The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) has established criteria for the dental industry that is involved with the removal of amalgam (silver – mercury). The rules and regulations pursuant to the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) are found in 40 CFR Part 441. This reference sets forth requirements that you need to be aware of.

Rather than being treated as an industrial user, the USEPA has established the “One-Time Compliance Report” for dental offices that discharge amalgam. Failure to submit this report can cause the Local Wastewater Treatment Plant to treat the dentist as an industrial user.

In order to regulate those practices that remove amalgam, Lake County Public Works requests the completion of the attached One-Time Compliance Report. The completed report must be returned to our attention no later than October 12, 2020.

Background 

Individually, silver and mercury are toxic to the wastewater treatment process, and the amalgam is concentrated in our sludge handling and disposal process. Our sludge is used as a soil amender and fertilizer, and to prevent contamination of the receiving stream, rivers and soils. The USEPA is requiring dental dischargers to capture and collect the amalgam. There are specific rules and requirements outlined in 40 CFR Part 441, for the collection, separation and capture of the amalgam.

The form includes information on how to submit a response to the requirement.