and environmental assessment. Following significant site review and monitoring, a determination was made that there are no significant environmental resources present and therefore no necessary mitigation efforts were identified, and the site has been certified by IDEQ.

Estimated Project Costs, Funding Sources & Ongoing Operational Funding
Total facility development costs are estimated at $19 million. The development budget will fund land acquisition; an engineered, lined containment system of multiple cells; access roads; related support structures; security fencing and gates; groundwater monitoring wells; leachate collection and control systems; and waste hauling equipment.

The $19 million development budget also includes establishment of required reserve fund accounts for future closure and post-closure costs as well as debt service reserves.

The District has received preliminary notification of an award of $3 million in the form of a grant from the IDEQ’s allocation of ARPA funding received by the State.

A Request for Proposal will be issued in late summer/early fall 2022 for private sector construction/interim financing. It is anticipated that this as-needed, draw-based financing would be at very favorable rates since it will likely be guaranteed and repaid by low-interest, long-term, permanent financing from US Department of Agriculture Rural Development.

Ongoing District operations will be funded through revenues collected from Member County annual payments and each Member County’s proportional share of operational costs as determined by the weight of solid waste deposited annually. This proportional allocation will also apply to debt service obligations not covered by operating revenues.

Eventually, the District expects to employ approximately five full-time employees and two part-time employees. Initially, the District will work with Member Counties and may share personnel as well as truck fleet equipment. This arrangement may continue if it is advantageous for the District and Counties.

There is potential for additional future revenue from occasional tipping fees from neighboring counties as well as ongoing annual support and proportional operational costs collected from any new Member Counties.

Funding Update, September 2022
The District received approval for permanent financing from US Department of Agriculture Rural Development in the form of a low-interest, 40-year term loan.