Creating Litter Control and Environmental Cleanup Act
Summary
SB769 creates the “West Virginia Litter Control and Environmental Cleanup Act,” a new article in state code intended to coordinate litter prevention, enforcement, and cleanup efforts across state and local government. The bill assigns the Department of Environmental Protection a lead role in statewide litter control, directs the Department of Transportation to keep state-maintained roads clear of litter and support education and signage, and asks county solid waste authorities to help track and address illegal dump sites. It also requires annual reporting to the Legislature beginning July 1, 2027.
A central feature of the bill is a statewide cleanup program run through a competitive request for proposal for a nonprofit independent contractor. That contractor would be responsible for cleaning illegal dumpsites, removing litter from roadways, and conducting cleanup of streams, creeks, and rivers. The bill also ties funding assistance to counties that employ Litter Control Officers and confirms those officers’ authority to issue citations and fines under existing law.
Impact
If enacted, SB769 would add a new chapter of law governing litter control and environmental cleanup, expanding the statutory responsibilities of the Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of Transportation, and county solid waste authorities. It would create a formal funding pathway for counties with Litter Control Officers, reinforce citation and fine authority for those officers, and establish a statewide contracting mechanism for cleanup services. The bill would also require annual reporting and audits, creating ongoing administrative and oversight obligations for state agencies.
Sentiment
The available context suggests the bill is framed positively as a coordinated environmental cleanup measure, with the stated purpose of leveraging existing agency resources and improving litter removal statewide. There are no recorded committee transcripts or votes in the provided materials, so there is no documented opposition or support from lawmakers in the available record. The bill text itself emphasizes efficiency, coordination, and cleanup outcomes, indicating a generally constructive policy approach.
Contention
No specific points of contention are documented in the provided committee or voting history. Potential areas of debate implied by the bill include whether the state should rely on a nonprofit contractor for statewide cleanup, how existing litter control funds would be allocated, and whether counties would have sufficient resources or incentives to participate. Another possible issue is the scope of enforcement authority and the use of fines and grants to finance the program, but no explicit objections are recorded here.
Relating to authorizing the Department of Environmental Protection to promulgate a legislative rule relating to water pollution control permit fee schedules
To require the Department of Environmental Protection to assume responsibility of cost and permitting of dams that are deemed to be under state control
Relating to authorizing the Department of Environmental Protection to promulgate a legislative rule relating to the control of air pollution from hazardous waste treatment, storage, and disposal facilities