[Sqg-program] FW: [Pharmwaste] Oct 30, 2007 Fed. Register -- request for input on unused pharmaceuticals

[Perrigan, Glen]

FYI 
Preliminary 2008 Effluent Guidelines and Pretreatment Standards for those
counties with NPDES and Pretreatment Programs. 

http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-WATER/2007/October/Day-30/w21310.pdf

Glen Perrigan
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Hazardous Waste Management Section
2600 Blair Stone Road  MS-4555
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2400
850-245-8749 Fax:  850-412-0528
E-mail: glen.perrigan at dep.state.fl.us
Website:   www.dep.state.fl.us/waste
 
 




The Department of Environmental 

Protection values your feedback as a customer. DEP Secretary Michael W. Sole is committed to continuously assessing and 

improving the level and quality of services provided to you. Please take a few minutes to comment on the quality of 

service you received. Copy the url below to a web browser to complete the DEP 

survey: http://survey.dep.state.fl.us/?refemail=Glen.Perrigan@dep.state.fl.us Thank you in advance for completing the survey.


From: Pickrel.Jan at epamail.epa.gov [mailto:Pickrel.Jan at epamail.epa.gov] 
Sent: Wednesday, November 07, 2007 9:27 AM
To: pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us
Subject: [Pharmwaste] Oct 30,2007 Fed. Register -- request for input on
unused pharmaceuticals


FYI --
Below is a link to EPA's Notice of Availability of Preliminary 2008
Effluent Guidelines Program Plan that was published in the Federal
Register on Tuesday, October 30, 2007.

Comments are requested by December 31, 2007.  Information on how to
submit comments are included in the notice.  Comments should be directed
to Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2006-0771

Questions should be directed to Carey Johnston of EPA.  Carey can be
reached at johnston.carey at epa.gov or 202-566-1014.

http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-WATER/2007/October/Day-30/w21310.pdf

In Section IX.D.2. (page 72 FR 61354), EPA asks specific questions for
input regarding the unused pharmaceutical situation (excerpt pasted
below):


    * EPA solicits identification of any policies, procedures or
guidelines that govern the disposal of unused pharmaceuticals from
hospitals; offices of doctors and mental health practitioners; nursing,
long-term care, re-habilitation, and personal care facilities; medical
laboratories and diagnostic service facilities; and veterinary care
facilities.
    * EPA solicits information on the most likely sub-sectors
within the Health Service sector that would accumulate unused
pharmaceuticals for management and disposal.
    * When applicable, to what extent are unused pharmaceuticals
disposed according to the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)?
    * EPA solicits comment and data on: (1) The main factors
that drive current disposal practices; and (2) any barriers preventing
the reduction or elimination of unused pharmaceuticals to POTWs and/or
surface waters. In particular, EPA solicits comment on the extent that
the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 801 et. seq.) complicates the
design of an efficacious solution to drug disposal?
    * EPA solicits quantitative information or tracking sheets
for the past year on the disposal of unused pharmaceuticals via the
toilet, drain, or sewer.
    * EPA solicits data on how control authorities are currently
controlling disposal of unused pharmaceuticals via wastewater.
    * EPA solicits information on any technologies or BMPs that
are available to control or eliminate the disposal of unused
pharmaceuticals to POTWs.
    * EPA solicits qualitative and quantitative data on the
effectiveness and annualized costs of the technologies or BMPs that
health service facilities use to control or eliminate the discharge of
unused pharmaceuticals from their wastewater. EPA is also interested in
obtaining information on the current costs (including labor) associated
with disposal of unused pharmaceuticals via the drain or toilet.
    * EPA solicits any studies or information on the potential
for unused pharmaceuticals disposed in non-hazardous landfills to
contaminate underground resources of drinking water.

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Jan Pickrel
Water Permits Division, Industrial Branch
US Environmental Protection Agency
phone:  (202) 564-7904.
fax:  (202) 564-6431.
pickrel.jan at epa.gov
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