La. Admin. Code tit. 33 § VII-1303

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024

Section VII-1303 - Financial Responsibility for Closure and Post-Closure Care

A. Financial Responsibility for Type I, I-A, II, II-A, and III Facilities. Permit holders or applicants of Type I, I-A, II, II-A, and III facilities have the following financial responsibilities for closure and post-closure care.

1. Permit holders or applicants for processing or disposal facilities shall establish and maintain financial assurance for closure and post-closure care.

2. Permit holders of existing facilities shall submit financial assurance documentation that complies with the requirements of this Chapter. Applicants or permit holders for new facilities shall submit evidence of financial assurance in accordance with this Chapter at least 60 days before the date on which solid waste is first received for processing or disposal. The financial assurance documentation shall be approved by the administrative authority prior to any acceptance of waste.

3. The applicant or permit holder shall submit to the Office of Environmental Services the estimated closure date and the estimated cost of closure and post-closure care in accordance with the following procedures.

a. The applicant or permit holder must have a detailed written estimate, in current dollars, of the cost of closing the facility in accordance with the requirements in these regulations. The estimate must equal the cost of closure at the point in the facility's operating life when the extent and manner of its operation would make closure the most expensive, as indicated by the closure plan, and shall be based on the cost of hiring a third party to close the facility in accordance with the closure plan.

b. The applicant or permit holder of a facility subject to post-closure monitoring or maintenance requirements must have a detailed written estimate, in current dollars, of the annual cost of post-closure monitoring and maintenance of the facility in accordance with the provisions of these regulations. The estimate of post-closure costs is calculated by multiplying the annual post-closure cost estimate by the number of years of post-closure care required and shall be based on the cost of hiring a third party to conduct post-closure activities in accordance with the closure plan and the most expensive costs of post-closure care during the post-closure care period.

c. The cost estimates must be adjusted within 30 days after each anniversary of the date on which the first cost estimate was prepared on the basis of either the inflation factor derived from the Annual Implicit Price Deflator for Gross Domestic Product, as published by the U.S. Department of Commerce in its Survey of Current Business or a reestimation of the closure and post-closure costs in accordance with Subparagraphs A.2.a and b of this Section. The permit holder or applicant must revise the cost estimate whenever a change in the closure/post-closure plans increases or decreases the cost of the closure/post-closure plans. The permit holder or applicant must submit a written notice of any such adjustment to the Office of Environmental Services within 15 days following such adjustment.

d. For trust funds, the first payment must be at least equal to the current closure and post-closure cost estimate, divided by the number of years in the pay-in period. Subsequent payments must be made no later than 30 days after each annual anniversary of the date of the first payment. The amount of each subsequent payment must be determined by subtracting the current value of the trust fund from the current closure and post-closure cost estimates and dividing the result by the number of years remaining in the pay-in period. For landfill facilities, the initial pay-in period is based on the estimated life of the facility, up to 20 years, unless a longer term is specified in the permit. For all other facilities, the pay-in period is the initial term of the permit, unless a longer term is specified in the permit. Applicants requesting a longer pay-in period shall justify the need for the longer term to the administrative authority.

4. Minor deviations from specified language contained in the appendices of LAC 33:VII.1399 may be approved by the administrative authority on a case-by-case basis if the administrative authority determines that the revised language remains equivalent to or more stringent than the language specified in the specific appendix. The applicant shall show a specific need for the change and all changes shall be approved by the administrative authority before the document can be used to meet the requirements of this Chapter.

5. The permit holder or applicant shall notify the Office of Environmental Services within 30 days of first becoming aware of a reduction in a bond rating when using the financial test allowed by LAC 33:VII.1303.H or I.

B. Financial Assurance Mechanisms. The financial assurance mechanism must be one or a combination of the following: a trust fund, a financial guarantee bond, a performance bond, a letter of credit, an insurance policy, or a financial test and/or corporate guarantee. The financial assurance mechanism is subject to the approval of the administrative authority and must fulfill the following criteria.

1. Except when a financial test, trust fund, or certificate of insurance is used as the financial assurance mechanism, a standby trust fund naming the administrative authority as beneficiary must be established at the time of the creation of the financial assurance mechanism, into which the proceeds of such mechanism could be transferred should such funds be necessary for either closure or post-closure of the facility, and a signed copy must be furnished to the administrative authority with the mechanism.

2. A permit holder or applicant may use a financial assurance mechanism specified in this Section for more than one facility, if all such facilities are located within Louisiana and are specifically identified in the mechanism.

3. The amount covered by the financial assurance mechanism must equal the total of the current closure and post-closure estimates for each facility covered.

4. When all closure and post-closure requirements have been satisfactorily completed, the administrative authority shall execute an approval to terminate the financial assurance mechanism.

5. The language of the financial assurance mechanisms listed in this Section shall ensure that the instruments satisfy the following criteria.

a. The financial assurance mechanisms shall ensure that the amount of funds assured is sufficient to cover the costs of closure and post-closure care when needed.

b. The financial assurance mechanisms shall ensure that funds will be available in a timely fashion when needed.

c. The financial assurance mechanisms shall be obtained by the permit holder or applicant by the effective date of these requirements or at least 60 days prior to the initial receipt of solid waste, whichever is later, and shall provide financial assurance until the permit holder or applicant is released from the financial assurance requirements under this Section.

d. The financial assurance mechanisms shall be legally valid, binding, and enforceable under state and federal law.

6. A financial assurance mechanism may be cancelled or terminated only if alternate financial assurance is substituted as specified in the appropriate Section or if the permit holder or applicant is no longer required to demonstrate financial assurance in accordance with these regulations.

C. Trust Funds. A permit holder or applicant may satisfy the requirements of this Section by establishing a closure trust fund that conforms to the following requirements and submitting an originally signed duplicate of the trust agreement to the Office of Environmental Services.

1. The trustee must be an entity that has the authority to act as a trustee and whose trust operations are regulated and examined by a federal or state agency.

2. Trusts must be accomplished in accordance with and subject to the laws of Louisiana . The beneficiary of the trust shall be the administrative authority.

3. Trust-fund earnings may be used to offset required payments into the fund, to pay the fund trustee, or to pay other expenses of the funds, or may be reclaimed by the permit holder or applicant upon approval of the administrative authority.

4. The trust agreement must be accompanied by an affidavit certifying the authority of the individual signing the trust on behalf of the permit holder or applicant.

5. The permit holder or applicant may accelerate payments into the trust fund or deposit the full amount of the current closure cost estimate at the time the fund is established. The permit holder or applicant must, however, maintain the value of the fund at no less than the value that the fund would have if annual payments were made as specified in Subparagraph A.3.d of this Section.

6. If the permit holder or applicant establishes a trust fund after having used one or more of the alternate mechanisms specified in this Section, his first payment must be in at least the amount that the fund would contain if the trust fund were established initially and annual payments made according to the specifications of this Subsection.

7. After the pay-in period is completed, whenever the current cost estimate changes, the permit holder must compare the new estimate with the trustee's most recent annual valuation of the trust fund. If the value of the fund is less than the amount of the new estimate, the permit holder or applicant, within 60 days after the change in the cost estimate, must either deposit an amount into the fund that will make its value at least equal to the amount of the closure/post-closure cost estimate or it must estimate or obtain other financial assurance as specified in this Chapter to cover the difference.

8. The administrative authority may, on the basis of a reasonable belief that the facility will close before pay-in is completed and the permit holder or applicant does not have adequate funds in the trust for closure and post-closure care, require reports regarding the financial condition of the permit holder or applicant. If the administrative authority finds, on the basis of such reporting or other information, that the permit holder or applicant no longer satisfies the requirements of this Subsection, the permit holder or applicant shall provide alternate financial assurance as specified in this Section within 30 days after notification of such a finding.

9. After beginning final closure, a permit holder, or any other person authorized by the permit holder to perform closure and/or post-closure, may request reimbursement for closure and/or post-closure expenditures by submitting itemized bills to the Office of Environmental Services. Within 60 days after receiving bills for such activities, the administrative authority will determine whether the closure and/or post-closure expenditures are in accordance with the closure plan or otherwise justified, and, if so, he or she shall instruct the trustee to make reimbursement in such amounts as the administrative authority specifies in writing. If the administrative authority has reason to believe that the cost of closure and/or post-closure will be significantly greater than the value of the trust fund, he may withhold reimbursement for such amounts as he deems prudent until he determines that the permit holder is no longer required to maintain financial assurance.

10. The wording of the trust agreement shall be identical to the wording in LAC 33:VII.1399.Appendix D, except that the instructions in brackets are to be replaced with the relevant information and the brackets deleted. The trust agreement shall be accompanied by a formal certification of acknowledgement.

D. Financial Guarantee Bonds. A permit holder or applicant may satisfy the requirements of this Section by obtaining a financial guarantee bond that conforms to the following requirements and submitting the bond to the Office of Environmental Services.

1. The surety company issuing the bond must, at a minimum, be among those listed as acceptable sureties on federal bonds in Circular 570 of the U.S. Department of the Treasury and approved by the administrative authority.

2. The permit holder or applicant who uses a financial guarantee bond to satisfy the requirements of this Section must also provide to the administrative authority evidence of the establishment of a standby trust fund. Under the terms of the bond, all payments made thereunder will be deposited by the surety directly into the standby trust fund in accordance with instructions from the administrative authority. The wording of the standby trust fund shall be as specified in LAC 33:VII.1399.Appendix D ; the instructions in brackets are to be replaced with the relevant information and the brackets deleted.

3. The bond must guarantee that the operator will:

a. fund the standby trust fund in an amount equal to the penal sum of the bond before the beginning of final closure of the facility; or

b. fund the standby trust fund in an amount equal to the penal sum within 15 days after an order to begin closure or post-closure is issued; or

c. provide alternate financial assurance as specified in this Section, and obtain the administrative authority's written approval of the assurance provided, within 90 days after receipt by both the permit holder and the administrative authority of a notice of cancellation of the bond from the surety.

4. Under the terms of the bond, the surety will become liable on the bond obligation when the permit holder fails to perform as guaranteed by the bond.

5. The penal sum of the bond must be at least equal to the current closure and post-closure cost estimates.

6. Whenever the current cost estimate increases to an amount greater than the penal sum, the permit holder, within 60 days after the increase, must either cause the penal sum to be increased to an amount at least equal to the current closure and post-closure estimate and submit evidence of such increase to the Office of Environmental Services or obtain other financial assurance as specified in this Section to cover the increase. Whenever the current cost estimate decreases, the penal sum may be reduced to the amount of the current cost estimate following written approval by the administrative authority.

7. Under the terms of the bond, the surety may cancel the bond by sending notice of cancellation by certified mail to the permit holder and to the administrative authority. Cancellation may not occur, however, before 120 days have elapsed, beginning on the date that both the permit holder and the administrative authority receive the notice of cancellation, as evidenced by the return receipts.

8. The wording of the financial guarantee bond guaranteeing payment into a standby trust fund shall be identical to the wording in LAC 33:VII.1399.Appendix E, except that the instructions in brackets are to be replaced with the relevant information and the brackets deleted.

E. Performance Bonds. A permit holder or applicant may satisfy the requirements of this Section by obtaining a performance bond that conforms to the following requirements and submitting the bond to the Office of Environmental Services.

2. The permit holder or applicant who uses a performance bond to satisfy the requirements of this Section must also provide to the administrative authority evidence of establishment of a standby trust fund. Under the terms of the bond, all payments made thereunder will be deposited by the surety directly into the standby trust fund in accordance with instructions from the administrative authority. The wording of the standby trust fund shall be as specified in LAC 33:VII.1399.Appendix D ; the instructions in brackets are to be replaced with the relevant information and the brackets deleted.

3. The bond must guarantee that the permit holder or applicant will:

a. perform final closure and post-closure in accordance with the closure plan and other requirements of the permit for the facility whenever required to do so; or

b. provide alternate financial assurance as specified in this Section and obtain the administrative authority's written approval of the assurance provided within 90 days after the date both the permit holder and the administrative authority receive notice of cancellation of the bond from the surety.

4. Under the terms of the bond, the surety will become liable on the bond obligation when the permit holder fails to perform as guaranteed by the bond. Following a determination by the administrative authority that the permit holder has failed to perform final closure and post-closure in accordance with the closure plan and other permit requirements when required to do so, under the terms of the bond the surety will perform final closure and post-closure as guaranteed by the bond or will deposit the amount of the penal sum into the standby trust fund.

5. The penal sum of the bond must be at least equal to the current closure and post-closure cost estimates.

6. Whenever the current closure cost estimate increases to an amount greater than the penal sum, the permit holder, within 60 days after the increase, must either cause the penal sum to be increased to an amount at least equal to the current closure and post-closure cost estimates and submit evidence of such increase to the Office of Environmental Services or obtain other financial assurance as specified in this Section. Whenever the current cost estimate decreases, the penal sum may be reduced to the amount of the current cost estimate after written approval of the administrative authority.

7. Under the terms of the bond, the surety may cancel the bond by sending notice of cancellation by certified mail to the permit holder and to the Office of Environmental Services. Cancellation may not occur before 120 days have elapsed beginning on the date that both the permit holder and the administrative authority receive the notice of cancellation, as evidenced by the return receipts.

8. The wording of the performance bond shall be identical to the wording in LAC 33:VII.1399.Appendix F, except that the instructions in brackets are to be replaced with the relevant information and the brackets deleted.

F. Letter of Credit. A permit holder or applicant may satisfy the requirements of this Section by obtaining an irrevocable standby letter of credit that conforms to the following requirements and submitting the letter to the Office of Environmental Services.

1. The issuing institution must be an entity that has the authority to issue letters of credit and whose letter-of-credit operations are regulated and examined by a federal or state agency.

2. A permit holder or applicant who uses a letter of credit to satisfy the requirements of this Section must also provide to the administrative authority evidence of the establishment of a standby trust fund. Under the terms of the letter of credit, all amounts paid pursuant to a draft by the administrative authority will be deposited by the issuing institution directly into the standby trust fund. The wording of the standby trust fund shall be as specified in LAC 33:VII.1399.Appendix D ; the instructions in brackets are to be replaced with the relevant information and the brackets deleted.

3. The letter of credit must be accompanied by a letter from the permit holder or applicant referring to the letter of credit by number, issuing institution, and date, and providing the following information:

a. agency interest number;

b. solid waste identification number;

c. site name;

d. facility name; and

e. facility permit number.

4. The letter of credit must be irrevocable and issued for a period of at least one year, unless, at least 120 days before the current expiration date, the issuing institution notifies both the permit holder and the Office of Environmental Services by certified mail of a decision not to extend the expiration date. Under the terms of the letter of credit, the 120 days will begin on the date when both the permit holder and the administrative authority receive the notice, as evidenced by the return receipts.

5. The letter of credit must be issued in an amount at least equal to the current closure and post-closure cost estimates.

6. Whenever the current cost estimates increase to an amount greater than the amount of the credit, the permit holder, within 60 days after the increase, must either cause the amount of the credit to be increased so that it at least equals the current closure and post-closure cost estimates and submit evidence of such increase to the Office of Environmental Services or obtain other financial assurance as specified in this Section to cover the increase. Whenever the current cost estimate decreases, the amount of the credit may be reduced to the amount of the current closure and post-closure cost estimates upon written approval of the administrative authority.

7. Following a determination by the administrative authority that the permit holder has failed to perform final closure or post-closure in accordance with the closure plan and other permit requirements when required to do so, the administrative authority may draw on the letter of credit.

8. The wording of the letter of credit shall be identical to the wording in LAC 33:VII.1399.Appendix G, except that the instructions in brackets are to be replaced with the relevant information and the brackets deleted.

G. Insurance. A permit holder or applicant may satisfy the requirements of this Section by obtaining insurance that conforms to the following requirements and submitting a certificate of such insurance to the Office of Environmental Services.

1. At a minimum, the insurer must be licensed to transact the business of insurance, or eligible to provide insurance as an excess-lines or surplus-lines insurer in one or more states, and authorized to transact insurance business in Louisiana.

2. The insurance policy must be issued for a face amount at least equal to the current closure and post-closure cost estimates.

3. The term face amount means the total amount the insurer is obligated to pay under the policy. Actual payments by the insurer will not change the face amount, although the insurer's future liability will be lowered by the amount of the payments.

4. The insurance policy must guarantee that funds will be available to close the facility and provide post-closure care once final closure occurs. The policy must also guarantee that, once final closure begins, the insurer will be responsible for paying out funds up to an amount equal to the face amount of the policy, upon the direction of the administrative authority, to such party or parties as the administrative authority specifies.

5. After beginning final closure, a permit holder or any other person authorized by the permit holder to perform closure or post-closure may request reimbursement for closure or post-closure expenditures by submitting itemized bills to the Office of Environmental Services. Within 60 days after receiving such bills, the administrative authority will determine whether the expenditures are in accordance with the closure plan or otherwise justified, and if so, he or she shall instruct the insurer to make reimbursement in such amounts as the administrative authority specifies in writing.

6. The permit holder must maintain the policy in full force and effect until the administrative authority consents to termination of the policy by the permit holder.

7. Each policy must contain a provision allowing assignment of the policy to a successor permit holder. Such assignment may be conditional upon consent of the insurer, provided consent is not unreasonably refused.

8. The policy must provide that the insurer may not cancel, terminate, or fail to renew the policy except for failure to pay the premium. The automatic renewal of the policy must, at a minimum, provide the insured with the option of renewal at the face amount of the expiring policy. If there is a failure to pay the premium, the insurer may elect to cancel, terminate, or fail to renew the policy by sending notice by certified mail to the permit holder and the Office of Environmental Services. Cancellation, termination, or failure to renew may not occur, however, before 120 days have elapsed, beginning on the date that both the administrative authority and the permit holder receive notice of cancellation, as evidenced by the return receipts. Cancellation, termination, or failure to renew may not occur, and the policy will remain in full force and effect in the event that, on or before the date of expiration:

a. the administrative authority deems the facility to be abandoned;

b. the permit is terminated or revoked or a new permit is denied;

c. closure and/or post-closure is ordered;

d. the permit holder is named as debtor in a voluntary or involuntary proceeding under Title 11 (Bankruptcy), U.S. Code; or

e. the premium due is paid.

9. Whenever the current cost estimate increases to an amount greater than the face amount of the policy, the permit holder, within 60 days after the increase, must either increase the face amount to at least equal to the current closure and post-closure cost estimates and submit evidence of such increase to the Office of Environmental Services or obtain other financial assurance as specified in this Section to cover the increase. Whenever the current cost estimate decreases, the face amount may be reduced to the amount of the current closure and post-closure cost estimates following written approval by the administrative authority.

10. The wording of the certificate of insurance shall be identical to the wording in LAC 33:VII.1399.Appendix H, except that the instructions in brackets are to be replaced with the relevant information and the brackets deleted.

H. Financial Test. A permit holder, applicant, or guarantor of the permit holder or applicant, which will be responsible for the financial obligations, may satisfy the requirements of this Section by demonstrating that he or she passes a financial test as specified in this Subsection. The assets of the guarantor of the applicant or permit holder shall not be used to determine whether the applicant or permit holder satisfies the financial test, unless the guarantor has supplied a corporate guarantee as outlined in this Subsection.

1. To pass this test, the permit holder, applicant, or guarantor of the permit holder or applicant, must meet the criteria of one of the following provisions.

a. The permit holder, applicant, or guarantor of the permit holder or applicant must have:

i. tangible net worth of at least six times the sum of the current closure and post-closure cost estimates to be demonstrated by this test;

ii. tangible net worth of at least $10 million; and

iii. assets in the United States amounting to either at least 90 percent of his or her total assets, or at least six times the sum of the current closure and post-closure cost estimates, to be demonstrated by this test.

b. The permit holder, applicant, or guarantor of the permit holder or applicant shall have:

i. a ratio of less than 1.5 comparing total liabilities to net worth;

ii. tangible net worth of at least $10 million; and

iii. assets in the United States amounting to either 90 percent of his or her total assets, or at least six times the sum of the current closure and post-closure cost estimates, to be demonstrated by this test.

c. The permit holder, applicant, or guarantor of the permit holder or applicant must have:

i. a current rating for his or her most recent bond issuance of AAA, AA, A, or BBB, as issued by Standard and Poor's, or Aaa, Aa, or Baa, as issued by Moody's;

ii. tangible net worth of at least $10 million; and

iii. assets in the United States amounting to either 90 percent of his or her total assets or at least six times the sum of the current closure and post-closure cost estimates, to be demonstrated by this test.

d. The permit holder, applicant or guarantor of the permit holder or applicant shall have:

i. a ratio of greater than 0.10 comparing the sum of net income plus depreciation, depletion, and amortization, minus $10 million, to total liabilities;

ii. tangible net worth of at least $10 million; and

2. To demonstrate that he or she meets this test, the permit holder, applicant, or guarantor of the permit holder or applicant must submit the following three items to the Office of Environmental Services:

a. a letter signed by the chief financial officer of the permit holder, applicant, or guarantor demonstrating and certifying satisfaction of the criteria in Paragraph H.1 of this Section and including the information required by Paragraph H.4 of this Section. If the financial test is provided to demonstrate both assurance for closure and/or post-closure care and liability coverage, a single letter to cover both forms of financial responsibility is required;

b. a copy of the independent certified public accountant's report on the financial statements of the permit holder, applicant, or guarantor of the permit holder or applicant for the latest completed fiscal year; and

c. If the chief financial officer's letter providing evidence of financial assurance includes financial data that are different from the data in the audited financial statements in Subsection H.2.b of this Section, a special report from the independent certified public accountant of the permit holder, applicant, or guarantor of the permit holder or applicant shall be submitted. The special report shall be based on an agreed upon procedures engagement in accordance with professional auditing standards and shall describe the procedures performed in comparing the data in the chief financial officer's letter derived from the independently audited, year-end financial statements for the latest fiscal year with the amounts in such financial statements, the findings of that comparison, and reasons for any differences.

3. The administrative authority may disallow use of this test on the basis of the opinion expressed by the independent CPA in his report on qualifications based on the financial statements. An adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion will be cause for disallowance. The administrative authority will evaluate other qualifications on an individual basis. The administrative authority may disallow the use of this test on the basis of the accessibility of the assets of the guarantor, permit holder, or applicant. The permit holder, applicant, or guarantor must provide alternate financial assurance, as specified in this Section, within 30 days after notification of disallowance.

4. The permit holder, applicant, or guarantor of the permit holder or applicant shall provide to the Office of Environmental Services a letter from the chief financial officer, the wording of which shall be identical to the wording in LAC 33:VII.1399.Appendix I, except that the instructions in brackets are to be replaced with the relevant information and the brackets deleted. The letter shall list all the current cost estimates, in state or out of state, covered by a financial test, including, but not limited to, cost estimates required for solid waste management facilities under this Section, cost estimates required for UIC facilities under 40 CFR Part 144, if applicable, cost estimates required for petroleum underground storage tank facilities under 40 CFR Part 280, if applicable, cost estimates required for PCB storage facilities under 40 CFR Part 761, if applicable, and cost estimates required for hazardous waste treatment, storage, and disposal facilities under 40 CFR Parts 264 and 265, if applicable.

5. For the purposes of this Section, the phrase tangible net worth shall mean the tangible assets that remain after liabilities have been deducted; such assets would not include intangibles such as good will and rights to patents or royalties.

6. The phrase current closure and post-closure cost estimates, as used in Paragraph H.1 of this Section, includes the cost estimates required to be shown in Clause H.1.a.i of this Section.

7. After initial submission of the items specified in Paragraph H.2 of this Section, the permit holder, applicant, or guarantor of the permit holder or applicant must send updated information to the Office of Environmental Services within 90 days after the close of each succeeding fiscal year. This information must include all three items specified in Paragraph H.2 and the adjusted item specified in Subparagraph A.2.c of this Section.

8. The administrative authority may, on the basis of a reasonable belief that the permit holder, applicant, or guarantor of the permit holder or applicant may no longer meet the requirements of this Subsection, require reports of financial condition at any time in addition to those specified in Paragraph H.2 of this Section. If the administrative authority finds, on the basis of such reports or other information, that the permit holder, applicant, or guarantor of the permit holder or applicant no longer meets the requirements of Paragraph H.2 of this Section, the permit holder or applicant, or guarantor of the permit holder or applicant must provide alternate financial assurance as specified in this Section within 30 days after notification of such a finding.

9. A permit holder or applicant may meet the requirements of this Subsection for closure and/or post-closure by obtaining a written guarantee, hereafter referred to as a "corporate guarantee." The guarantor must be the direct or higher-tier parent corporation of the permit holder or applicant for the solid waste facility or facilities to be covered by the guarantee, a firm whose parent corporation is also the parent corporation of the permit holder or applicant, or a firm with a "substantial business relationship" with the permit holder or applicant. The guarantor must meet the requirements and submit all information required for permit holders or applicants in Paragraphs H.1-8 of this Section and must comply with the terms of the corporate guarantee. The corporate guarantee must accompany the items sent to the administrative authority specified in Paragraphs H.2 and 4 of this Section. The wording of the corporate guarantee must be identical to the wording in LAC 33:VII.1399.Appendix J, except that instructions in brackets are to be replaced with the relevant information and the brackets removed. The terms of the corporate guarantee must be in an authentic act signed and sworn by an authorized representative of the guarantor before a notary public and must provide that:

a. the guarantor meets or exceeds the financial test criteria and agrees to comply with the reporting requirements for guarantors as specified in this Section;

b. the guarantor is the direct or higher-tier parent corporation of the permit holder or applicant of the solid waste facility or facilities to be covered by the guarantee, a firm whose parent corporation is also the parent corporation of the permit holder or applicant, or a firm with a "substantial business relationship" with the permit holder or applicant, and the guarantee extends to certain facilities;

c.closure plans, as used in the guarantee, refers to the plans maintained as required by the Louisiana solid waste rules and regulations for the closure and post-closure care of facilities, as identified in the guarantee;

d. for value received from the permit holder or applicant, the guarantor guarantees to the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality that the permit holder or applicant will perform closure, post-closure care, or closure and post-closure care of the facility or facilities listed in the guarantee, in accordance with the closure plan and other permit or regulatory requirements whenever required to do so. In the event that the permit holder or applicant fails to perform as specified in the closure plan, the guarantor shall do so or establish a trust fund as specified in Subparagraph A.2.d of this Section, in the name of the permit holder or applicant, in the amount of the current closure or post-closure cost estimates or as specified in Paragraph A.2 of this Section;

e. the guarantor agrees that if, at the end of any fiscal year before termination of the guarantee, the guarantor fails to meet the financial test criteria, the guarantor shall send within 90 days after the end of the fiscal year, by certified mail, notice to the Office of Environmental Services and to the permit holder or applicant that he intends to provide alternative financial assurance as specified in this Section, in the name of the permit holder or applicant, and that within 120 days after the end of such fiscal year, the guarantor shall establish such financial assurance unless the permit holder or applicant has done so;

f. the guarantor agrees to notify the Office of Environmental Services by certified mail of a voluntary or involuntary proceeding under Title 11 (Bankruptcy), U.S. Code, naming the guarantor as debtor, within 10 days after commencement of the proceeding;

g. the guarantor agrees that within 30 days after being notified by the administrative authority of a determination that the guarantor no longer meets the financial test criteria or that he is disallowed from continuing as a guarantor of closure or post-closure care, he shall establish alternate financial assurance as specified in this Section in the name of the permit holder or applicant, unless the permit holder or applicant has done so;

h. the guarantor agrees to remain bound under the guarantee, notwithstanding any or all of the following: amendment or modification of the closure plan, amendment or modification of the permit, extension or reduction of the time of performance of closure or post-closure, or any other modification or alteration of an obligation of the permit holder or applicant in accordance with these regulations;

i. the guarantor agrees to remain bound under the guarantee for as long as the permit holder must comply with the applicable financial assurance requirements of this Section, except that the guarantor may cancel this guarantee by sending notice by certified mail to the Office of Environmental Services and the permit holder or applicant. The cancellation will become effective no earlier than 90 days after receipt of such notice by both the administrative authority and the permit holder or applicant, as evidenced by the return receipts;

j. the guarantor agrees that if the permit holder or applicant fails to provide alternative financial assurance as specified in this Section, and to obtain written approval of such assurance from the administrative authority within 60 days after the administrative authority receives the guarantor's notice of cancellation, the guarantor shall provide such alternate financial assurance in the name of the permit holder or applicant; and

k. the guarantor expressly waives notice of acceptance of the guarantee by the administrative authority or by the permit holder. The guarantor also expressly waives notice of amendments or modifications of the closure plan and of amendments or modifications of the facility permit.

I. Local Government Financial Test. An owner or operator that satisfies the requirements of Paragraphs I.1-3 of this Section may demonstrate financial assurance up to the amount specified in Paragraph I.4 of this Section.

1. Financial Component

a. The permit holder or applicant must satisfy the following conditions, as applicable:

i. if the owner or operator has outstanding, rated, general obligation bonds that are not secured by insurance, a letter of credit, or other collateral or guarantee, it must have a current rating of Aaa, Aa, A, or Baa, as issued by Moody's, or AAA, AA, A, or BBB, as issued by Standard and Poor's, on all such general obligation bonds; or

ii. the permit holder or applicant must satisfy the ratio of cash plus marketable securities to total expenditures being greater than or equal to 0.05 and the ratio of annual debt service to total expenditures less than or equal to 0.20 based on the owner or operator's most recent audited annual financial statement.

b. The permit holder or applicant must prepare its financial statements in conformity with Generally AcceptedAccounting Principles for governments and have its financial statements audited by an independent certified public accountant (or appropriate state agency).

c. A local government is not eligible to assure its obligations under this Subsection if it:

i. is currently in default on any outstanding general obligation bonds; or

ii. has any outstanding general obligation bonds rated lower than Baa as issued by Moody's or BBB as issued by Standard and Poor's; or

iii. operated at a deficit equal to five percent or more of total annual revenue in each of the past two fiscal years; or

iv. receives an adverse opinion, disclaimer of opinion, or other qualified opinion from the independent certified public accountant (or appropriate state agency) auditing its financial statement as required under Subparagraph I.1.b of this Section. The administrative authority may evaluate qualified opinions on a case-by-case basis and allow use of the financial test in cases where the administrative authority deems the qualification insufficient to warrant disallowance of use of the test.

d. The following terms used in this Subsection are defined as follows:

i.Deficit-total annual revenues minus total annual expenditures.

ii.Total Revenues-revenues from all taxes and fees, not including the proceeds from borrowing or asset sales, excluding revenue from funds managed by local government on behalf of a specific third party.

iii.Total Expenditures-all expenditures, excluding capital outlays and debt repayment.

iv.Cash Plus Marketable Securities-all the cash plus marketable securities held by the local government on the last day of a fiscal year, excluding cash and marketable securities designated to satisfy past obligations such as pensions.

v.DebtService-the amount of principal and interest due on a loan in a given time period, typically the current year.

2. Public Notice Component. The local government owner or operator must place a reference to the closure and post-closure care costs assured through the financial test into its next comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR) after the effective date of this Section or prior to the initial receipt of waste at the facility, whichever is later. Disclosure must include the nature and source of closure and post-closure care requirements, the reported liability at the balance sheet date, the estimated total closure and post-closure care cost remaining to be recognized, the percentage of landfill capacity used to date, and the estimated landfill life in years. A reference to corrective action costs must be placed in the CAFR not later than 120 days after the corrective action remedy has been selected in accordance with the requirements of LAC 33:VII.805.F. For the first year the financial test is used to assure costs at a particular facility, the reference may be placed in the operating record until issuance of the next available CAFR if timing does not permit the reference to be incorporated into the most recently issued CAFR or budget. For closure and post-closure costs, conformance with Governmental Accounting Standards Board Statement 18 assures compliance with this public notice component.

3. Recordkeeping and Reporting Requirements

a. The local government permit holder or applicant must place the following items in the facility's operating record:

i. a letter signed by the local government's chief financial officer that lists all the current cost estimates covered by a financial test, as described in Paragraph I.4 of this Section. It must provide evidence that the local government meets the conditions of Subparagraphs I.1.a, b, and c of this Section, and certify that the local government meets the conditions of Subparagraphs I.1.a, b, and c and Paragraphs I.2 and 4 of this Section;

ii. the local government's independently audited year-end financial statements for the latest fiscal year (except for local governments where audits are required every two years, unaudited statements, which may be used in years when audits are not required), including the unqualified opinion of the auditor who must be an independent certified public accountant or an appropriate state agency that conducts equivalent comprehensive audits;

iii. a report to the local government from the local government's independent certified public accountant or the appropriate state agency based on performing an agreed upon procedures engagement relative to the financial ratios required by Clause I.1.a.ii of this Section, if applicable, and the requirements of Subparagraph I.1.b and Clauses I.1.c.iii and iv of this Section. The certified public accountant or state agency's report shall state the procedures performed and the certified public accountant or state agency's findings; and

iv. a copy of the comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR) used to comply with Paragraph I.2 of this Section (certification that the requirements of Governmental Accounting Standards Board Statement 18 have been met).

b. The items required in Subparagraph I.3.a of this Section must be placed in the facility operating record as follows:

i. in the case of closure and post-closure care, either before the effective date of this Section, which is April 9, 1997, or prior to the initial receipt of waste at the facility, whichever is later; or

ii. in the case of corrective action, not later than 120 days after the corrective action remedy is selected in accordance with the requirements of LAC 33:VII.805.F.

c. After the initial placement of the items in the facility's operating record, the local government permit holder or applicant must update the information and place the updated information in the operating record within 180 days following the close of the permit holder or applicant's fiscal year.

d. The local government permit holder or applicant is no longer required to meet the requirements of Paragraph I.3 of this Section when:

i. the permit holder or applicant substitutes alternate financial assurance, as specified in this Section; or

ii. the owner or operator is released from the requirements of this Chapter in accordance with Subsection A of this Section.

e. A local government must satisfy the requirements of the financial test at the close of each fiscal year. If the local government owner or operator no longer meets the requirements of the local government financial test, it must, within 210 days following the close of the owner or operator's fiscal year, obtain alternative financial assurance that meets the requirements of this Section, place the required submissions for that assurance in the operating record, and notify the Office of Environmental Services that the owner or operator no longer meets the criteria of the financial test and that alternate assurance has been obtained.

f. The administrative authority, based on a reasonable belief that the local government owner or operator may no longer meet the requirements of the local government financial test, may require additional reports of financial condition from the local government at any time. If the administrative authority finds, on the basis of such reports or other information, that the owner or operator no longer meets the local government financial test, the local government must provide alternate financial assurance in accordance with this Section.

4. Calculation of Costs to be Assured. The portion of the closure, post-closure, and corrective action costs for which an owner or operator can assure under this Subsection is determined as follows.

a. If the local government owner or operator does not assure other environmental obligations through a financial test, it may assure closure, post-closure, and corrective action costs that equal up to 43 percent of the local government's total annual revenue.

b. If the local government assures other environmental obligations through a financial test, including those associated with UIC facilities under 40 CFR 144.62, petroleum underground storage tank facilities under 40 CFR Part 280, PCB storage facilities under 40 CFR Part 761, and hazardous waste treatment, storage, and disposal facilities under 40 CFR Parts 264 and 265, or corresponding state programs, it must add those costs to the closure, post-closure, and corrective action costs it seeks to assure under this Subsection. The total that may be assured must not exceed 43 percent of the local government's total annual revenue.

c. The owner or operator must obtain an alternate financial assurance instrument for those costs that exceed the limits set in Subparagraphs I.4.a and b of this Section.

J. Local Government Guarantee. An owner or operator may demonstrate financial assurance for closure, post-closure, and corrective action, as required by LAC 33:VII.1301 and this Section, by obtaining a written guarantee provided by a local government. The guarantor must meet the requirements of the local government financial test in Subsection I of this Section, and must comply with the terms of a written guarantee.

1. Terms of the Written Guarantee. The guarantee must be effective before the initial receipt of waste or before the effective date of this Section, whichever is later, in the case of closure and post-closure care, or no later than 120 days after the corrective action remedy has been selected in accordance with the requirements of LAC 33:VII.805.F. The guarantee must provide that:

a. if the owner or operator fails to perform closure, post-closure care, and/or corrective action of a facility covered by the guarantee, the guarantor will:

i. perform, or pay a third party to perform closure, post-closure care, and/or corrective action as required; or

ii. establish a fully funded trust fund as specified in Subsection C of this Section in the name of the owner or operator;

b. the guarantee will remain in force unless the guarantor sends notice of cancellation by certified mail to the owner or operator and to the Office of Environmental Services. Cancellation may not occur, however, during the 120 days beginning on the date of receipt of the notice of cancellation by both the owner or operator and the administrative authority, as evidenced by the return receipts; and

c. if a guarantee is canceled, the owner or operator must, within 90 days following receipt of the cancellation notice by the owner or operator and the administrative authority, obtain alternate financial assurance, place evidence of that alternate financial assurance in the facility operating record, and notify the Office of Environmental Services. If the owner or operator fails to provide alternate financial assurance within the 90-day period, then the owner or operator must provide that alternate assurance within 120 days following the guarantor's notice of cancellation, place evidence of the alternate assurance in the facility operating record, and notify the Office of Environmental Services.

2. Recordkeeping and Reporting

a. The owner or operator must place a certified copy of the guarantee, along with the items required under Paragraph I.3 of this Section, into the facility's operating record before the initial receipt of waste or before the effective date of this Section, whichever is later, in the case of closure or post-closure care, or no later than 120 days after the corrective action remedy has been selected in accordance with the requirements of LAC 33:VII.805.F.

b. The owner or operator is no longer required to maintain the items specified in Paragraph J.2 of this Section when:

i. the owner or operator substitutes alternate financial assurance as specified in this Section; or

ii. the owner or operator is released from the requirements of this Section in accordance with this Chapter.

c. If a local government guarantor no longer meets the requirements of Subsection I of this Section, the owner or operator must, within 90 days, obtain alternate assurance, place evidence of the alternate assurance in the facility operating record, and notify the Office of Environmental Services. If the owner or operator fails to obtain alternate financial assurance within that 90-day period, the guarantor must provide that alternate assurance within the next 30 days.

K. Use of Multiple Mechanisms. An owner or operator may demonstrate financial assurance for closure, post-closure, and corrective action, in accordance with this Chapter, by establishing more than one financial mechanism per facility, except that mechanisms guaranteeing performance, rather than payment, may not be combined with other instruments. The mechanisms must be as specified in Subsections C-J of this Section, except that financial assurance for an amount at least equal to the current cost estimate for closure, post-closure care, and/or corrective action may be provided by a combination of mechanisms, rather than a single mechanism.

L. Providing alternate financial assurance as specified in this Section does not constitute a modification and is not subject to LAC 33:VII.517.

M. Discounting. The administrative authority may allow discounting of closure and post-closure cost estimates in Subsection A of this Section, and/or corrective action costs in LAC 33:VII.1301.A, up to the rate of return for essentially risk-free investments, net of inflation, under the following conditions:

1. the administrative authority determines that cost estimates are complete and accurate and the owner or operator has submitted a statement from a professional engineer to the Office of Environmental Services so stating;

2. the state finds the facility in compliance with applicable and appropriate permit conditions;

3. the administrative authority determines that the closure date is certain and the owner or operator certifies that there are no foreseeable factors that will change the estimate of site life; and

4. discounted cost estimates are adjusted annually to reflect inflation and years of remaining life.

N. When the permit holder is the state or federal government, the facility is exempt from the requirements of this Section.

O. The permit application should include a description of the financial structure of the operating unit including capital structure, principal ownership, and insurance coverage for personal injury and property damage.

La. Admin. Code tit. 33, § VII-1303

Promulgated by the Department of Environmental Quality, Office of the Secretary, Legal Affairs Division, LR 33:1090 (June 2007), amended LR 33:2154 (October 2007), LR 36:2555 (November 2010), LR 37:3254 (November 2011), amended by the Office of the Secretary, Legal Division, LR 40:296 (February 2014).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 30: 2001 et seq., and in particular R.S. 30:2154.