(a) Regional implementation plans. A regional solid waste management plan provides the overriding structure and commitment to comply with the requirements for regional planning. A regional implementation plan provides the details to implement a regional solid waste management plan, is approved by the commission's executive director, and identifies the concerns, goals, objectives, and recommended actions for solid waste management over a long-range period for the entire planning region.
  (1) Geographic scope. The geographic scope of the regional planning process shall be the entire planning region designated by the governor. It is not anticipated that the regional plan will present site-specific information. The regional implementation plan shall use the four types of planning units listed in subparagraphs (A) - (D) of this paragraph, as appropriate for the information presented:
    (A) small geographic areas such as census tracts or city boundaries for the most detailed data collection and manipulation;
    (B) planning areas to be used for the assessment of concerns and the evaluation of alternatives. These planning areas shall be aggregations of small geographic areas;
    (C) county boundaries for the summarization and presentation of key information; or
    (D) the entire planning region.
  (2) Planning periods. An implementation plan should be developed based on the results of a planning process. The regional planning process shall address solid waste management over a long-range period. Long range is considered to be a period of at least 20 years. The maximum planning period addressed by the plan shall be stated on the plan cover and title page and at other appropriate locations within the body of the plan. The regional implementation plan shall use the four planning periods listed in subparagraphs (A) - (D) of this paragraph as appropriate for the information presented:
    (A) current and historical information;
    (B) short-range planning period, one to five years, with specific information presented by year;
    (C) intermediate planning period, six to ten years, with information in less detail; or
    (D) long-range planning period, 11 to 20 years or longer, with information in the least detail.
  (3) Plan content. A regional implementation plan shall be the result of a planning process related to the proper management of solid waste in the planning region. The process shall include identification of concerns and collection and evaluation of the data necessary to provide a written public statement of goals and objectives, and actions recommended to accomplish those goals and objectives. The regional implementation plan shall include:
    (A) population patterns, commercial and industrial data, and other demographic information necessary to estimate solid waste quantities and characteristics;
    (B) estimates of current and future solid waste amounts by type;
    (C) description of current and planned solid waste management activities in the region;
    (D) description and assessment of the adequacy of existing resource recovery, storage, transportation, treatment, and disposal facilities and practices, and programs for the collection and disposal of household hazardous wastes;
    (E) assessment of current source reduction and waste minimization efforts, including sludge, and efforts to reuse or recycle waste;
    (F) identification of additional opportunities for source reduction and waste minimization, and reuse or recycling of waste;
    (G) recommendations for encouraging and achieving a greater degree of source reduction and waste minimization, and reuse or recycling of waste;
    (H) identification of public and private management agencies and responsibilities;
    (I) identification of solid waste management concerns and establishment of priorities for addressing those concerns;
    (J) planning areas and agencies with common solid waste management concerns that could be addressed through joint action;
    (K) identification of incentives and barriers for source reduction and waste minimization, and resource recovery, including identification of potential markets;
    (L) regional goals and objectives, including waste reduction goals consistent with state goals;
    (M) advantages and disadvantages of alternative actions;
    (N) the recommended plan of action and associated timetable for achieving regional goals and objectives, including: waste reduction; composting programs for yard wastes and related organic wastes; household hazardous waste collection and disposal programs; public education programs; and the need for new or expanded facilities and practices; and
    (O) identification of the process that will be used to evaluate whether a proposed municipal solid waste facility application will be in conformance with the regional plan.
  (4) Special considerations or restrictions. The regional implementation plan shall not prohibit, in fact or by effect, importation or exportation of waste from one political jurisdiction into another.
  (5) Prior approval. A regional implementation plan and any substantiative changes must be approved in advance of implementation by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality's executive director.
(b) Local plans. A local solid waste management plan provides the overriding structure and commitment to comply with the requirements for local planning. A local implementation plan provides the details to implement a local solid waste management plan, is approved by the commission's executive director, and addresses specific short- and long-range concerns and actions related to solid waste management within the jurisdiction of one or more local governments and may be developed regardless of whether a regional plan has been developed that will affect the local planning area.
  (1) Geographic scope. The geographic scope of the local planning process shall be the jurisdiction of one or more local governments with common concerns or needs, but shall not include the entire planning region. In certain cases the local plan may present site-specific information. The local implementation plan shall use the three types of planning units listed in subparagraphs (A) - (C) of this paragraph, as appropriate for the information presented:
    (A) small geographic areas such as census tracts or city boundaries for the most detailed data collection and manipulation. These small areas should be the same as those used in the regional plan;
    (B) planning areas to be used for the assessment of concerns and the evaluation of alternatives. These planning areas should be aggregations of the small geographic areas; or
    (C) the entire area encompassed by the local plan.
  (2) Planning periods. The local planning process shall address specific short and long-range concerns and actions in solid waste management. The maximum planning period addressed by the plan shall be stated on the plan cover and title page and at other appropriate locations within the body of the plan. The local implementation plan should use the planning periods listed in subparagraphs (A) - (D) of this paragraph as appropriate for the information presented:
    (A) current and historical information;
    (B) short-range planning period, one to five years, with specific information presented by year;
    (C) intermediate planning period, six to ten years, with information in less detail; or
    (D) long-range planning period, 11 to 20 years or longer.
  (3) Plan content. A local implementation plan shall be the result of a planning process that is related to the proper management of solid waste in the local planning area. The process shall include identification of concerns and collection and evaluation of the data necessary to provide a written public statement of goals and objectives, and the actions recommended to accomplish those goals and objectives. The local implementation plan shall include:
    (A) population and commercial and industrial data from the regional planning process, supplemented with other local demographic information as necessary;
    (B) composition, characteristics, and amounts of waste, by type, that affect the local planning area;
    (C) description of current and planned solid waste management activities in the local planning area;
    (D) description and assessment of the adequacy of existing resource recovery, storage, transportation, treatment, and disposal facilities and practices, including programs for the collection and disposal of household hazardous wastes;
    (E) identification of the short and long-range solid waste management concerns within the local planning area;
    (F) assessment of current source reduction and waste minimization efforts for solid waste, including sludge, and efforts to reuse or recycle waste;
Cont'd...