Mississippi Code 1972 (2023) › Title 17 - LOCAL GOVERNMENT; PROVISIONS COMMON TO COUNTIES AND MUNICIPALITIES (§§ 17-1-1 — 17-29-9) › Chapter 17 - SOLID WASTES DISPOSAL (§§ 17-17-1 — 17-17-507) › DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS OF APPLICANTS FOR COMMERCIAL HAZARDOUS OR NONHAZARDOUS SOLID WASTE FACILITY PERMITS (§§ 17-17-501 — 17-17-507) › Section 17-17-505 - Grounds for refusal of issuance, reissuance or transfer of permits pertaining to waste management facilities; factors considered where applicants have engaged in unlawful activities

(1)
The permit board may refuse to issue, reissue or transfer a permit for the treatment, processing, storage or disposal of solid waste at a commercial nonhazardous solid waste management facility or hazardous waste at a commercial hazardous waste management facility if the permit board finds that the applicant or any person required to be listed in the disclosure statement:
(a)
Has misrepresented or concealed any material fact in the disclosure statement;
(b)
Has obtained a permit from the permit board by misrepresentation or concealment of a material fact;
(c)
Has been convicted of a felony or pleaded guilty or nolo contendere to a felony involving any federal or state laws, including environmental laws, within the five-year period immediately preceding the filing of the application for the issuance, reissuance or transfer of a permit;
(d)
Has habitually violated any provisions of federal or state environmental laws, rules or regulations related to the management of solid or hazardous waste within the five-year period immediately preceding the filing of the application for the issuance, reissuance or transfer of a permit;
(e)
Has been adjudicated in contempt of an order of any court enforcing any state or federal environmental laws within the five-year period immediately preceding the filing of the application for the issuance, reissuance or transfer of a permit;
(f)
Has been convicted of or pleaded guilty or nolo contendere to bribery or attempting to bribe a public officer or employee of the federal government, or any state or local government in the United States, in the public officer's or employee's official capacity within the five-year period immediately preceding the filing of the application for the issuance, reissuance or transfer of a permit; or
(g)
Has been convicted of or pleaded guilty or nolo contendere to collusion among bidders or prospective bidders in restraint of freedom of competition by agreement to bid a fixed price within the five-year period immediately preceding the filing of the application for the issuance, reissuance or transfer of a permit.
(2)
In determining whether to issue, reissue or transfer a permit for the treatment, processing, storage or disposal of solid waste at a commercial nonhazardous solid waste management facility or hazardous waste at a commercial hazardous waste management facility, the permit board shall consider the facts and any mitigating factors including:
(a)
The relevance of the offense to the business for which a permit is sought or the nature and responsibilities of the position which a convicted individual would hold;
(b)
The nature and seriousness of the offense;
(c)
The circumstances under which the offense occurred;
(d)
The date of the offense;
(e)
The ownership and management structure in place at the time of the offense.
(3)
The permit board shall allow the applicant to submit evidence of rehabilitation and shall consider the applicant's efforts to prevent recurrence of unlawful activity in its determination under subsection (2) of this section. Items to be considered by the permit board shall include:
(a)
The applicant's record and history of implementing successful corrective actions undertaken to prevent or minimize the likelihood of recurrence of the offense;
(b)
Whether the offense was an isolated or repeated incident;
(c)
Whether the applicant cooperated with governmental bodies during investigations or voluntarily provided information regarding any offense under consideration;
(d)
The number and types of permits held by the applicant, and the experience of the applicant in conducting its business;
(e)
Implementation by the applicant of formal policies, training programs, or management controls to substantially minimize or prevent the occurrence of future violations or unlawful activities;
(f)
Implementation by the applicant of an environmental compliance auditing program to assess and monitor compliance with environmental laws, rules, regulations and permit conditions; and
(g)
The applicant's discharge of individuals or severance of the interest of or affiliation with responsible parties, who would otherwise cause the permit board to deny a permit.
(4)
If the permit board finds pursuant to this section that mitigating factors exist or that the applicant has demonstrated rehabilitation, the permit board may issue, reissue or transfer the permit for the treatment, processing, storage or disposal of solid waste at a commercial nonhazardous solid waste management facility or hazardous waste at a commercial hazardous waste management facility.
Laws, 1991, ch. 583, § 3, eff. 4/12/1991.