74th OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2007 Regular Session 

 

 

 Enrolled 

 

 Senate Bill 704 

 

Sponsored by Senator AVAKIAN, Representative DINGFELDER; Senators 

 ATKINSON, BATES, BROWN, Representatives BOONE, BUTLER, DALLUM, 

 ROSENBAUM, SHIELDS, TOMEI 

 

 

 CHAPTER ................ 

 

 

 AN ACT 

 

 

Relating to mercury in dental wastewater. 

 Whereas the primary component of amalgam dental fillings is 

elemental mercury, a toxin known to cause serious health harm; 

and 

 Whereas amalgam is a source of mercury in the environment and 

amalgam that passes through the wastewater drain lines of dental 

offices is a source of mercury in wastewater treatment plants; 

and 

 Whereas solid waste containing mercury is removed from 

wastewater treatment plants and is often spread as a soil 

amendment on cropland; and 

 Whereas best management practices for dental wastes developed 

by the Oregon Dental Association in 1998 in conjunction with the 

City of Portland, the Oregon Association of Clean Water Agencies 

and the Department of Environmental Quality are effective 

pollution prevention practices for preventing amalgam waste from 

entering the air, sewage systems, waterways and garbage; now, 

therefore, 

 

Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon: 

 

 SECTION 1. { + Section 2 of this 2007 Act is added to and made 

a part of ORS chapter 679. + } 

 SECTION 2. { + (1) A dentist who places in or removes from the 

human oral cavity dental materials containing mercury shall: 

 (a) Implement and maintain best management practices of dental 

wastes as developed by the Oregon Dental Association to prevent 

amalgam waste and mercury from entering the air, sewage systems, 

waterways and garbage; 

 (b) Have an amalgam separator installed on a wastewater drain 

in a dental facility where the dentist practices if dental 

materials containing amalgam pass through the wastewater drain. 

The amalgam separator must be verified by the manufacturer to 

remove at least 95 percent of the amalgam that passes through the 

drain on which it is installed; 

 (c) Maintain an amalgam separator installed as required by this 

subsection in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations; 

and 

 (d) Place all dental waste materials containing mercury in a 

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vapor-proof container that is clearly labeled as containing 

mercury and dispose of the materials in accordance with best 

management practices of dental wastes recommended by the Oregon 

 

 

Enrolled Senate Bill 704 (SB 704-B) Page 1 

 

 

 

Dental Association. Disposal may not be by incineration that 

would result in the release of mercury into the air. 

 (2) Each dental office shall keep proof of installation of an 

amalgam separator and maintain an amalgam separator maintenance 

log that the office shall make available for inspection by the 

Oregon Board of Dentistry. The board may inspect maintenance logs 

from a period of up to three years prior to the date of 

inspection. + } 

 SECTION 3. { + Each dental facility constructed on or after 

the effective date of this 2007 Act shall have amalgam separators 

that meet the requirements of section 2 (1)(b) of this 2007 

Act. + } 

 SECTION 4. { + A dentist who follows the guidelines for best 

management of dental wastes recommended by the Oregon Dental 

Association and who is certified by a special district that 

manages wastewater treatment as following those guidelines is 

exempt from the requirements of section 2 (1)(b), (c) and (d) of 

this 2007 Act until January 1, 2011. + } 

 ---------- 

 

 

Passed by Senate May 3, 2007 

 

Repassed by Senate June 7, 2007 

 

 

 ........................................................... 

 Secretary of Senate 

 

 ........................................................... 

 President of Senate 

 

Passed by House June 5, 2007 

 

 

 ........................................................... 

 Speaker of House 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Enrolled Senate Bill 704 (SB 704-B) Page 2 

 

 

 

 

 

Received by Governor: 

 

......M.,............., 2007 

 

Approved: 

 

......M.,............., 2007 

 

 

 ........................................................... 

 Governor 

 

Filed in Office of Secretary of State: 

 

......M.,............., 2007 

 

 

 ........................................................... 

 Secretary of State 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Enrolled Senate Bill 704 (SB 704-B) Page 3 

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