Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 310 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION › Title 310 CMR 73.00 - Amalgam Wastewater And Recycling For Dental Facilities › Section 73.02 - Definitions

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
Amalgam
. An alloy containing mercury
				and other metals used to restore the dentition.
Amalgam Separator
. An item of dental
				equipment designed to remove amalgam particles from the wastewater passing
				through the vacuum system, or any vacuum line filters and screens and/or
				chair-side traps of a Dental Facility prior to its discharge.
Amalgam Waste
. Any waste containing
				mercury amalgam or otherwise associated with preparation or use of amalgam
				including, but not limited to, amalgam collected by chair-side traps, screens,
				filters, vacuum system filters, amalgam separators or other devices; waste
				elemental mercury; and waste amalgam capsules.
Approved Amalgam Separator
. An amalgam
				separator that has been demonstrated by the manufacturer to achieve a 98% or
				greater amalgam removal efficiency. Such removal efficiency shall be determined
				on the basis of test data generated by a professional laboratory that is
				qualified to perform the following analytical methods:
(a) ISO protocol 11143, using average test results under empty
				and simulated full conditions; or
(b) an equivalent method that meets Department-approved quality
				assurance and quality control criteria.
Separators installed under the Department's voluntary Dental
				Amalgam/Mercury Recycling Certification program, described at
				310 CMR 73.03(2)(a) and
				(b), that have been demonstrated to achieve
				95% or greater removal efficiency may be used as long as the separator is
				properly maintained and continues to achieve a 95% or greater removal
				efficiency. However, any replacement for such amalgam separators must achieve a
				98% or greater amalgam removal efficiency.
Dental Facility
or
Facility
. Any institution, clinic, office or location
				where dentistry is practiced, as defined in M.G.L. c. 112, § 50.
Department
. The Massachusetts
				Department of Environmental Protection.
ISO
. The International Organization
				for Standardization.
Operational Standards
. Specified
				business, operational, maintenance and other procedures listed at
				310 CMR
				73.05 that limit the amount of mercury
				released to the environment through wastewater and solid waste.
Owner of a Dental Facility
. Any person
				who owns, leases, maintains, or operates a Dental Facility in any office or
				other room or rooms where dentistry is practiced, as defined in M.G.L. c. 112,
				§ 50, or who directly or indirectly is manager, proprietor, or conductor
				of the same.
Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTW)
.
				Any device or system used in the treatment (including recycling and
				reclamation) of municipal sewage or industrial wastes of a liquid nature which
				is owned by a public entity. A POTW includes any sewers, pipes, or other
				conveyances only if it conveys wastewater to a POTW providing treatment.
Reclaimed
. Processing to recover a
				usable product or regeneration, but does not include burning
				(
e.g
., for energy recovery) or use constituting
				disposal.