SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 65 AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE (Proposed by the Senate Committee on Rules on February 8, 2008) (Patron Prior to Substitute—Senator Quayle) Directing the Auditor of Public Accounts to collect, receive, and analyze data and information relating to the operation and finances of the Southeastern Public Service Authority of Virginia. Report.

WHEREAS, historically, solid waste had been handled in southeastern Virginia by the individual localities, with each city or county either collecting and disposing of waste within its borders or transporting the waste to a neighboring locality for disposal; and

WHEREAS, in 1973, local communities realized the need for a regional water supply system and created the Southeastern Water Authority of Virginia, and in 1976, the local municipalities also realized the need for regional management of their solid waste and agreed to establish the Southeastern Public Service Authority of Virginia (SPSA); and

WHEREAS, upon its establishment, SPSA's responsibilities included the development of a regional solid waste disposal system that included a resource recovery operation; and

WHEREAS, SPSA’s mission is to dispose of waste "in an environmentally sensitive manner, minimizing damage for current and future generations and reusing waste whenever possible, turning it into a useful product"; and

WHEREAS, in 1977, the General Assembly authorized bonding authority for SPSA for the purpose of providing acquisition, financing, construction, operation, and maintenance of a water system and a garbage and refuse collection and disposal system; and

WHEREAS, in 1978, initial funding for SPSA's operation in the amount of $3 million was provided through bond anticipation notes secured by four local communities; and

WHEREAS, during the mid-to-late 1980s, facilities were constructed with funding provided through several bond issues and staff was hired to operate its facilities; and

WHEREAS, SPSA's member localities, which include the Cities of Chesapeake, Franklin, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, and Virginia Beach, and the Counties of Isle of Wight and Southampton, have entered into Use and Support Agreements with SPSA that require the delivery of substantially all of the waste generated within the member localities' boundaries, and these agreements will expire in 2018; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the Auditor of Public Accounts be directed to collect, receive, and analyze data and information relating to the operation and finances of the Southeastern Public Service Authority of Virginia.

In collecting and analyzing such data and information, the Auditor of Public Accounts shall assess SPSA's financial stability and performance, compare SPSA’s operations with similar public and private entities, and make such recommendations as he may deem relevant to the purposes of this study.

Technical assistance shall be provided by the staffs of the Senate Committee on Finance and the House Committee on Appropriations. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the Auditor of Public Accounts in collecting the data and information, upon request.

The Auditor of Public Accounts shall submit to the Division of Legislative Automated Systems an executive summary and the data and information collected, including any recommendations, on the Southeastern Public Service Authority of Virginia no later than the first day of the 2009 Regular Session of the General Assembly. The executive summary and data and information, including any recommendations of the Auditor of Public Accounts, shall be submitted for publication as a report document as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 65 Offered January 9, 2008 Prefiled January 8, 2008 Requesting the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission to study the operation and finances of the Southeastern Public Service Authority. Report. ---------- Patron-- Quayle ---------- Referred to Committee on Rules ----------

WHEREAS, historically, solid waste had been handled in southeastern Virginia by the individual localities, with each city or county either collecting and disposing of waste within its borders or transporting the waste to a neighboring locality for disposal; and

WHEREAS, in 1973, these local communities realized the need for a regional water supply system and created the Southeastern Water Authority of Virginia (SWAV); however SWAV never became operational, and in 1976, the local municipalities agreed to establish, expand and rename SWAV the Southeastern Public Service Authority (SPSA) in accordance with the Water and Waste Authorities Act; and

WHEREAS, upon its establishment, SPSA's responsibilities were expanded to include the development of a regional solid waste disposal system that included a waste-to-energy plant; and

WHEREAS, SPSA's mission is to dispose of waste "in an environmentally sensitive manner, minimizing damage for current and future generations and reusing waste whenever possible, turning it into a useful product"; and

WHEREAS, the General Assembly authorized bonding authority for SPSA for the purpose of providing acquisition, financing, construction, operation and maintenance of a water system and a garbage and refuse collection and disposal system; and

WHEREAS, in 1978, initial funding for SPSA's operation in the amount of $3 million was provided through bond anticipation notes secured by four local communities; and

WHEREAS, during the mid-to-late 1980s, facilities were being constructed and staff hired with funding provided through several bond issues; and

WHEREAS, SPSA's member localities, which include the cities of Chesapeake, Virginia Beach, Portsmouth, Norfolk, Franklin, and Suffolk, and the counties of Isle of Wight and Southampton, have entered into Use and Support Agreements with SPSA that call for the delivery of substantially all of the waste generated within the member localities' boundaries, and these agreements are scheduled to expire in 2018 and the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission has been requested to examine future waste disposal alternatives for the region; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission be requested to study the operation and finances of the Southeastern Public Service Authority.

In conducting its study, the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission shall assess SPSA's financial stability and performance. Any analysis shall compare SPSA operations with similar public and private entities.

The Hampton Roads Planning District Commission shall complete its meetings by November 30, 2008, and shall submit to the Governor and the General Assembly an executive summary and a report of its findings and recommendations for publication as a House or Senate document. The executive summary and report shall be submitted as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports no later than the first day of the 2009 Regular Session of the General Assembly and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.