Duties of the Solid Waste Local Enforcement Agency (LEA)

This page contains a summary of the duties and responsibilities specific to the Marin County Local Enforcement Agency (LEA) only.

1. Routine Landfill Inspections - There are two landfills in Marin County which are inspected at least monthly.
2. Routine Transfer Station/Materials Recovery Facility Inspections - Marin Sanitary Service's transfer station and resource recovery building are inspected monthly.
3. Closed Landfill Inspection - The LEA is required by current regulations to perform quarterly inspections at the 14 closed landfills in Marin County
4. Abandoned Site Inspections - Abandoned sites are required to be inspected quarterly. There are no known abandoned sites in Marin County.
5. Illegal Site Inspections - The LEA is responsible for investigation of alleged illegal dumping sites. Confirmed illegal sites are required by regulation to be inspected monthly depending abatement by enforcement action. Currently, there is one known illegal site, which has been referred to the County Counsel.
6. Compost Facility Inspections - The LEA performs monthly inspections of the Redwood Landfill Biosolids Compost Facility.
7. Sites Exempted Pursuant to 27 CCR 21565 - Exempted sites shall be inspected quarterly. Currently no exemptions exist within Marin County.
8. Facility Complaint Inspections - If a complaint cannot be resolved off-site, the LEA will respond by inspection.
9. Demonstration Projects - When a landfill operator proposes to use an alternative daily cover (ADC) for refuse not within one of the categories listed in 27 CCR 20690(b)(1-10), or an ADC material from one of the above categories, but used differently than specified in the aforementioned section, a site-specific demonstration project must be conducted. In such instances, the LEA may require that the project be subject to performance standards, as specified in 27 CCR 20695. Sites operating under performance standards are inspected by the LEA on a weekly basis.
10. Refuse Collection Vehicle Inspections - There are ten recognized refuse collection service operators in Marin County responsible for approximately 105 collection vehicles. The LEA performs annual inspections of each vehicle.
11. Non-Facility Complaint Inspections - Complaints regarding the storage, handling or disposal of solid waste at undeveloped properties, non-food related businesses, and residences other than multiple-family dwellings are investigated by the LEA.
12. Permits - The LEA evaluates, writes and processes new solid waste facility permits and revisions of existing permits in coordination with the Calrecycle. New permits are required for facilities that have never operated, facilities which did not previously required a solid waste facility permit, or facilities with a new operator. After issuance, a permit is required to be reviewed every five years. This is also done by the LEA, in conjunction with the Calrecycle. A permit revision is required whenever a change in the design or operation of a facility is proposed that has potential for resulting in a physical change to the environment directly or ultimately. A revised permit must be reviewed by the LEA within five years of reassurance.
13. Permit Exemptions - The LEA reviews applications and documentation to determine if proposed solid waste facilities can be exempted pursuant to 27 CCR 21565. A staff report is generated and LEA staff facilitates a public hearing.
14. CEQA Process - The LEA reviews applications for solid waste facility permits or exemptions for completeness and accuracy. During the review, California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) compliance must be assessed and if the project is not exempt, an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) may be required.  In such cases, the LEA often acts as the lead agency for the EIR.