The EPA will conduct a public hearing on the proposed pretreatment standards for discharges of pollutants into publicly owned treatment works (POTWs) from certain existing and new dental practices on Monday, November 10,  at 1 p.m. in the William J. Clinton-East Building, Room 1153, 1201 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC.

According to water.epa.gov, the proposal would require such dentists to comply with requirements for controlling the discharge of dental amalgam pollutants into POTWs. The requirements are based on the best available technology or best available control technology, amalgam separators (SolmeteX® Hg5® Series shown above, available at benco.com) and Best Management Practices.  EPA is also proposing to amend the General Pretreatment Regulations (40 CFR Part 403) to streamline oversight requirements for the dental sector.

“The EPA expects compliance with this proposed rule would cut metal discharge to treatment works, half of it from mercury, by at least 8.8 tons a year. The EPA is also proposing to streamline dental sector oversight requirements to cut implementation and oversight costs of the proposed rule to states and localities by $47 million annually,” reported Donna DominoFeatures Editor at drbicuspid.com

The public hearing will provide an opportunity for oral comments to the Agency on the proposed pretreatment standards.  Typically, each presenter will have three to five minutes to speak.  A transcription of the oral comments will be available on this page following the hearing.  Information on optional pre-registration will be provided can be found at: https://water.epa.gov/scitech/wastetech/guide/dental/

IMPORTANT DATES:

December 22, 2014.  Deadline for public comments to EPA on this proposal.  Please see the Federal Register notice for details.

September 2015. EPA expects to finalize the rule, which under the Clean Water Act, will require dentists to install amalgam separators to help cut discharges of dental amalgam to the environment.