Michigan Democrats Strike Deal on Canadian Waste Imports

Date: September 1, 2006

Source: News Room

In a surprising reversal of their earlier strategy to halt the flow of Canadian waste into their state, Michigan democrats have struck a deal with Ontario to voluntarily stop shipments by 2010. In exchange, U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow and Carl Levin plan to not pursue a measure that would saddle Canadian trash haulers with about $420 in fees per truck for security inspections. The new deal is a sharp departure from the previously stated goal of heightened security and reveals the seamy political underbelly of the dispute. Moreover, it fails to address commercial and industrial wastes that account for more than half of the 4 million tons of waste estimated to be entering Michigan annually. Republicans, who have been sharply critical of the measure, are concerned that the deal could threaten a measure pending before the House. That legislation would give Michigan and other states the power to curb waste imports and require the federal government to implement a 1992 agreement with Canada in which the U.S. can decline waste shipments for environmental or other reasons (see www.wasteinfo.com/news/wbj20060905B.htm). Election-year politics aside, it remains to be seen whether the measure will withstand legal challenges arising out of NAFTA or the Commerce Clause.

For more information, see Ontario Minister of the Environment Laurel Broten's letter to Senators Levin and Stabenow at: (levin.senate.gov/newsroom/supporting/2006/Broten.to.StabenowLevin.083006.pdf ) and the Senators' letter to Broten at: (levin.senate.gov/newsroom/supporting/2006/StabenowLevin.to.Broten.083006.pdf).

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