Northwest Mercury Issues - September 2005
On September 21, 22, and 23, the North American Hazardous Materials Management Association (NAHMMA) Expo was held in Tacoma, Washington. NAHMMA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing hazardous materials entering municipal waste streams from hospitals, businesses, industries, and household. Rebec LLC was an exhibitor at this expo for the purpose of educating the regulatory agencies about the available amalgam separator technology.
During this expo and conference were many seminars presented by business and local, state, and federal environmental and health agencies. As an exhibitor Rebec was able to present our product line to representatives from California, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Tennessee, Kansas, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Florida, and even Yellowstone Park. In discussions with attendees and from expo seminars we were informed about many current and upcoming issues relevant to the pacific northwest dental community.
· The city of Wenatchee stated that the last time they inspected dental offices for industrial wastewater discharge issues only one dentist had installed an amalgam separator. At Rebec, we have since reviewed our customer database, which is more recent than their inspections, and have learned that numerous of the local dentists have since purchased and installed Rebec CatchHg amalgam separator. To date fourteen dentists have installed Rebec systems in Wenatchee and eleven dentists in East Wenatchee have a Rebec amalgam separator. Additionally Cashmere has a 100% amalgam separator compliance rate with all dentists installing Rebec systems.
· The state of Oregon is contemplating options to encourage dentists to install amalgam separators on a voluntary basis. Even with the State of Oregon Department of Environmental Quality offering a 35% tax credit for this equipment only 7 dental clinics have been approved for the tax credit to date. Oregon continues to focus on Best Management Practices that do not mention amalgam separators but may expand these recommendations soon due to mercury levels in the Willamette River drainage area.
· Washington State Department of Ecology (DOE) discussed the expiration of the voluntary compliance period for dentists to install amalgam separators and the results obtained from their recent survey. Most dentists in Washington State were required to install ISO certified amalgam separators or to test their vacuum line effluent for sewer discharge compliance by August 1, 2005. Dentists were to notify the DOE of compliance by registering their amalgam separator installation. Results obtained from this registration and DOE funded surveys showed a dismal compliance rate for the state, excluding King County. As of this meeting the DOE was reviewing their legal recourse but was leaning toward issuance of citations and fines for dentists who have not complied with the requirement to install ISO certified amalgam separators. Although the DOE recognized that at least 1/3 of the dentists in the state recognized the need to protect our environment they were very disappointed in the majority of dentists who have not taken advantage of the enforcement discretion granted these past two years to allow for dentists to install amalgam separators at their leisure. Additionally, the DOE is disturbed by the lack of compliance with other best management practices for dental office waste and proper maintenance of installed amalgam separator equipment and will be warning dentists of their obligation to properly manage all of their dangerous waste and keep accurate records. DOE was clear that inspections are forthcoming statewide as well as citations and fines for noncompliance.
· King County Local Hazardous Waste Management Program will continue to issue VIP vouchers to dentists for the installation of amalgam separators and the proper management of their dangerous waste if they are deemed eligible. VIP vouchers are available to small businesses for up to $500 toward environmental compliance through the VIP Voucher program at 206-263-3050. These vouchers are not guaranteed nor are they going to be offered indefinitely. It is a great program with limited budget so target priorities may change without notice.
· King County Industrial Waste raised issues of amalgam separator maintenance compliance. The installation of an approved amalgam separator was only the first step in compliance with the counties sewer discharge regulations. To remain in compliance a dentist must properly maintain their equipment and retain documentation that their waste is managed appropriately. King County is considering stepped up inspections to ensure the dental community is continually keeping dental amalgam out of the sewer lines and disposing of the waste they collect through proper waste management techniques.
Mercury remains a very high priority topic for the environmental departments at the local, state, and federal government levels. Many regions of the EPA highly recommend that dental amalgam separators be a part of a Best Management strategy for reduction of discharge of mercury to the environment. As part of this strategy many of these regulating agencies will be directing their attention at not only the initial installation of this equipment but also the continual maintenance and proper disposal of dental
During this expo and conference were many seminars presented by business and local, state, and federal environmental and health agencies. As an exhibitor Rebec was able to present our product line to representatives from California, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Tennessee, Kansas, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Florida, and even Yellowstone Park. In discussions with attendees and from expo seminars we were informed about many current and upcoming issues relevant to the pacific northwest dental community.
· The city of Wenatchee stated that the last time they inspected dental offices for industrial wastewater discharge issues only one dentist had installed an amalgam separator. At Rebec, we have since reviewed our customer database, which is more recent than their inspections, and have learned that numerous of the local dentists have since purchased and installed Rebec CatchHg amalgam separator. To date fourteen dentists have installed Rebec systems in Wenatchee and eleven dentists in East Wenatchee have a Rebec amalgam separator. Additionally Cashmere has a 100% amalgam separator compliance rate with all dentists installing Rebec systems.
· The state of Oregon is contemplating options to encourage dentists to install amalgam separators on a voluntary basis. Even with the State of Oregon Department of Environmental Quality offering a 35% tax credit for this equipment only 7 dental clinics have been approved for the tax credit to date. Oregon continues to focus on Best Management Practices that do not mention amalgam separators but may expand these recommendations soon due to mercury levels in the Willamette River drainage area.
· Washington State Department of Ecology (DOE) discussed the expiration of the voluntary compliance period for dentists to install amalgam separators and the results obtained from their recent survey. Most dentists in Washington State were required to install ISO certified amalgam separators or to test their vacuum line effluent for sewer discharge compliance by August 1, 2005. Dentists were to notify the DOE of compliance by registering their amalgam separator installation. Results obtained from this registration and DOE funded surveys showed a dismal compliance rate for the state, excluding King County. As of this meeting the DOE was reviewing their legal recourse but was leaning toward issuance of citations and fines for dentists who have not complied with the requirement to install ISO certified amalgam separators. Although the DOE recognized that at least 1/3 of the dentists in the state recognized the need to protect our environment they were very disappointed in the majority of dentists who have not taken advantage of the enforcement discretion granted these past two years to allow for dentists to install amalgam separators at their leisure. Additionally, the DOE is disturbed by the lack of compliance with other best management practices for dental office waste and proper maintenance of installed amalgam separator equipment and will be warning dentists of their obligation to properly manage all of their dangerous waste and keep accurate records. DOE was clear that inspections are forthcoming statewide as well as citations and fines for noncompliance.
· King County Local Hazardous Waste Management Program will continue to issue VIP vouchers to dentists for the installation of amalgam separators and the proper management of their dangerous waste if they are deemed eligible. VIP vouchers are available to small businesses for up to $500 toward environmental compliance through the VIP Voucher program at 206-263-3050. These vouchers are not guaranteed nor are they going to be offered indefinitely. It is a great program with limited budget so target priorities may change without notice.
· King County Industrial Waste raised issues of amalgam separator maintenance compliance. The installation of an approved amalgam separator was only the first step in compliance with the counties sewer discharge regulations. To remain in compliance a dentist must properly maintain their equipment and retain documentation that their waste is managed appropriately. King County is considering stepped up inspections to ensure the dental community is continually keeping dental amalgam out of the sewer lines and disposing of the waste they collect through proper waste management techniques.
Mercury remains a very high priority topic for the environmental departments at the local, state, and federal government levels. Many regions of the EPA highly recommend that dental amalgam separators be a part of a Best Management strategy for reduction of discharge of mercury to the environment. As part of this strategy many of these regulating agencies will be directing their attention at not only the initial installation of this equipment but also the continual maintenance and proper disposal of dental
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