Final Text
Part I
Definitions
The following words and terms when used in this chapter shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Chapter 14 (§ 10.1-1400 et seq.) of Title 10.1 of the Code of Virginia defines words and terms that supplement those in this chapter. The Solid Waste Management Regulations, 9VAC20-81, define additional words and terms that supplement those in the statutes and this chapter. When the statutes, as cited, and the solid waste management regulations, as cited, conflict, the definitions of the statutes are controlling.
"Act" or "regulations" means the federal or state law or regulation last cited in the context, unless otherwise indicated.
"Alternative treatment method" means a method for the treatment of regulated medical waste that is not incineration or steam sterilization (autoclaving).
"Approved sanitary sewer system" means a network of sewers serving a facility that has been approved in writing by the Virginia Department of Health, including affiliated local health departments. Such sewer systems may be approved septic tank/drainfield systems and on-site treatment systems, or they may be a part of a collection system served by an NPDES permitted treatment works.
"Associated" means two or more firms that share staff members, management, directors, and assets or engage in joint ventures. Holding companies and part owners are associated parties.
"Ash" means the residual waste material produced from an incineration process or any combustion.
"ASTM" means the American Society For Testing and Materials.
"Autoclave tape" means tape that changes color or becomes striped when subjected to temperatures that will provide sterilization of materials during treatment in an autoclave or similar device.
"Blood" means human blood, human blood components, and products made from human blood.
"Board" means the Virginia Waste Management Board.
"Body fluids" means liquid emanating or derived from humans including blood; cerebrospinal, synovial, pleural, peritoneal and pericardial fluids; semen and vaginal secretions; amniotic fluid; urine; saliva in dental procedures; and any other body fluids that are contaminated with blood, and any other liquids emanating from humans that may be mixed or combined with body fluids.
"Closure" means the act of securing a regulated medical waste management facility pursuant to the requirements of these regulations.
"Closure plan" means the plan for closure prepared in accordance with the requirements of this chapter.
"Commonwealth" means the Commonwealth of Virginia.
"Container" means any portable enclosure in which a material is stored, transported, treated, or otherwise handled.
"Contaminated" means the presence or the reasonably anticipated presence of blood or other body fluids on an item or surface.
"Contingency plan" means a document setting out an organized, planned and coordinated course of action to be followed in the event of a fire, explosion, or release of regulated medical waste or regulated medical waste constituents that could threaten human health or the environment.
"CWA" means the Clean Water Act (formerly referred to as the Federal Water Pollution Control Act), 33 USC § 1251 et seq.; PL 92-500, PL 93-207, PL 93-243, PL 93-592, PL 94-238, PL 94-273, PL 94-558, PL 95-217, PL 95-576, PL 96-148, PL 96-478, PL 96-483, PL 96-510, PL 96-561, PL 97-35, PL 97-117, PL 97-164, PL 97-216, PL 97-272, PL 97-440, PL 98-45, PL 100-4, PL 100-202, PL 100-404, and PL 100-668.
"Decontamination" means the use of physical or chemical means to remove, inactivate, or destroy human pathogens on a surface or item to the point where they are no longer capable of transmitting disease and the surface or item is rendered safe for handling, use, or disposal.
"Department" means the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality.
"Director" means the Director of the Department of Environmental Quality or his designee.
"Discard" means to throw away or reject. When a material is soiled, contaminated or no longer usable and it is placed in a waste receptacle for disposal or treatment prior to disposal, it is considered discarded.
"Discharge" or "waste discharge" means the accidental or intentional spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, or dumping of regulated medical waste into or on any land or state waters.
"Disposal" means the discharge, deposit, injection, dumping, spilling, leaking, or placing of any solid waste into or on any land or water so that such solid waste or any constituent of it may enter the environment or be emitted into the air or discharged into any waters, including ground waters.
"Disposal facility" means a facility or part of a facility at which solid waste is intentionally placed into or on any land or water, and at which the solid waste will remain after closure.
"Domestic sewage" means untreated sanitary wastes that pass through a sewer system.
"Empty" means wastes have been removed from a container using the practices commonly employed to remove materials of that type.
"EPA" means the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
"Etiologic agents" means the specific organisms defined to be etiologic agents in 42 CFR 72.3. In general, etiologic agents as defined in 42 CFR 72.1 means a viable microorganism or its toxin which causes or may cause human disease.
"Federal agency" means any department, agency, or other instrumentality of the federal government, any independent agency, or establishment of the federal government including any government corporation and the Government Printing Office.
"Generate" means to cause waste to become subject to regulation. When regulated medical waste is first discarded, it must be appropriately packaged in accordance with this regulation. At the point a regulated medical waste is discarded it has been generated.
Note: Timeframes associated with storage and refrigeration are no longer linked to the "date of generation."
"Generator" means any person, by site location, whose act or process produces regulated medical waste identified or listed in Part III (9VAC20-120-80 et seq.) of this chapter or whose act first causes a regulated medical waste to become subject to this chapter.
"Hazardous material" means a substance or material that has been so designated under 49 Parts CFR 171 and 173.
"Hazardous waste" means any solid waste defined as a "hazardous waste" by the Virginia Hazardous Waste Management Regulations.
"Health Care Professional" means a medical doctor or nurse practicing under a license issued by the Department of Health Professions.
"Highly leak resistant" means that leaks will not occur in the container even if the container receives severe abuse and stress, but remains substantially intact.
"Highly puncture resistant" means that punctures will not penetrate the container even if the container receives severe abuse and stress, but remains substantially intact.
"Motor vehicle" means a vehicle, machine, roll off container, tractor, trailer, or semi-trailer, or any combination of them, propelled or drawn by mechanical power and used in transportation or designed for such use.
"Nonstationary health care providers" means those persons who routinely provide health care at locations that change each day or frequently. This term includes traveling doctors, nurses, midwives, and others providing care in patients' homes, first aid providers operating from emergency vehicles, and mobile blood service collection stations.
"NPDES" or "National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System" means the national program for issuing, modifying, revoking, reissuing, terminating, monitoring, and enforcing permits pursuant to §§ 307, 402, 318, and 405 of the Clean Water Act. The term includes any state or interstate program that has been approved by the Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
"Off-site" means any site that does not meet the definition of on-site as defined in this part, including areas of a facility that are not on geographically contiguous property or outside of the boundary of the site.
"On-site" means the same or geographically contiguous property, which may be divided by public or private right-of-way, provided the entrance and exit to the facility are controlled by the owner or the operator of the facility. Noncontiguous properties owned by the same person but connected by a right-of-way that he controls and to which the public does not have access are also considered on-site property.
"Owner" means the person or persons who own a regulated medical waste management facility or part of a regulated medical waste management facility.
"Package" or "outside package" means a package plus its contents.
"Packaging" means the assembly of one or more containers and any other components necessary to assure compliance with minimum packaging requirements under VRGTHM or this chapter.
"Permit by rule" means provisions of this chapter stating that a facility or activity is deemed to have a permit if it meets the requirements of the provision.
"Permitted waste management facility" or "permitted facility" means a regulated medical waste treatment or storage facility that has received a permit in accordance with the requirements of the chapter.
"Physical construction" means excavation, movement of earth, erection of forms or structures, the purchase of equipment, or any other activity involving the actual preparation of the regulated medical waste management facility.
"Processing" means preparation, treatment, or conversion of regulated medical waste by a series of actions, changes, or functions that bring about a decided result.
"RCRA" means the Solid Waste Disposal Act, as amended by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (42 USC § 6901 et seq.), the Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments of 1984, and any other applicable amendments to these laws.
"Regulated medical waste" means solid wastes defined to be regulated medical wastes in Part III (9VAC20-120-80 et seq.) of this chapter.
"Regulated medical waste management" means the systematic administration of activities that provide for the collection, source separation, storage, transportation, transfer, processing, treatment, and disposal of regulated medical wastes whether or not such facility is associated with facilities generating such wastes or otherwise.
"Regulated medical waste management facility" means a solid waste management facility that manages regulated medical waste.
"Safe sharps program" means a program supported by a city, county, town or public authority that is intended to enhance the safe disposal of sharps discarded by private individuals.
"Sanitary sewer system" means a system for the collection and transport of sewage, the construction of which was approved by the Department of Health or other appropriate authority.
"Secondary container" means a storage device into which a container can be placed for the purpose of containing any leakage from the original container.
"Section" means a subpart of this chapter and when referred to all portions of that part apply.
"Sharps" means needles, scalpels, knives, syringes with attached needles, pasteur pipettes and similar items having a point or sharp edge or that are likely to break during transportation and result in a point or sharp edge.
"Shipment" means the movement or quantity conveyed by a transporter of a regulated medical waste between a generator and a designated facility or a subsequent transporter.
"Site" means the land or water area upon which a facility or activity is physically located or conducted, including but not limited to adjacent land used for utility systems such as repair, storage, shipping, or processing areas, or other areas incident to the controlled facility or activity.
"Solid waste" means any garbage, refuse, sludge and other discarded material, including solid, liquid, semisolid or contained gaseous material, resulting from industrial, commercial, mining and agriculture operations, or community activities, but does not include (i) solid or dissolved material in domestic sewage, (ii) solid or dissolved material in irrigation return flows or in industrial discharges which are sources subject to a permit from the State Water Control Board, or (iii) source, special nuclear, or by-product material as defined by the Federal Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended 42 USC §§ 2011-2284. The definition of solid waste is further clarified in the Solid Waste Management Regulations (9VAC20-81-95).
"Solid waste management" means the collection, source separation, storage, transportation, transfer, processing, treatment, and disposal of solid wastes or resource recovery.
"Spill" means any accidental or unpermitted discharge, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, or dumping of wastes or materials that, when spilled, become wastes.
"Start-up" or "cold start-up" means the beginning of a combustion operation from a condition where the combustor unit is not operating and less than 140°F in all areas.
"Storage" means the holding, including during transportation, of more than 200 gallons of waste, at the end of which the regulated medical waste is treated or stored elsewhere.
"Training" means formal instruction, supplementing an employee's existing job knowledge, designed to protect human health and the environment via attendance and successful completion of a course of instruction in regulated medical waste management procedures, including contingency plan implementation, relevant to those operations connected with the employee's position at the facility.
"Transfer facility" means any transportation related facility including loading docks, parking areas, storage areas, and other similar areas where shipments of regulated medical waste are held during the normal course of transportation.
"Transportation" or "transport" means the movement of regulated medical waste by air, rail, highway, or water.
"Transport vehicle" means any vehicle used for the transportation of cargo.
"Vector" means a living animal, insect or other arthropod that may transmits an infectious disease from one organism to another.
"VRGTHM" means Virginia Regulations Governing the Transportation of Hazardous Materials promulgated by the Virginia Waste Management Board as authorized by §§ 10.1-1450 through 10.1-1454 of the Code of Virginia.
"Waste management facility" means all contiguous land and structures, other appurtenances, and improvements on them used for treating, storing, or disposing of waste.
"Waste management unit" means any unit at a treatment or storage facility that possesses a permit, or that has received regulated medical waste (as defined in this chapter) at any time, including units that are not currently active.
The purpose of these regulations is to establish standards and procedures pertaining to regulated medical waste management in this Commonwealth in order to protect the public health and public safety, and to enhance the environment and natural resources.
A. The Virginia Waste Management Board promulgates and enforces regulations that it deems necessary to protect the public health and safety, the environment, and natural resources.
B. The Virginia Waste Management Board and/or the director may enforce the provisions of this chapter utilizing all applicable procedures under the law.
A. This chapter applies to all persons who manage regulated medical waste, own or operate regulated medical waste management facilities or allow regulated medical waste management facilities to be operated on their property in this Commonwealth, to those who seek approval to engage in these activities and to all persons who manage regulated medical wastes, except those specifically exempted or excluded elsewhere in this chapter.
B. All existing regulated medical waste management facilities must comply with this chapter.
C. By December 16, 2002, all permitted regulated medical waste management facilities will place in their operating record updated design and operation information in accordance with the requirements of 9VAC20-120-730.
D. All existing regulated medical waste management facilities in possession of a permit issued by the director are now deemed to be operating under the provisions of permit by rule. Any modification, transfer, violation or termination of the permit will be in accordance with the procedures specified for permit by rule.
A. The board intends that these regulations be severable, so that if any provision or part of these regulations is held invalid, unconstitutional or inapplicable to any person or circumstances, such invalidity, unconstitutionality or inapplicability shall not affect or impair the remaining provisions of these regulations and their application.
B. This chapter supersedes and replaces all previous regulations of the Waste Management Board to the extent that those prior regulations conflict with the regulations presented here. Where there does not exist a conflict between the prior regulations and those presented here, no replacement shall be deemed to occur and the prior regulations shall remain. This chapter supersedes and replaces in their entirety the following previous rules of the board: "Infectious Waste Management Regulations," effective May 2, 1990; "Regulated Medical Waste Management Regulations," effective June 30, 1993; and "Regulated Medical Waste Management Regulations," effective June 29, 1994.
C. This chapter shall remain in effect unless amended, rescinded, or otherwise altered by the Virginia Waste Management Board. Where there appears to be a conflict between this chapter and other regulations adopted at a future date, and such future regulations do not specifically clarify this chapter, this chapter shall be controlling.
D. These regulations are completely separate from all federal or local governmental regulations.
A. The Solid Waste Management Regulations (9VAC20-81) address other requirements for regulated medical waste management. Any regulated medical waste management facility must also conform to any applicable sections of the solid waste management regulations issued by the board and any special solid waste management regulations such as those defining financial assurance requirements. If there is a conflict between the details of regulations here and the others, this chapter is controlling.
B. Regulated medical waste management facility must also comply with any applicable sections of the Hazardous Waste Management Regulations (9VAC20-60) issued by the department. If there is a conflict between the details of regulations here and the hazardous waste management regulations, the latter regulations are controlling.
C. Intrastate shipment of hazardous materials is subject to the Regulations Governing the Transportation of Hazardous Materials (9VAC20-110) of the department. If there is a conflict between the details of regulations here and the hazardous materials transportation regulations, the latter are controlling.
D. Generators of regulated medical waste and regulated medical waste management facilities may be subject to the general industry standard for occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens in 16VAC25-90-1910.1030 (29 CFR 1910.1030).
E. Persons transporting regulated medical waste are subject to the federal hazardous material transportation requirements in 49 CFR 171 through 178.
F. If there is a conflict between the regulations here and adopted regulations of another agency of the Commonwealth, the provisions of these regulations are set aside to the extent necessary to allow compliance with the regulations of the other agency. If neither regulation controls, the more stringent standard applies.
G. Nothing here either precludes or enables a local governing body to adopt ordinances. Compliance with one body of regulation does not insure compliance with the other, and, normally, both bodies of regulation must be complied with fully.
Part III
Identification and Listing of Regulated Medical Wastes
Article 1
General
A. This part contains general provisions in 9VAC20-120-80 and 9VAC20-120-90, provisions for recycling of regulated medical wastes in 9VAC20-120-100, provisions for conditional exemption from regulation in 9VAC20-120-110, a description of persons exempt in all or in part from the regulations in 9VAC20-120-120, a description of waste and materials excluded from consideration in these regulations in 9VAC20-120-130, and the definition of regulated medical waste in 9VAC20-120-140 and 9VAC20-120-150.
B. Wastes identified in this part are regulated medical wastes and are subject to this chapter, the Virginia Regulated Medical Waste Management Regulations.
C. The basic definition of solid waste appears in 9VAC20-120-10 along with other pertinent definitions and shall be referred to for the exact meaning of the terms used. Additional detailed descriptions of regulated medical wastes, exclusions and listings required to arrive at the proper classification of wastes are the subject of this part.
Wastes that were once regulated and managed in accord with this chapter, and that are no longer regulated medical waste, shall be managed in accordance with such other regulations of the board that apply.
1. Packaging. Treated waste that was once regulated, but is no longer regulated medical waste, shall not be packaged as regulated medical waste. Solid waste packaged as regulated medical waste is regulated medical waste.
2. Recordkeeping. If the solid waste is no longer regulated medical waste because of treatment, the generator and the permitted facility shall maintain a record of the treatment for three years after treatment to include the date and type of treatment, type and amount of regulated medical waste treated, and the individual operating the treatment unit. Records for on-site treatment and shipping papers from commercial carriers for off-site treatment shall be maintained by the generator. Records for off-site treatment and shipping papers for off-site treatment shall be maintained by all permitted facilities. Generators or permitted facilities with more than one unit may maintain a centralized system of recordkeeping. All records shall be available for review by the department upon request.
A. Untreated regulated medical wastes shall not be used, reused, or reclaimed.
B. Wastes that have been treated in accord with these regulations are no longer regulated medical waste and may be used, reused, or reclaimed in accordance with the provisions of the Solid Waste Management Regulations (9VAC20-81).
C. Bed linen, instruments, medical care equipment and other materials that are routinely reused for their original purpose are not subject to these regulations until they are discarded and are a solid waste. These items do not include reusable carts or other devices used in the management of regulated medical waste (see 9VAC20-120-260).
Respondents in actions to enforce this chapter who raise a claim that a certain material is not a solid waste, or is conditionally exempt from regulation, shall demonstrate that they meet the terms of the exclusion or exemption. In doing so, they shall provide appropriate documentation to demonstrate that the material is not a waste, or is exempt from regulation.
Article 2
Exemptions and Exclusions
Exemptions to this chapter include:
1. Composting of sewage sludge at the sewage treatment plant of generation and not involving other solid wastes.
2. Land application of wastes regulated by the State Board of Health, the State Water Control Board, the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, or any other state agency with such authority.
3. Wastewater treatment or pretreatment facilities permitted by the State Water Control Board by a NPDES permit.
4. Management of hazardous waste as defined and controlled by the Virginia Hazardous Waste Management Regulations to the extent that any requirement of those regulations is in conflict with regulations here.
A. Materials described in this section may be partially or totally excluded from these regulations because they are not solid waste, not regulated medical waste or are regulated medical waste the board excludes from this chapter.
B. The following materials are not solid wastes for the purposes of this part:
1. Domestic sewage, including wastes that are not stored and are disposed of in a sanitary sewer system (with or without grinding);
2. Any mixture of domestic sewage and other wastes that pass through a sewer system to a wastewater treatment works permitted by the State Water Control Board or the State Department of Health;
3. Human remains under the control of a licensed physician or dentist, when the remains are being used or examined for medical purposes and are not solid wastes;
4. Human remains properly interred in a cemetery or in preparation by a licensed funeral director or embalmer for such interment or cremation; and
5. Dead or diseased animals subject to regulation by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
C. The following solid wastes are not regulated medical wastes:
1. Meat or other food items being discarded because of spoilage or contamination, and not included in 9VAC20-120-150.
2. Garbage, trash, and sanitary waste from septic tanks and sewage holding tanks that has been generated at any of the following locations: single or multiple residences, hotels, motels, bunkhouses, ranger stations, crew quarters, campground, picnic grounds and day-use recreation areas, except for regulated medical waste resulting from the provision of professional health care services on the premises, provided that all medical sharps discarded at those locations are placed in an opaque container with a high degree of puncture resistance and labeled "do not recycle, medical sharps" or otherwise managed in accordance with a local "safe sharps" program before being mixed with other wastes or disposed.
3. Used products for personal hygiene, such as diapers, facial tissues and sanitary napkins, underpads and adult incontinence products, unless a health care professional has determined these items to be regulated medical wastes in accordance with 9VAC20-120-140.
4. The following discarded items, when they are empty: urine collection bags and tubing, suction canisters and tubing, IV solution bags and tubing, colostomy bags, ileostomy bags, urostomy bags, plastic fluid containers, enteral feeding containers and tubing, hemovacs, and urine specimen cups, unless the items are subject to regulation under 16VAC25-90-1910.1030 (29 CFR 1910.1030) or comparable state or federal standard.
5. The following discarded items: urinary catheters, suction catheters, plastic cannula, IV spikes, nasogastic tubes, oxygen tubing and cannula, ventilator tubing, enema bags and tubing, enema bottles, thermometer probe covers, irrigating feeding syringes, and bedpans/urinals, unless the items are subject to regulation under 16VAC25-90-1910.1030 (29 CFR 1910.1030) or comparable state or federal standard.
6. Items such as bandages, gauze, or cotton swabs or other similar absorbent materials unless at any time following use they are saturated or would release human blood or human body fluids in a liquid or semiliquid state if compressed. Items that contain or that are caked with dried human blood or human body fluids and are capable of releasing these materials during handling are regulated medical waste. An item would be considered caked if it could release flakes or particles when handled.
Article 3
Characteristics
A solid waste is a regulated medical waste if it meets either of the two criteria of this section:
1. Any solid waste, as defined in this chapter is a regulated medical waste if it is suspected by the health care professional in charge of being capable of producing an infectious disease in humans. A solid waste shall be considered to be capable of producing an infectious disease if it has been or is likely to have been contaminated by an organism likely to be pathogenic to healthy humans, such organism is not routinely and freely available in the community, and if such organism has a significant probability of being present in sufficient quantities and with sufficient virulence to transmit disease. If the exact cause of a patient's illness is unknown, but the health care professional in charge suspects a contagious disease is the cause, the likelihood of pathogen transmission shall be assessed based on the pathogen suspected of being the cause of the illness.
2. Any solid waste that is not excluded from regulation is a regulated medical waste if it is listed in 9VAC20-120-150.
Article 4
Controlled Regulated Medical Wastes
In addition to wastes described by the characteristics set forth in 9VAC20-120-140, each solid waste or solid waste stream on the following lists is subject to this chapter, unless exempted in 9VAC20-120-120 or excluded in 9VAC20-120-130.
1. Cultures and stock of microorganisms and biologicals. Discarded cultures, stocks, specimens, vaccines and associated items likely to have been contaminated by them are regulated medical wastes if they are likely to contain organisms likely to be pathogenic to healthy humans. Discarded etiologic agents are regulated medical waste. Wastes from the production of biologicals and antibiotics likely to have been contaminated by organisms likely to be pathogenic to healthy humans are regulated medical wastes.
2. Human blood and human body fluids. Wastes consisting of human blood or human body fluids or items contaminated with human blood or human body fluids.
3. Tissues and other anatomical wastes. All human anatomical wastes and all wastes that are human tissues, organs, or body parts are regulated medical waste.
4. Sharps. Sharps likely to be contaminated with organisms that are pathogenic to healthy humans, and all needles, syringes with attached needles, suture needles, and scalpels are regulated medical wastes. This includes sharps generated through veterinary practice.
5. Animal carcasses, body parts, bedding and related wastes. When animals are intentionally infected with organisms likely to be pathogenic to healthy humans for the purposes of research, in vivo testing, production of biological materials or any other reason; the animal carcasses, body parts, bedding material and all other wastes likely to have been contaminated are regulated medical wastes when discarded, disposed of or placed in accumulated storage.
6. Any residue or contaminated soil, water, or other debris resulting from the cleanup of a spill of any regulated medical waste.
7. Any solid waste contaminated by or mixed with regulated medical waste.
Part IV
General Requirements
Article 1
Permits and On-site Permits by Rule
No person who is subject to this chapter shall treat, store, or dispose of regulated medical waste without a permit from the department to engage in those activities. Any person required to have a permit for the management of regulated medical waste shall submit an application for a permit in accord with Part X (9VAC20-120-680 et seq.) of this chapter, with the exception that certain facilities deemed to have an on-site permit by rule in accordance with 9VAC20-120-180.
A. The holding of regulated medical waste on loading docks or areas designated for loading shall not require an on-site permit by rule or a permit under Part X (9VAC20-120-680 et seq.) of this chapter if:
1. The regulated medical wastes are packaged, marked, and labeled for transport in accordance with applicable requirements of subdivision 4 of 9VAC20-120-210.
2. The facility merely facilitates transportation and does not involve holding of regulated medical waste for more than 24 hours.
3. No more than 25% of the regulated medical waste at the loading dock is generated off-site.
4. While regulated medical waste is present, the area is secure from unauthorized access, and means are provided to prevent damage to the packaging by the elements or other factors.
B. Facilities generating 100 gallons per week or more of regulated medical waste shall not be required to hold an on-site permit by rule for storage or a permit for storage under Part X of this chapter if:
1. A designated storage area is provided for all areas of the facility accumulating in excess of 200 gallons of regulated medical waste. Designated storage areas shall meet the special requirements for storage facilities in Part V (9VAC20-120-330 et seq.) of this chapter.
2. All regulated medical waste stored in a designated storage area is properly packaged in accordance with the provisions of 9VAC20-120-210 and labeled in accordance with the provisions of 9VAC20-120-220.
3. While regulated medical waste is in storage, the first date the RMW is placed in storage is affixed to the outer packaging.
4. No more than 25% of the regulated medical waste received at the facility is generated off-site.
5. Regulated medical waste is not treated on-site.
C. Facilities generating less than 100 gallons per week of regulated medical waste shall not be required to hold an on-site permit by rule for storage or a permit for storage under Part X of this chapter or maintain records as required under 9VAC20-120-310 if:
1. Regulated medical waste is not held on-site in quantities greater than 200 gallons.
2. Regulated medical waste is accumulated and held in a safe and secure manner ensuring the waste cannot spill, or contact workers or the general public.
3. When regulated medical waste is ready to be discarded, the generator complies with the provisions for loading docks or areas designated for loading in 9VAC20-120-170 A.
4. Regulated medical waste is not treated on-site.
D. If a facility does not meet the above requirements for the storage of regulated medical waste, that facility is required to obtain an on-site permit by rule for on-site storage in accordance with the provisions of 9VAC20-120-180.
Qualifying facilities are deemed to operate under a permit for regulated medical waste management activities and their owners or operators are not required to comply with the permit issuance procedures of Part X (9VAC20-120-680 et seq.) of this chapter. While persons who own or operate qualifying facilities are not subject to Part X or required to have a written permit from the department for those qualifying facilities, they are subject to this chapter and all other parts thereof. If a person owns or operates a regulated medical waste management unit that does not qualify for an on-site permit by rule, that person must comply with Part X and all other parts of this chapter for those units, without regard to the presence of any other units on the site that are operated under a permit by rule. Only those units that are in complete compliance with all the following conditions are qualified and considered to be under an on-site permit by rule for their operation, and no on-site permit by rule shall exist for a facility failing to fulfill any of the following conditions:
1. The facility and all regulated medical waste activities are in compliance with all parts of this chapter except Part X.
2. More than 75% (by weight, in a calendar year) of all regulated medical waste that is stored, treated or disposed of by the facility is generated on-site.
3. No regulated medical waste is transported from or received by the facility without being properly packaged and labeled in accordance with this chapter. Facilities storing regulated medical waste will indicate the first date that the waste was placed in storage date on the outer packaging of the regulated medical waste.
4. The activities at the facility do not involve the placing of regulated medical waste directly into or on the land.
5. The owner or operator of the facility has notified the director in writing that the facility is operating under an on-site permit by rule. The notice shall give the name of the facility; the mailing address of the facility; the location address of the facility; the type of business the facility serves; the type of facilities (treatment, storage, transportation, disposal) involving regulated medical waste; and the name, address and telephone number of the responsible party indicated on the disclosure statement as required in subdivision 7 of this section.
6. The owner or operator of the facility has submitted to the director a certification from the local governing body (city, county, or town in which the facility is to be located) stating, without qualifications, conditions, or reservations, that the location and operation of the facility are consistent with all applicable ordinances.
7. The owner or operator of the facility has submitted to the director appropriate Key Personnel Disclosure Statements.
8. The facility will be operated by an individual certified by the Board of Waste Management Facility Operators.
Article 2
Financial Assurance
The department has adopted and will maintain a separate regulation, the Financial Assurance Regulations for Solid Waste Facilities, which shall be applicable in all parts to regulated medical waste management facilities. Nothing in this chapter governing regulated medical waste management shall be considered to delete or alter any requirements of the department as set out in Financial Assurance Regulations for Solid Waste Facilities.
Article 3
Packaging and Labeling Requirements for Regulated Medical Waste
A. The generator of regulated medical waste is responsible for the packaging and labeling of regulated medical wastes. As a bag or container becomes full, it must be sealed, labeled and managed as described in this chapter. Contractors or other agents may provide services to the generator, including packaging and labeling of regulated medical waste, however, no contract or other relationship shall relieve the generator of the responsibility for packaging and labeling the regulated medical waste as required by this chapter.
B. No person shall receive for transportation, storage or treatment any regulated medical waste that is not packaged and labeled in accordance with this chapter. Contractors or other agents may package or repackage regulated medical wastes to comply with this chapter, if the packaging or repackaging is performed on-site where the regulated medical waste was generated and no transportation, storage, treatment or disposal occurs prior to the packaging or repackaging. Nothing in this section shall prevent the proper repackaging and further transportation of regulated medical waste that has spilled during transportation.
All regulated medical waste shall be packaged as follows:
1. When regulated medical wastes are discarded, they shall be placed in containers meeting the requirements of the standards for occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens in the general industry standard in 16VAC25-90-1910.1030. The general industry standard requires the packaging to be closable, constructed to prevent leakage, labeled with the biohazard symbol, and closed to prevent spillage during handling. Upon being placed in storage, red bags shall be used for the packaging of all regulated medical waste except as provided in subdivision 2 of this section. Packaging shall be labeled as provided for in 9VAC20-120-220.
2. Contaminated sharps shall be placed directly in containers as required by the general industry standards in 16VAC25-90-1910.1030. The containers shall be labeled as provided for in 9VAC20-120-220.
3. As bags and containers become full, they shall be sealed such that no waste materials can leak.
4. Prior to transporting regulated medical waste, waste will be packaged for transportation in accordance with the standards of 49 CFR Part 173 or packaged in accordance with an exemption approved by the United States Department of Transportation.
Waste packaged under subdivisions 1 or 2 of 9VAC20-120-210 shall be labeled. The label shall be securely attached to or printed on packaging. The label may be a tag securely affixed to the package. Indelible ink shall be used to complete the information on the label. The label and the information provided on the label must be clearly legible. The following information shall be included:
1. The name, address and business telephone number of the generator.
2. "Regulated Medical Waste" in large print.
3. The Biological Hazard Symbol.
All etiological agents, as defined in 49 CFR Parts 171 through 178, that are transported must be packaged and labeled as described in 49 CFR Parts 171 through 178.
Sharps must be placed directly into puncture resistant containers as required by the general industry standards in 16VAC25-90-1910.1030(d)(4)(iii)(A).
Persons packaging regulated medical waste shall wear appropriate items of personal protective equipment.
Regulated medical waste may be conveyed in reusable carts or containers under the following conditions:
1. The waste in the cart or container is packaged and labeled fully in accordance with 9VAC20-120-210 through 9VAC20-120-240.
2. Immediately following each time a reusable cart or container is emptied and prior to being reused it is thoroughly cleaned with detergent or general purpose disinfectant.
3. When reusable carts or containers containing regulated medical waste are used for off-site transport, all aspects of the cart or container management shall comply with federal Department of Transportation Hazardous Material Regulations 49 CFR Parts 171 to 178, as applicable.
Article 4
Management of Spills of Regulated Medical Waste
All regulated medical waste management facilities are required to keep a spill containment and cleanup kit within the vicinity of any area where regulated medical wastes are managed, and the location of the kit shall provide for rapid and efficient cleanup of spills anywhere within the area. All vehicles transporting regulated medical wastes are required to carry a spill containment and clean up kit in the vehicle whenever regulated medical wastes are conveyed. The kit shall consist of at least the following items:
1. Material designed to absorb spilled liquids. The amount of absorbent material shall be that having a capacity, as rated by the manufacturer, of one gallon of liquid for every cubic foot of regulated medical waste that is normally managed in the area for which the kit is provided or 10 gallons, whichever is less.
2. One gallon of disinfectant in a sprayer capable of dispersing its charge in a mist and in a stream at a distance. The disinfectant shall be hospital grade and effective against mycobacteria.
3. Enough red plastic bags to enclose 150% of the maximum load accumulated or transported (up to a maximum of 500 bags), that meet the applicable requirements of 49 CFR Part 173 or an exemption approved by the United States Department of Transportation. These bags shall be large enough to overpack any box or other container normally used for regulated medical waste management by that facility.
4. Appropriate personal protective equipment.
5. For vehicles only, a first aid kit, fire extinguisher, boundary marking tape, lights and other appropriate safety equipment.
Following a spill of regulated medical waste or its discovery, the following procedures shall be implemented:
1. Take appropriate precautions to ensure personnel do not come into contact with any contaminants by wearing appropriate personal protective equipment.
2. Repackage spilled waste in accordance with the packaging requirements in 9VAC20-120-210.
3. Transport any regulated medical waste by a transporter that meets the requirements of Part VI (9VAC20-120-400 et seq.) of this chapter.
4. Clean and disinfect any areas having been contacted by regulated medical wastes. Materials used to decontaminate the area will be disinfectants effective against mycobacteria.
5. Take necessary steps to replenish containment and cleanup kit.
Article 5
Closure Requirements
When a unit that has been used for regulated medical waste management is to cease operations involving regulated medical wastes, it shall be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. All regulated medical waste shall be disposed of in accord with this chapter, and items of equipment shall be decontaminated.
Article 6
Treatment and Disposal
A. All regulated medical waste must be incinerated, sterilized by steam, or treated by a method as described in Part VII (9VAC20-120-520 et seq.), VIII (9VAC20-120-580 et seq.), or IX (9VAC20-120-630 et seq.) of this chapter.
B. No regulated medical waste shall be disposed of in a solid waste landfill or other solid waste management facility. Upon authorized treatment and management in accord with this chapter, the solid waste or its ash is not regulated medical waste and may be disposed of at any landfill or other solid waste management facility permitted to receive municipal solid waste or garbage, provided the disposal is in accordance with the Solid Waste Management Regulations, 9VAC20-81, and other applicable regulations and standards.
C. Regulated medical waste in closed bags or containers shall not be compacted or subjected to violent mechanical stress; however, after it is fully treated and it is no longer regulated medical waste, it may be compacted in a closed container. Nothing in this section shall prevent the puncturing of containers or packaging immediately prior to permitted treatment in which grinding, shredding, or puncturing is integral to the process units; however, all grinding, shredding and puncturing shall be done with safe and sanitary methods. Nothing in this section shall prevent the use of devices that grind, shred or compact to reduce volume at the point of generation. Devices will be constructed in a manner that prevents employee exposure to the waste, contains any aerosol or mist that may be caused by the process, and treats or filters any air evacuated from the chamber during processing. These devices may be employed at the point of generation and prior to enclosing the regulated medical waste in plastic bags and other required packaging; however, the waste remains regulated medical waste. Appropriate means must be employed to appropriately protect workers and contain the waste when unloading regulated medical wastes from such a device.
Article 7
Recordkeeping
A. Unless a generator is exempt from this requirement under the provisions of 9VAC20-120-170 C, generators and regulated medical waste management facilities that manage regulated medical waste shall maintain the following records and assure that they are accurate and current:
1. A list of the members of any committee for the management of infection control for the facility, their address, their phone numbers and the period of their membership.
2. The date, persons involved and short description of events in each spill of more than 32 gallons of regulated medical waste or one quart of regulated medical waste consisting of free liquid.
3. A notebook or file containing the adopted policies and procedures of the facility for dealing with regulated medical wastes.
4. A log of all special training received by persons involved in regulated medical waste management.
5. A log of regulated medical waste received from off-site, the generator, the amount and its storage and receipt dates. Records shall be maintained for a period of three years and be available for review.
B. All regulated medical waste management facilities shall maintain the following records and assure that they are accurate and current:
1. A signed certificate for each load received in which the generator affirms that the load does not contain hazardous waste (including cytotoxic medications) or radioactive materials, except as provided in 9VAC20-120-320; or
2. A signed and effective contract, inclusive of all loads received from a generator, in which the generator affirms that all loads will not contain hazardous waste (including cytotoxic medications) or radioactive materials, except as provided in 9VAC20-120-320.
Article 8
Radioactive Materials
The United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (USNRC) has established regulations under Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations for the management of radioactive materials. The Virginia Department of Health has established other requirements in accordance with Title 32.1 of the Code of Virginia. No regulated medical waste containing radioactive materials, regardless of amount or origin, shall be treated unless its management and treatment are in full compliance with these two bodies of regulations and are deemed by both regulations not to represent a threat to public health and the environment.
Part V
Special Requirements for Storage Facilities
The requirements of this part apply only to areas of storage where more than 200 gallons of regulated medical waste are accumulated, including storage of regulated medical waste during transportation and at incinerator, steam sterilization and other treatment and disposal facilities. This part applies to areas used to transfer a load of regulated medical waste from one vehicle to another during transportation, or park a vehicle containing regulated medical waste during transportation for 24 hours or more. This part also applies to areas that are exempt from permitting requirements as specified in 9VAC20-120-170 B, which includes designated on-site storage areas. Regulated medical waste holding areas exempt from the requirements of this part are discussed in 9VAC20-120-170 A and C.
All areas used to store regulated medical waste must be clean and impermeable to liquids. Carpets and floor coverings with cracks or gaps shall not be used in storage area. Where tile floors are used and seams are present in the tile, the floor must be sealed with wax or other floor coatings in order to meet this requirement. Vectors shall be controlled.
All areas used to store regulated medical waste must have access control that limits access to those persons specifically designated to manage regulated medical waste.
Any regulated medical waste stored for more than seven days must be refrigerated, stored in an ambient temperature between 35° and 45°F (2° and 7°C). If the material is stored away from the site of generation and the time in storage is unknown, the regulated medical waste must be refrigerated. No regulated medical waste shall be stored for more than 15 days at the site of generation. Procedures shall be provided to ensure that the above storage timeframes are met. The date that the waste is first placed in storage will be provided on any outer packaging while the waste is in storage.
All floor drains shall discharge directly to an approved sanitary sewer system. All ventilation shall discharge so as to minimize human exposure to the effluent. Storage, transport and transfer to, from, and between vehicles shall be under a cover or packaged in a container that protects the waste from the elements and over a floor or bermed pavement that will contain leaks and spills of liquid from the waste. No requirement for cover, floor, or pavement shall be construed if the activity is transient in nature, such as in the case of spill cleanup or weekly collection of waste packages from professional offices for transport.
Waste managed in reusable carts or containers shall meet the special requirements for reusable containers in 9VAC20-120-260.
Persons loading, unloading, or handling containers of regulated medical waste shall wear appropriate personal protective equipment.
Part VI
Special Requirements for Transportation
The requirements of this part apply to all transportation of regulated medical waste.
Surfaces of equipment used to transport regulated medical waste must be clean and impermeable to liquids, if those areas are involved with the management of the waste. Carpets and floor coverings with cracks or gaps shall not be used. Vectors shall be controlled. All trucks and equipment used to transport regulated medical waste must be thoroughly cleaned with detergent or hospital grade disinfectant before being used for any other purpose and prior to any transfer of ownership. Any areas of trucks or equipment that are visibly contaminated, or that become contaminated as a result of a spill, will be immediately decontaminated in accordance with 9VAC20-120-280 A 4.
All vehicles and equipment used in the transportation of regulated medical waste must have access control that limits access to those persons specifically designated to manage regulated medical waste.
Any regulated medical waste that is stored for more than seven days must be refrigerated and maintained in an ambient temperature between 35° and 45°F (2° and 5°C). Any vehicle parked 24 hours or more during transport will be considered a storage facility subject to the requirements of Part V (9VAC20-120-330 et seq.) of this chapter. No storage during transport will be allowed without a permit issued in accordance with the procedures in Part X (9VAC20-120-680 et seq.) of this chapter.
Storage, transport and transfer to, from, and between vehicles shall be under a cover or in a container that protects the waste from the elements and over a floor or bermed pavement that will contain leaks and spills of liquid from the waste. All drainage shall discharge directly to or through a holding tank to an approved sanitary sewer system. No requirement for cover, floor, or pavement shall be construed if the activity is transient in nature, such as in the case of spill cleanup or weekly collection of waste packages from professional offices for transport.
No person shall transport or receive for transport any regulated medical waste that is not packaged and labeled in accord with Part IV (9VAC20-120-160 et seq.) of this chapter.
A. All vehicles transporting regulated medical wastes are required to carry a spill containment and cleanup kit in the vehicle as specified in 9VAC20-120-270, whenever regulated medical wastes are conveyed.
B. Following a spill of regulated medical waste or its discovery, the procedures specified in 9VAC20-120-280 shall be implemented.
Persons loading and unloading transportation vehicles with regulated medical waste shall wear appropriate personal protective equipment.
Transport of regulated medical waste by the United States Postal Services that fully complies with 39 CFR 111 shall be considered to be transportation in compliance with this chapter if:
1. The generator maintains a complete and legible copy of the manifest or mail disposal service shipping record for a period of three years (Note: disposer's certification and other tracking items must be completed and shown on the copy);
2. The addressee is a facility permitted by all the appropriate agencies of the Commonwealth of Virginia or the host state; and
3. No package may be more than 35 pounds by weight.
A. No reusable carts or containers that have been used to manage regulated medical waste may be transported unless they meet the provisions of 9VAC20-120-260 which requires cleaning of the cart.
B. Reusable carts or containers used to transport regulated medical waste must be sealed, highly puncture resistant, and highly leak resistant. They shall conform in all respects to 49 CFR Parts 172 through 178 for containers and transport of "regulated medical waste."
Part VII
Special Requirements for Incineration
The requirements of this part apply to all facilities that incinerate regulated medical waste.
A. All incinerators for regulated medical waste shall maintain the following level of operational performance at all times:
1. Operational temperature and retention time. Whenever regulated medical wastes are incinerated, all the regulated medical waste shall be subjected to a burn temperature of not less than 1,400°F (760°C) for a period not less than one hour. For all incinerators, gases generated by the combustion shall be subjected to a temperature of not less than 1,800°F (982°C) for a period of one second or more. For certain incinerators, gases generated by the combustion shall be subjected to a temperature of not less than 2,000°F (1,094°C) for a period of two seconds or more under separate requirements of the State Air Pollution Control Board. Except at start-up, interlocks or other process control devices shall prevent feeding of the incinerator unless the required conditions are achieved.
2. Loading and operating controls. The incinerator shall have interlocks or other process control devices to prevent feeding of the incinerator until the conditions in subdivision A 1 of this section are achieved. Such devices may have an override for cold start-up. In the event low temperatures occur, facilities shall have automatic auxiliary burners that are capable of maintaining the secondary chamber temperature at the minimum of 1,800°F.
3. Monitoring. There shall be continuous monitoring and recording of primary and secondary chamber temperatures. Monitoring data shall be retained for a period of three years.
4. Waste destruction efficiency. All combustible regulated medical waste shall be converted by the incineration process into ash that is not recognizable as to its former character.
B. The incinerator shall be permitted under regulations of the State Air Pollution Control Board and be in compliance with the regulations of that body.
A. Once every eight hours of operation of a continuously fed incinerator and once every batch or 24 hours of operation of a batch fed incinerator, a representative sample of 250 milliliters of the bottom ash shall be collected from the ash discharge or the ash discharge conveyer. Samples collected during 1,000 hours of operation or quarterly, whichever is more often, shall be thoroughly mixed and seven random portions of equal volume shall be composited into one sample for laboratory analysis. This sample shall be tested in accord with the methods established by the Virginia Hazardous Waste Management Regulations for determining if a solid waste is a hazardous waste. Also, the sample shall be tested for total organic carbon content.
At incinerators equipped with air pollution control devices that remove and collect incinerator emissions control ash or dust, this ash shall be held separately and not mixed with bottom ash. Once every eight hours of operation of a continuously fed incinerator and once every batch or 24 hours of operation of a batch fed incinerator, a representative sample of 250 milliliters of the air pollution control ash or dust shall be collected from the pollution control ash discharge. Air pollution control ash or dust samples collected during 1,000 hours of operation or quarterly, whichever is more often, shall be thoroughly mixed and seven random portions of equal volume shall be composited into one sample for laboratory analysis. This sample shall be tested in accord with the methods established by the Virginia Hazardous Waste Management Regulations for determining if a waste is a hazardous waste.
B. A log shall document the ash sampling, to include the date and time of each sample collected; the date, time and identification number of each composite sample; and the results of the analyses, including laboratory identification. Results of analyses must be returned from the laboratory and recorded within four weeks following collection of the composite sample. The results and records described in this part shall be maintained for a period of three years, and shall be available for review.
C. If a waste ash is found to be hazardous waste (based on a sample and a confirmation sample) the waste ash shall be disposed of as a hazardous waste in accord with the Virginia Hazardous Waste Management Regulations. If ash is found not to be hazardous waste by analysis, it may be disposed of in a solid waste landfill that is permitted to receive garbage, municipal solid waste or incinerator ash, provided the disposal is in accordance with the Solid Waste Management Regulations, 9VAC20-81. If the ash is found to be hazardous waste, the operator shall notify the Director of the Department of Environmental Quality within 24 hours. No later than 15 calendar days following, the permittee shall submit a plan for treating and disposing of the waste on hand at the facility and all unsatisfactorily treated waste that has left the facility. The permittee may include with the plan a description of the corrective actions to be taken to prevent further unsatisfactory performance. No ash subsequently generated from the incinerator waste stream that was found to be hazardous waste shall be sent to a nonhazardous solid waste management facility in the Commonwealth without the express written approval of the director.
D. Air pollution control ash and bottom ash shall be held separately and not mixed; however, once both are determined not to be hazardous waste, they may be combined and disposed of as other solid waste. Throughout the storage of the untested material it shall be kept in covered highly leak resistant containers. It should be held until the generator determines whether the ash waste is hazardous waste. Areas where untested material containers are placed must be constructed with a berm to prevent runoff from that area.
E. Regulated medical waste treated in compliance with Part VII (9VAC20-120-520 et seq.), VIII (9VAC20-120-580 et seq.) or IX (9VAC20-120-630 et seq.) of this chapter shall be deemed to be treated in accordance with this chapter. Regulated medical waste not treated in accordance with this chapter shall not be transported, received for transport or disposal, or disposed of in any solid waste management facility.
In general, incinerator facilities shall comply with all other parts of this chapter. The site of the incinerator facility is a storage facility and must comply with Part V of this chapter. Management of spills or the opening in an emergency of any regulated medical waste package, shall comply with 9VAC20-120-270 and 9VAC20-120-280. Regulated medical wastes that are or will be incinerated in accordance with this chapter are not required to be shredded or ground.
Persons loading and unloading transportation vehicles with regulated medical waste shall wear appropriate personal protective equipment.
Part VIII
Special Requirements for Steam Sterilization
The requirements of this part apply to all steam sterilizers (autoclaves) that sterilize regulated medical waste.
All sterilizers for regulated medical waste shall maintain the following level of operational performance at all times:
1. Operational temperature and detention. Whenever regulated medical wastes are treated in a steam sterilizer, all the regulated medical waste shall be subjected to the following operational standards (at 100% steam conditions and all air evacuated):
a. Temperature of not less than 250°F for 90 minutes at 15 pounds per square inch of gauge pressure;
b. Temperatures of not less than 272°F for 45 minutes at 27 pounds per square inch of gauge pressure; or
c. Temperatures of not less than 320°F for 16 minutes at 80 pounds per square inch of gauge pressure.
Equivalent combinations of operational temperatures, pressure and time may be approved by the director if the installed equipment has been proved to achieve a reliable and complete kill of all microorganisms in regulated medical waste at design capacity. Written requests for approval of an equivalent standard shall be submitted to the director. Complete and thorough testing shall be fully documented, including tests of the capacity to kill B. stearothermophilus. Longer steam sterilization times are required when a load contains a large quantity of liquid.
2. Operational controls and records.
a. Steam sterilization units shall be evaluated under full loading for effectiveness with spores of B. stearothermophilus no less than once per month.
b. A log shall be kept at each steam sterilization unit that is complete for the preceding three-year period. The log shall record the date, time and operator of each usage; the type and approximate amount of regulated medical waste treated; the dates and results of calibration; and the results of effective testing described in subdivision 2 a of this section. Where multiple steam sterilization units are used, a working log can be maintained at each unit and such logs periodically consolidated at a central location. The consolidated logs shall be retained for three years and be available for review.
c. Except as described in subdivision 2 d of this section, regulated medical waste shall not be compacted or subjected to violent mechanical stress before steam sterilization; however, after it is fully sterilized it may be compacted in a closed container.
d. Except as provided in 9VAC20-120-550, 9VAC20-120-600 E or 9VAC20-120-650 D, regulated medical waste shall be ground or shredded into particles that are no larger than an approximate size of 0.75 inches in any dimension. If size reduction takes place prior to treatment, it shall occur in a closed unit immediately preceding the treatment unit. Size reduction following treatment must occur within 24 hours of leaving the treatment unit. Transfer from a grinder or shredder to or from a treatment unit shall be under forced draft ventilation that removes fumes from the operations area to a safe discharge.
e. All process units for the preparation or treatment of regulated medical waste shall be in closed vessels under a negative pressure atmospheric control that filters all vents, discharges, and fugitive emissions of air from the process units through a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter with an efficiency of 99.97% of 0.3 microns. Air and gases which have themselves been sterilized by the process are not required to pass through a filter.
A. Solid waste that has been steam sterilized and managed in compliance with these regulations is no longer regulated medical waste and is solid waste. Steam sterilized solid waste may be compacted.
B. All shredded or ground solid waste that has been steam sterilized shall be placed in opaque plastic bags and sealed. The bags may not be red in color. Where bulk sterilization is used and the solid waste is compacted or immediately placed in closed bulk solid waste management containers, which are more than 64 gallons in volume, the repackaging of the solid waste in bags is not required.
C. Regulated medical waste that has been treated must also be ground or shredded in accordance with 9VAC20-120-590 2 or packaged and labeled in accordance with subsection E of this section.
D. Regulated medical waste treated in compliance with Part VII, Part VIII or Part IX shall be deemed to be treated in accordance with this chapter. Regulated medical waste not treated in accordance with this chapter shall not be transported, received for transport or disposal, or disposed of in any solid waste management facility.
E. Steam sterilization facilities in operation on July 1, 1994, and small scale processes providing treatment in accordance with this part of no more than 100 pounds of regulated medical waste per day (monthly average) are not required to shred or grind the waste. Facilities that do not grind or shred the waste must seal the treated waste in an orange plastic bag and securely attach a tag or label with the following message in indelible ink and legible print of a 21-point or greater typeface:
"The generator certifies that this waste has been treated in accordance with the Virginia Regulated Medical Waste Management Regulations and is no longer regulated medical waste.
Treated: (include date treatment performed)
Generator: (include name, address and telephone number of generator)."
In general, sterilizer facilities shall comply with all other parts of this chapter. The site of the sterilizer facility is a storage facility and must comply with Part V of this chapter. Management of spills or the opening in an emergency of any regulated medical waste package, shall comply with 9VAC20-120-270 and 9VAC20-120-280.
Part IX
Special Requirements for Alternative Treatment
The requirements of this part apply to all alternative treatment methods that treat regulated medical waste.
All alternative treatment facilities for regulated medical waste shall maintain the following level of operational performance at all times:
1. Operational controls and records. The following requirements apply to all alternative treatment facilities.
a. Except as provided in 9VAC20-120-550, 9VAC20-120-600 E or 9VAC20-120-650 D, regulated medical waste shall be ground or shredded into particles that are no larger than an approximate size of 0.75 inches in any dimension. If size reduction takes place prior to treatment, it shall occur in a closed unit immediately preceding or following the treatment unit. Size reduction following treatment must occur within 24 hours of leaving the treatment unit. Transfer from a grinder or shredder to or from a treatment unit shall be under forced draft ventilation that removes fumes from the operations area to a safe discharge.
b. Alternative treatment units shall be evaluated under full loading for effectiveness with spores of B. stearothermophilus or B. subtilis no less than once per month (See 9VAC20-120-910 B).
c. A log shall be kept at each alternative treatment unit that is complete for the preceding three year period. The log shall record the date, time and operator; the type and approximate amount of solid waste treated; and the dates and results of calibration and testing. Where multiple alternative treatment units are used, a working log can be maintained at each unit and such logs periodically consolidated at a central location. The consolidated logs and all performance parameter recordings shall be retained for three years and be available for review.
d. Except as described in 9VAC20-120-300 C and subdivision 1 a of this section, regulated medical waste shall not be compacted or subjected to violent mechanical stress before treatment. After it is fully treated it may be compacted in a closed container in a safe and sanitary manner.
e. All process units for the preparation or treatment of regulated medical waste shall be in closed vessels under a negative pressure atmospheric control that filters all vents, discharges, and fugitive emissions of air from the process units through a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter with efficiency of 99.97% for 0.3 microns.
2. Special requirements by type of treatment. Facilities shall comply with the following treatment requirements for the specific technology employed. Each treatment unit shall be preceded by grinding or shredding in accordance with subdivision 1 a of this section.
a. Dry heat treatment.
(1) Any treatment unit employing dry heat as the main treatment process shall subject all the regulated medical waste to:
(a) A temperature of no less than 480°F for no less than 30 minutes;
(b) A temperature of no less than 390°F for no less than 38 minutes; or
(c) A temperature of no less than 355°F for no less than 60 minutes.
(2) No treatment unit employing dry heat as the main treatment process shall have a treatment chamber capacity greater than 1.0 cubic feet in volume.
(3) Each treatment unit shall be equipped to sense, display and continuously record the temperature of the treatment chamber.
b. Microwave treatment.
(1) Microwaving treatment shall incorporate pretreatment by shredding and steam injection or induction.
(2) Any treatment unit employing microwave radiation as the main treatment process shall subject all the solid waste to a temperature of no less than 203°F for no less than 25 minutes.
(3) Microwave radiation power of the treatment process shall be at least six units each having a power of 1,200 watts or the equivalent power output.
(4) Each microwave treatment unit shall be equipped to sense, display and continuously record the temperature at the start, middle and end of the treatment chamber.
(5) Process temperatures at the exposure chamber entry and exit and the waste flow rate shall be continuously monitored, displayed, and recorded.
c. Chlorination.
(1) Any treatment unit employing chlorination as the main treatment process shall subject all the solid waste to a solution whose initial free residual chlorine concentration is not less than 3,000 milligrams per liter for no less than 25 minutes.
(2) The free chlorine residual of the solid waste slurry after treatment shall be maintained at 200 milligrams per liter. The treated solid waste stream shall be equipped to continuously analyze, display, and record free chlorine residual concentration. Interval sampling every two minutes or less may be substituted for continuous analysis.
d. Other alternative treatment technologies. All alternative treatment technologies approved by the director shall conform to the requirements of this part and any additional requirements the director shall impose at the time of approval.
(1) Any person who desires to use a treatment technology other than those described in subdivisions 2 a, 2 b, and 2 c of this section, or Part VII (9VAC20-120-520 et seq.) or Part VIII (9VAC20-120-580 et seq.) of this chapter shall petition the director for a review under 9VAC20-120-860 and 9VAC20-120-870.
(2) If the director finds that the technology and application is in accord with Article 3 (9VAC20-120-900 et seq.) of Part XI of this chapter, he may consider the facility for permitting.
(3) The director may issue a public notice that an applicant has demonstrated compliance of a process with 9VAC20-120-910 through 9VAC20-120-950 and consider 9VAC20-120-960 in a separate review.
A. Regulated medical waste that has been treated by an alternate treatment technique and managed in compliance with this chapter is no longer regulated medical waste and is solid waste. Treated solid waste may be compacted.
B. All regulated medical waste that has been treated shall be placed in opaque plastic bags and sealed. The bags may not be red in color. Where bulk treatment is used and the solid waste is compacted and immediately placed in closed bulk solid waste management containers, which are more than 64 gallons in volume, the repackaging of the treated solid waste in bags is not required.
C. Regulated medical waste treated in compliance with Part VII, Part VIII or Part IX shall be deemed to be treated in accordance with this chapter. Regulated medical waste not treated in accordance with this chapter shall not be transported, received for transport or disposal, or disposed of in any solid waste management facility.
D. Small scale processes providing treatment of no more than five pounds per day (monthly average) of regulated medical waste in accordance with this part are not required to shred or grind the waste. Small scale facilities that do not grind or shred the waste must seal the treated waste in an orange plastic bag and securely attach a tag or label with the following message in indelible ink and legible print of a 21-point or greater typeface:
"The generator certifies that this waste has been treated in accordance with the Virginia Regulated Medical Waste Management Regulations and is no longer regulated medical waste.
Treated: (include date treatment performed)
Generator: (include name, address and telephone number of generator)."
In general, alternative treatment facilities shall comply with all other parts of this chapter. The site of the treatment facility is a storage facility and must comply with Part V of this chapter. Management of spills or the opening in an emergency of any regulated medical waste package, shall comply with 9VAC20-120-270 and 9VAC20-120-280 of this chapter.
Part X
Permit Application and Issuance Procedures
This part of the chapter describes procedures for obtaining a permit for the transfer, treatment or storage of regulated medical waste, unless specifically excluded by these regulations or under a permit by rule as defined in 9VAC20-120-160, 9VAC20-120-170, and 9VAC20-120-180. Owners and operators of regulated medical waste management units shall have permits during the active life (including the closure periods) of the unit. An applicant may be considered to have a permit or a permit may be terminated for one or more units at a facility without simultaneously affecting all of the units at the facility.
A. Except for on-site permit by rule facilities described in Part IV (9VAC20-120-160 et seq.) of this chapter, no person shall construct, operate or modify a regulated medical waste management facility in this Commonwealth without a permit issued by the director in accordance with this part. Notwithstanding the above, the management of materials excluded under Part III (9VAC20-120-80 et seq.) of this chapter or conditionally exempt under Part III shall not require a permit.
B. Each regulated medical waste management facility permit shall be limited to one site and shall be nontransferable between sites.
C. A new permit is required when there is:
1. Any new regulated medical waste management facility; or
2. Any change in design or process of a regulated medical waste management facility that will, in the opinion of the director, result in a substantially different type of facility.
D. The owner or operator of the following facilities shall be deemed to have a regulated medical waste management facility permit notwithstanding any other provisions of Part X (9VAC20-120-680 et seq.) of this chapter, if all the conditions listed are met:
1. The owner or operator of a storage facility or transfer station:
a. Notifies the director of his intent to operate such a facility and provides to the department documentation required under 9VAC20-120-710 B;
b. Provides the director with a certification that the facility meets the standards of Part V (9VAC20-120-330 et seq.) of this chapter;
c. Furnishes to the director a certificate signed by a registered professional engineer that the facility has been designed and constructed in accordance with the standards of Part V;
d. Submits to the director an operational plan describing how the standards of Part V will be met and provides the operational information required in 9VAC20-120-730;
e. Submits to the director a closure plan describing how the standards of 9VAC20-120-290 will be met;
f. Submits to the director the proof of financial responsibility if required by the Financial Assurance Regulations for Solid Waste Facilities (9VAC20-70); and
g. Submits to the director the results of the public participation effort conducted in accordance with the requirements contained in 9VAC20-120-690 D 4.
2. The owner or operator of an incineration or other treatment facility:
a. Notifies the director of his intent to operate such a facility and provides to the department documentation required under 9VAC20-120-710 B;
b. Provides the director with a certification that the facility meets the standards of Part VII (9VAC20-120-520 et seq.), VIII (9VAC20-120-580 et seq.), or IX (9VAC20-120-630 et seq.) of this chapter;
c. Furnishes to the director a certificate signed by a registered professional engineer that the facility has been designed and constructed in accordance with the standards of Part VII, VIII, or IX of this chapter;
d. Submits to the director an operational plan describing how the standards of Part VII, VIII, or IX will be met, and provides the operational information required in 9VAC20-120-730;
e. Submits to the director a closure plan describing how the standards of 9VAC20-120-290 will be met;
f. Submits to the director the proof of financial responsibility if required by the Financial Assurance Regulations for Solid Waste Facilities (9VAC20-70); and
g. Furnishes to the director a copy of the facility permit issued for air pollution control of any regulated point source discharges at the facility.
3. Use of materials in a manner constituting disposal. (Reserved)
4. Public participation.
a. Before the initiation of any construction at the facility under 9VAC20-120-690 D 1 or 9VAC20-120-690 D 2, the owner or operator shall publish a notice in a major local newspaper of general circulation informing the public that he intends to construct and operate a facility eligible for an off-site permit by rule. The notice shall include:
(1) A brief description of the proposed facility;
(2) A statement that the purpose of the public participation is to acquaint the public with the technical aspects of the facility and how the standards and the requirements of this chapter will be met;
(3) Announcement of a 30-day comment period, in accordance with 9VAC20-120-690 D 4 d, and the name and address of the owner's or operator's representative where comments shall be sent;
(4) Announcement of the date, time, and place for a public meeting held in accordance with 9VAC20-120-690 D 4 c; and
(5) Location where copies of the documentation to be submitted to the department in support of the off-site permit by rule notification and any supporting documents can be viewed and copied.
b. The owner or operator shall place a copy of the documentation and support documents in a location accessible to the public in the vicinity of the proposed facility.
c. The owner or operator shall hold a public meeting not earlier than 15 days after the publication of the notice required in 9VAC20-120-690 D 4 a and no later than seven days before the close of the 30-day comment period. The meeting shall be held to the extent practicable in the vicinity of the proposed facility.
d. The public shall be provided 30 days to comment on the technical and the regulatory aspects of the proposal. The comment period will begin on the date the owner or operator publishes the notice in the local newspaper.
5. Upon receiving the certifications and other required documents and after conducting a completeness review, the director will acknowledge their receipt and inform the owner or operator of the status of the submittal. If the applicant's submission is administratively incomplete, the letter will state that the facility will not be considered to have an off-site permit by rule until the missing certifications or other required documentation is submitted. At the time of the initial receipt or at a later date, the director may require changes in the documents designed to assure compliance with the standards of Parts V, VI, VII, VIII and IX of this chapter, if applicable. Should such changes not be accomplished by the facility owner or operator, the facility will not be deemed to have a regulated medical waste management facility permit.
6. An off-site permit by rule may not be transferred by the permittee to a new owner or operator. However, when the property transfer takes place without proper closure, the new owner shall notify the department of the sale and fulfill all the requirements contained in 9VAC20-120-690 D 1 through 9VAC20-120-690 D 3 with the exception of those dealing with the financial assurance. Upon presentation of the financial assurance proof required by 9VAC20-70-10 et seq. by the new owner, the department will release the old owner from his closure and financial responsibilities and acknowledge existence of the new off-site permit by rule in the name of the new owner.
7. The owner or operator of a facility operating under an off-site permit by rule may modify its design and operation by furnishing the department a new certificate prepared by the professional engineer and a new operational plan. Whenever modifications in the design or operation of the facility affect the provisions of the approved closure plan, the owner or operator shall also submit an amended closure plan. Should there be an increase in the closure costs, the owner or operator shall submit a new proof of financial responsibility as required by the Financial Assurance Regulations for Solid Waste Facilities (9VAC20-70).
8. In the event that a facility operating under an off-site permit by rule violates any applicable siting, design and construction, or closure provisions of Part V, VII, VIII, or IX of this chapter, the owner or operator of the facility will be considered to be operating an unpermitted facility and shall be required to close under 9VAC20-120-290, 9VAC20-120-710 and 9VAC20-120-750.
9. The director shall terminate off-site permit by rule and shall require closure of the facility whenever he finds that:
a. As a result of changes in key personnel, the requirements necessary for an off-site permit by rule are no longer satisfied;
b. The applicant has knowingly or willfully misrepresented or failed to disclose a material fact in his disclosure statement, or any other report or certification required under this chapter, or has knowingly or willfully failed to notify the director of any material change to the information in the disclosure statement;
c. Any key personnel has been convicted of any of the crimes listed in § 10.1-1409 of the Code of Virginia, punishable as felonies under the laws of the Commonwealth or the equivalent of them under the laws of any other jurisdiction; or has been adjudged by an administrative agency or a court of competent jurisdiction to have violated the environmental protection laws of the United States, the Commonwealth or any other state and the director determines that such conviction or adjudication is sufficiently probative of the permittee's inability or unwillingness to operate the facility in a lawful manner; or
d. The operation of the facility is inconsistent with the facility's operations manual and the operational requirements of the regulations.
E. The director may issue an experimental facility permit for any regulated medical waste treatment facility that proposes to utilize an innovative and experimental regulated medical waste treatment technology or process for which permit standards for such experimental activity have not been promulgated under Part VII, VIII or IX of this chapter. Any such permit shall include such terms and conditions as will assure protection of human health and the environment. Such permits shall:
1. Provide for the construction of such facilities based on the standards shown in Part V, VII, VIII, or IX, as necessary;
2. Provide for operation of the facility for no longer than one calendar year unless renewed as provided elsewhere in this chapter;
3. Provide for the receipt and treatment by the facility of only those types and quantities of regulated medical waste that the director deems necessary for purposes of determining the efficiency and performance capabilities of the technology or process and the effects of such technology or process on human health and the environment; and
4. Include such requirements as the director deems necessary to protect human health and the environment (including, but not limited to, requirements regarding monitoring, operation, closure and remedial action), and such requirements as the director deems necessary regarding testing and providing of information to the director with respect to the operation of the facility.
For the purpose of expediting review and issuance of permits under this subsection, the director may, consistent with the protection of human health and the environment, modify or waive permit application and permit issuance requirements in Parts V, VII, VIII or IX, except that there may be no modification or waiver of regulations regarding local certification, disclosure statement requirements, financial responsibility or of procedures regarding public participation.
No experimental permit may be renewed more than three times. Each such renewal shall be for a period of not more than one calendar year.
F. The director may grant a variance in accordance with the procedures in Part XI (9VAC20-120-840 et seq.) of this chapter from any regulation contained in this part to a permittee, provided the requirements of Part X are met.
The director may include conditions in any permit that he finds necessary to protect public health or the environment or to ensure compliance with this chapter.
A. Any person who proposes to establish a new regulated medical waste management facility, or modify an existing regulated medical waste management facility, shall submit a permit application to the department, using the procedures set forth in 9VAC20-120-690 and other pertinent sections of this part.
B. To initiate the permit application process, any person who proposes to establish a new regulated medical waste management facility ("regulated medical waste management"), or modify an existing regulated medical waste management facility, or to amend an existing permit shall file a notice of intent with the director stating the desired permit or permit amendment, the precise location of the proposed facility, and the intended use of the facility. The notice shall be in letter form and be accompanied by the information described in 9VAC20-120-720.
No application shall be deemed complete unless it is accompanied by a disclosure statement for all key personnel as provided by DEQ Forms DISC-01 and DISC-02.
No application for a permit for a regulated medical waste management facility shall be considered complete unless the notice of intent is accompanied by a certification (DEQ Form Certificate-01) from the governing body of the county, city, or town in which the facility is to be located stating that the location and operation of the facility are consistent with all applicable ordinances. No certification shall be required for the application for an amendment or modification of an existing permit. For the convenience of the regulated community, a Request for Local Government Certification, DEQ Form CERT-01, is provided.
If the location and operation of the facility is stated by the local governing body to be consistent with all its ordinances, without qualifications, conditions, or reservations, the applicant will be notified that he may submit his application for a permit.
A. The information provided in this section shall be included in the submission of a notice of intent as required in 9VAC20-120-710 unless otherwise specified in this section.
B. A letter will be provided stating the type of facility for which the permit application is made and the certification required in subsection F of this section and all pertinent information and attachments required by this section.
C. A key map delineating the general location of the proposed facility shall be prepared and attached as part of the application. The key map shall be plotted on a seven and one-half minute United States Geological Survey topographical quadrangle. The quadrangle shall be the most recent revision available, shall include the name of the quadrangle and shall delineate a minimum of one mile from the perimeter of the proposed facility boundaries. One or more maps may be utilized where necessary to insure clarity of the information submitted.
D. A near-vicinity map shall be prepared and attached as part of the application. The vicinity map shall have a minimum scale of one inch equals 200 feet (1 inch = 200'). The vicinity map shall delineate an area of 500 feet from the perimeter of the property line of the proposed facility. The vicinity maps may be an enlargement of a United States Geological Survey topographical quadrangle or a recent aerial photograph. The vicinity map shall depict the following:
1. All homes, buildings or structures including the layout of the buildings that will comprise the proposed facility;
2. The boundaries of the proposed facility;
3. The limits of the actual waste management areas within the boundaries of the proposed facility, if applicable;
4. Lots and blocks taken from the tax map for the site of the proposed facility and all contiguous properties;
5. The base flood plain, where it passes through the map area; or, otherwise, a note indicating the expected flood occurrence period for the area;
6. Existing land uses and zoning classification;
7. All water supply wells, springs or intakes, both public and private;
8. All utility lines, pipelines or land based facilities (including mines and wells); and
9. All parks, recreation areas, dams, historic areas, wetlands areas, monument areas, cemeteries, wildlife refuges, unique natural areas or similar features.
E. A copy of the lease or deed (showing page and book location) or certification of ownership of the site. The department will not consider an application for a permit from any person who does not demonstrate legal control over the site for the period of the permit life.
F. A statement signed by the applicant indicating that he has sent written notice to all adjacent property owners or occupants that he intends to develop a regulated medical waste management facility on the site. A copy of the notice and the names and addresses of those to whom the notices were sent will also be provided.
A. A narrative will be provided outlining the details of the design/operational capacities of the facility, emergency contingency information and daily operation of the facility as follows:
1. The narrative shall identify the project title; engineering consultants; site owner, licensee and operator; site life and capacity; municipalities, industries and collection and transportation agencies served; and waste types to be disposed. It shall also identify any exemptions desired by the applicant.
2. The narrative shall include the following information:
a. The rated capacity of the facility, in both tons per day and tons per hour;
b. The expected short-term and projected future long-term daily loadings;
c. The designation of normal loading, unloading and storage areas, including capacities in cubic yards and tons. Description of the time such areas can be practically used, based on expected short-term daily loadings;
d. The designation of emergency loading, unloading, storage or other actions to be taken when facility system down time exceeds 24 hours;
e. The designation of alternate treatment areas or plans for transfer of stored waste in the event facility system down time exceeds 72 hours.
3. The narrative will discuss the generation of process residues to include the following:
a. The expected daily quantity of waste residue generated;
b. The proposed ultimate disposal location for all facility-generated waste residues including, but not limited to, treated waste, ash residues and by-pass material, residues resulting from air pollution control devices, and the proposed alternate treatment or disposal locations for any unauthorized waste types, which may have been unknowingly accepted. The schedule for securing contracts for the treatment or disposal of these waste types at the designated locations shall be provided;
c. A descriptive statement of any materials use, reuse, or reclamation activities to be operated in conjunction with the facility, either on the incoming regulated medical waste or the outgoing residue.
4. A discussion of the proposed onsite and off-site transportation system intended to service vehicles hauling waste to the facility for processing, and vehicles removing reclaimed materials and or process residues from the facility. Onsite parking, access and exit points, and the mechanisms or features that will be employed to provide for an even flow of traffic into, out of, and within the site, shall be identified.
5. A detailed analysis shall be made of the financial responsibility for the time of site closing.
B. The operations manual shall provide the detailed procedures describing actions taken by facility personnel from the time of waste delivery, through waste storage, processing and final transportation and disposal. As a minimum, the operations manual shall include:
1. Daily operations including a discussion of the timetable for development; waste types accepted or excluded; typical waste handling techniques; hours of operation; traffic routing; drainage and erosion control; windy, wet and cold weather operations; fire protection equipment; manpower; methods for handling of any unusual waste types; methods for vector, dust and odor control; daily cleanup; salvaging; record keeping; parking for visitors and employees; monitoring; backup equipment with names and telephone numbers where equipment may be obtained; and other special design features. This information may be developed as a removable section to improve accessibility for the site operator.
2. The procedures that will be used to label individual waste containers, bulk containers or trailers with the date that the waste materials were received from off-site, and the procedures that will be used to demonstrate that the waste is treated within 15 days of receipt.
3. Site closing information consisting of a discussion of the anticipated sequence of events for site closing and discussion of those actions necessary to prepare the site for any anticipated post-closure use.
C. An emergency contingency plan that delineates procedures for responding to fire, explosions or any unplanned sudden or non-sudden releases of harmful constituents to the air, soil, or surface or ground water shall be submitted to the department as part of the Part B application. Before submission to the department it will be coordinated with the local police and fire departments, and the appropriate health care facility. The contingency plan shall contain:
1. A description of the actions facility personnel shall take in the event of various emergency situations;
2. A description of arrangements made with the local police and fire department that allow for immediate entry into the facility by their authorized representatives should the need arise, such as in the case of response personnel responding to an emergency situation; and
3. A list of names, addresses and phone numbers (office and home) of all persons qualified to act as an emergency coordinator for the facility. Where more than one person is listed, one shall be named as primary emergency coordinator and the other shall be listed in the order in which they will assume responsibility as alternates.
D. The applicant shall prepare and submit a detailed plan for closing any regulated medical waste management unit. Such a plan shall be prepared to reflect the actions required at any point in the life of the facility and at the time of closing the facility. The plan should reflect all steps necessary to isolate the facility from the environment or to remove all regulated medical waste and residue in the facility for proper treatment and to decontaminate the facility. The closure plan should reflect all actions necessary for facility abandonment or uses other than for regulated medical waste management.
A. Each facility permitted to accept regulated medical waste requires periodic inspection and review of records and reports. Such requirements shall be set forth in the final permit issued by the department. The permit applicant, by accepting the permit, agrees to the specified periodic inspections.
B. Compliance with a valid permit and this chapter during its term constitutes compliance for purposes of enforcement, with the Virginia Waste Management Act. However, a permit may be modified, considered invalid, or terminated for cause as set forth in 9VAC20-120-690 D 7, D 8, and D 9.
C. A permit does not convey any property rights of any sort, or any exclusive privilege.
D. A permit does not authorize any injury to persons or property or invasion of other private rights, or any infringement of federal, Commonwealth or local law or regulations.
E. A permit may be transferred in accordance with the procedures in 9VAC20-120-690 D 6.
F. The permit may, consistent with 9VAC20-120-700, specify a schedule of compliance leading to compliance with this chapter.
1. Any schedules of compliance under this subsection or subsection G of this section shall require compliance as soon as possible.
2. Except as otherwise provided, if a permit establishes a schedule of compliance that exceeds one year from the date of permit issuance, the schedule shall set forth interim requirements and the dates for their achievement.
a. The time between interim dates shall not exceed one year;
b. If the time necessary for completion of any interim requirement is more than one year and is not readily divisible into stages of completion, the permit shall specify interim dates for the submission of reports of progress toward completion of the interim requirements and indicate a projected completion date.
3. The permit shall be written to require that no later than 14 calendar days following each interim date and the final date of compliance, a permittee shall notify the director, in writing, of his compliance or noncompliance with the interim or final requirements.
G. A permit applicant or permittee may cease conducting regulated activities (by receiving a terminal volume of regulated medical waste, and, in case of treatment or storage facilities, closing pursuant to applicable requirements, or, in case of disposal facilities, closing and conducting post-closure care pursuant to applicable requirements) rather than continue to operate and meet permit requirements as follows:
1. If the permittee decides to cease conducting regulated activities at a specified time for a permit that has already been issued:
a. The permit may be modified to contain a new or additional schedule leading to timely cessation of activities; or
b. The permittee shall cease conducting permitted activities before noncompliance with any interim or final compliance schedule requirement already specified in the permit.
2. If the decision to cease conducting regulated activities is made before the issuance of a permit whose terms will include the termination date, the permit shall contain a schedule leading to termination that will ensure timely compliance with applicable requirements.
3. If the permittee is undecided whether to cease conducting regulated activities, the director may issue or amend a permit to continue two schedules as follows:
a. Both schedules shall contain an identical interim deadline requiring a final decision on whether to cease conducting regulated activities no later than a date that ensures sufficient time to comply with applicable requirements in a timely manner if the decision is to continue conducting regulated activities;
b. One schedule shall lead to timely compliance with applicable requirements;
c. The second schedule shall lead to cessation of regulated activities by a date that will ensure timely compliance with applicable requirements.
d. Each permit containing two schedules shall include a requirement that, after the permittee has made a final decision, he shall follow the schedule leading to compliance if the decision is to continue conducting regulated activities, and follow the schedule leading to termination if the decision is to cease conducting regulated activities.
4. The applicant's decisions to cease conducting regulated activities shall be evidenced by a firm public commitment satisfactory to the director, such as a resolution of the board of directors of a corporation.
A. An owner, operator or permittee intending to close a regulated medical waste management facility shall notify the department of the intention to do so as least 180 calendar days prior to the anticipated date of closing.
B. Closure shall occur in accord with an approved closure plan, which shall be submitted with the permit application documents and approved when the director acknowledges that the facility is considered to have a permit. The holder of the permit shall submit a proposed modified closure plan to the department for review and approval as such modifications become necessary during the life of the facility.
C. The department shall inspect all regulated medical waste management facilities that have been closed to determine if the closing is complete and adequate. It shall notify the owner of a closed facility, in writing, if the closure is satisfactory, and shall order necessary construction or such other steps as may be necessary to bring unsatisfactory sites into compliance with this chapter. Notification by the department that the closure is satisfactory does not relieve the operator of responsibility for corrective action to prevent or abate problems caused by the facility.
A. A permit may specify:
1. Required monitoring, including type, intervals and frequency, sufficient to yield data that are representative of the monitored activity;
2. Requirements concerning the proper use, maintenance, and installation of monitoring equipment or methods, including biological monitoring methods when appropriate; and
3. Applicable reporting requirements based upon the impact of the regulated activity and as specified in this chapter.
B. A permittee shall be subject to the following whenever monitoring is required by the permit:
1. The permittee shall retain records of all monitoring information, including all calibration and maintenance records and all original strip chart recordings for continuous monitoring instrumentation for at least three years from the sample or measurement date. The director may request that this period be extended.
2. Records of monitoring information shall include:
a. The date, exact place and time of sampling or measurements;
b. The individuals who performed the sampling or measurements;
c. The dates analyses were performed;
d. The individuals who performed the analyses;
e. The analytical techniques or methods used; and
f. The results of such analyses.
3. Monitoring results shall be maintained on file for inspection by the department.
C. A permittee shall be subject to the following reporting requirements:
1. Written notice of any planned physical alterations to the permitted facility, unless such items were included in the plans and specifications or operating plan approved by the department, shall be given to the director and approved before such alterations are to occur.
2. Reports of compliance or noncompliance with, or any progress reports on, interim and final requirements contained in any compliance schedule of the permit, shall be submitted no later than 14 calendar days following each schedule date.
3. The permittee shall report to the department any noncompliance or unusual condition that may endanger health or environment. Any information shall be provided orally within 24 hours from the time the permittee becomes aware of the circumstances. A written submission shall also be provided within five calendar days of the time the permittee becomes aware of the circumstances. The written submission shall contain a description of the noncompliance and its cause; the period of noncompliance, including exact dates and times, and, if the noncompliance has not been corrected, the anticipated time it is expected to continue. It shall also contain steps taken or planned to reduce, eliminate and prevent reoccurrence of the noncompliance.
D. Copies of all reports required by the permit, and records of all data used to complete the permit application must be retained by the permittee for at least three years from the date of the report or application. The director may request that this period be extended.
E. When the permittee becomes aware that he failed to submit any relevant facts or submitted incorrect information in a permit application or in any report to the director, he shall promptly submit such omitted facts or the correct information with an explanation.
A. Temporary authorizations.
1. Upon request of the permittee, the director may, without prior public notice and comment, grant the permittee a temporary authorization in accordance with the requirements of this section. Temporary authorizations shall have a term of not more than 180 calendar days.
2. a. The permittee may request a temporary authorization for:
(1) Any substantive amendment meeting the criteria in subdivision 3 b (1) of this subsection; and
(2) Any major amendment that meets the criteria in subdivision 3 b (1) or (2) of this subsection; or that meets the criteria in subdivisions 3 b (3) and (4) of this subsection and provides improved management or treatment of a regulated medical waste already listed in the facility permit.
b. The temporary authorization request shall include:
(1) A description of the activities to be conducted under the temporary authorization;
(2) An explanation of why the temporary authorization is necessary; and
(3) Sufficient information to ensure compliance with standards in Part V (9VAC20-120-330 et seq.) or VI (9VAC20-120-400 et seq.) of this chapter.
c. The permittee shall send a notice about the temporary authorization request to all persons on the facility mailing list. This notification shall be made within seven calendar days of submission of the authorization request.
3. The director shall approve or deny the temporary authorization as quickly as is practical. To issue a temporary authorization, the director shall find:
a. The authorized activities are in compliance with the standards of Part V (9VAC20-120-330 et seq.), VII (9VAC20-120-520 et seq.), VIII (9VAC20-120-580 et seq.) or IX (9VAC20-120-630 et seq.) of this chapter.
b. The temporary authorization is necessary to achieve one of the following objectives before action is likely to be taken on an amendment request:
(1) To facilitate timely implementation of closure or corrective action activities;
(2) To prevent disruption of ongoing waste management activities;
(3) To enable the permittee to respond to sudden changes in the types or quantities of the wastes managed under the facility permit; or
(4) To facilitate other changes to protect human health and the environment.
4. A temporary authorization may be reissued for one additional term of up to 180 calendar days provided that the permittee has requested a substantive or a major permit amendment for the activity covered in the temporary authorization, and (i) the reissued temporary authorization constitutes the director's decision on a substantive permit amendment in accordance with the Solid Waste Management Regulations (9VAC20-81) or (ii) the director determines that the reissued temporary authorization involving a major permit amendment request is warranted to allow the authorized activities to continue while the amendment procedures of the Solid Waste Management Regulations (9VAC20-81) are conducted.
B. Newly defined or identified wastes. The permittee is authorized to continue to manage wastes defined or identified as regulated medical waste under Part III (9VAC20-120-80 et seq.) of this chapter if he:
1. Was in existence as a regulated medical waste management facility with respect to the newly defined or identified regulated medical waste on the effective date of the final rule defining or identifying the waste; and
2. (i) Is in compliance with the standards of Part V, VII, VIII or IX, as applicable, with respect to the new waste, submits a minor modification request on or before the date on which the waste becomes subject to the new requirements or (ii) is not in compliance with the standards of Part V or VI, as applicable, with respect to the new waste, but submits a complete permit amendment request within 180 calendar days after the effective date of the definition or identifying the waste.
C. The suitability of the facility location will not be considered at the time of permit amendment unless new information or standards indicate that an endangerment to human health or the environment exists that was unknown at the time of permit issuance.
Any permit for the management of regulated medical waste shall expire after 10 years of operation. Permits shall not be extended beyond the 10 year permit by permit transfer or modifications. At any time more than 180 calendar days prior to the expiration of the permit and no more than 480 calendar days prior to the expiration of the permit, the holder of a valid permit may request that the director renew the permit and submit all information known to permit holder that is changed or new since the original permit application and that has not been previously submitted to the director. A permit may be renewed for a period of 10 years of operation. Processing of the request will be in accordance with the following:
1. If the holder of a valid permit for a regulated medical waste management facility files with the director a request to renew the permit at least 180 calendar days prior to the expiration of that permit, the director will cause an audit to be conducted of the facility's past operation, its current condition and the records held by the department concerning the facility. Within 60 calendar days of receipt of a proper request, the director will report to the applicant the findings of the audit and those items of correction or information required before renewal will be considered. The director shall review the environmental compliance history of the permittee, material changes in key personnel, and technical limitations, standards, or regulations on which the original permit was based. If the director finds repeated material or substantial violations of the permittee or material changes in the permittee's key personnel would make continued operation of the facility not in the best interest of human health or the environment, the director shall deny the request for renewal of the permit. If the director finds the facilities to be insufficient to comply with regulations in effect at the time of the proposed renewal, the director shall deny the request for renewal. The director shall request any information from the permittee that is necessary to conduct the audit, and that is reasonably available to the permittee and substantive to the proposed renewal.
2. If the applicant files for renewal less than 180 calendar days prior to the expiration of the original permit or files an improper application the director shall deny the application for renewal. If an application for renewal has been denied for a facility, any further applications and submittals shall be identical to those for a new facility.
Owners and operators of existing and permitted infectious waste management facilities are not required to submit an application for a new permit at the time these amended regulations become effective. Existing permits will remain valid, except that conditions or waivers in existing permits that conflict with these amended regulations are void on the date six months from the effective date of these amended regulations. Operators of existing facilities are required to comply with these amended regulations within six months following their effective date and may comply at any time with any item contained in this chapter in lieu of a conflicting condition contained in an existing permit.
Part XI
Variances and Other Procedures
Article 1
Petition for Variance
Any person directly affected by this chapter may petition the director to grant a variance from any requirement of this chapter, subject to the provisions of this part. Any petition submitted to the director is also subject to the provisions of the Virginia Administrative Process Act (§ 2.2-4000 et seq. of the Code of Virginia).
The director will not accept any petition relating to:
1. Equivalent testing or analytical methods contained in EPA Publication SW-846;
2. Definitions of regulated medical waste contained in Part III (9VAC20-120-80 et seq.) of this chapter; and
3. A change in the regulatory requirements that the petitioner is currently violating until such time as the violation has been resolved through the enforcement process.
Article 2
Variances to Requirements
The director may grant a variance from any regulation contained in Parts IV through X to a petitioner if the petitioner demonstrates to the satisfaction of the director that:
1. a. Strict application of the regulation to the facility will result in undue hardship that is caused by the petitioner's particular situation, or
b. Technical conditions exist that make a strict application of the regulation difficult to achieve, and
c. The alternate design or operation will result in a facility that is equally protective of the human health and the environment as that provided for in the regulations; and
2. Granting the variance will not result in an unreasonable risk to the public health or the environment.
A. When the director renders a decision under this section in accordance with the procedures contained here, he may:
1. Deny the petition;
2. Grant the variance as requested; or
3. Grant a modified or partial variance.
B. When a modified variance is granted, the director may:
1. Specify the termination date of the variance;
2. Include a schedule for:
a. Compliance, including increments of progress, by the facility with each requirement of the variance; and
b. Implementation by the facility of such control measures as the director finds necessary in order that the variance may be granted.
A. All petitions submitted to the director shall include:
1. The petitioner's name and address;
2. A statement of petitioner's interest in the proposed action;
3. A description of desired action and a citation to the regulation from which a variance is requested;
4. A description of need and justification for the proposed action;
5. The duration of the variance, if applicable;
6. The potential impact of the variance on public health or the environment;
7. Other information believed by the petitioner to be pertinent; and
8. The following statements signed by the petitioner or his authorized representative:
"I certify that I have personally examined and am familiar with the information submitted in this petition and all attached documents, and that, based on my inquiry of those individuals immediately responsible for obtaining the information, I believe that the submitted information is true, accurate, and complete. I am aware that there are significant penalties for submitting false information, including the possibility of fine and imprisonment."
B. In addition to the general information required of all petitioners under this article:
1. To be successful the petitioner shall address the applicable standards and criteria.
2. The petitioner shall provide an explanation of the petitioner's particular situation that prevents the facility from achieving compliance with the cited regulation.
3. The petitioner shall provide other information as may be required by the department.
A. After receiving a petition that includes the information required in 9VAC20-120-870, the director will determine whether the information received is sufficient to render the decision. If the information is deemed to be insufficient, the director will specify additional information needed and request that it be furnished.
B. The petitioner may submit the additional information requested, or may attempt to show that no reasonable basis exists for the request for additional information. If the director agrees that no reasonable basis exists for the request for additional information, he will act in accordance with subsection C of this section. If the director continues to believe that a reasonable basis exists to require the submission of such information, he will proceed with the denial action in accordance with the Virginia Administrative Process Act (VAPA).
C. After the petition is deemed complete:
1. The director will make a tentative decision to grant or deny the petition.
2. In case that petition may be tentatively denied, the director will offer the petitioner the opportunity to withdraw the petition, submit additional information, or request the director to proceed with the evaluation.
3. Unless the petition is withdrawn, the director will issue a draft notice tentatively granting or denying the application. Notification of this tentative decision will be provided by newspaper advertisement in the locality where the petitioner is located. The director will accept comment on the tentative decision for 30 calendar days.
4. Upon a written request of any interested person, the director may, at his discretion, hold an informal fact finding meeting described in § 2.2-4011 of the Virginia Administrative Process Act. A person requesting a meeting shall state the issues to be raised and explain why written comments would not suffice to communicate the person's views. The director may in any case decide on his own motion to hold such a meeting.
5. After evaluating all public comments the director will, within 15 calendar days after the expiration of the comment period:
a. Notify the petitioner of the final decision; and
b. Notify all persons who commented on the tentative decision or publish it in a newspaper having circulation in the locality.
A. In the case of a denial, the petitioner has a right to request a formal hearing to challenge the rejection.
B. If the director grants a variance request, the notice to the petitioner shall provide that the variance may be terminated upon a finding by the director that the petitioner has failed to comply with any variance requirements.
Article 3
Innovative Treatment Technology Review
The requirements for alternate treatment methods contained in Part IX allow, at subdivision 2 d of 9VAC20-120-640, that new or innovative treatment technologies can be approved for permitting if the director reviews the process and determines that it provides treatment in keeping with this chapter and protects public health and the environment, and if the director establishes appropriate conditions for their siting, design, and operation. This article establishes the criteria, protocols, procedures, and processes to be used to petition the director for review and to demonstrate the suitability of the proposed process for the treatment of regulated medical waste.
A. Inactivation is required to be demonstrated of vegetative bacteria, fungi, all viruses, parasites, and mycobacteria at a 6 Log10 reduction or greater; a 6 Log10 reduction is defined as a 6 decade reduction or a one millionth (0.000001) survival probability in a microbial population (i.e., a 99.9999% reduction).
B. Inactivation is required to be demonstrated of B. stearothermophilus spores or B. subtilis spores at a 4 Log10 reduction or greater; a 4 Log10 reduction is defined as a 4 decade reduction or a 0.0001 survival probability in a microbial population (i.e., a 99.99% reduction).
A. One or more representative microorganisms from each microbial group shall be used in treatment efficacy evaluation.
1. Vegetative Bacteria.
- Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6538)
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 15442)
2. Fungi.
- Candida albicans (ATCC 18804)
- Penicillium chrysogenum (ATCC 24791)
- Aspergillus niger
3. Viruses.
- Polio 2 or Polio 3
- MS-2 Bacteriophage (ATCC 15597-B1)
4. Parasites.
- Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts
- Giardia spp. cysts
5. Mycobacteria.
- Mycobacterium terrae
- Mycobacterium phlei
- Mycobacterium bovis (BCG) (ATCC 35743)
B. Spores from one of the following bacterial species shall be used for efficacy evaluation of chemical, thermal, and irradiation treatment systems.
1. B. stearothermophilus (ATCC 7953)
2. B. subtilis (ATCC 19659)
A. Microbial inactivation ("kill") efficacy is equated to "Log10 Kill," which is defined as the difference between the logarithms of number of viable test microorganisms before and after treatment. This definition is equated as:
Log10 Kill = Log10 I(cfu/g) %68 Log10 R(cfu/g) where:
Log10Kill is equivalent to the term Log10 reduction.
"I" is the number of viable test microorganisms introduced into the treatment unit.
"R" is the number of viable test microorganisms recovered after treatment.
"cfu/g" are colony forming units per gram of waste solids.
B. For those treatment processes that can maintain the integrity of the biological indicator carrier (i.e., ampules, plastic strips) of the desired microbiological test strain, biological indicators of the required strain and concentration can be used to demonstrate treatment efficacy. Quantification is evaluated by growth or no growth of the cultured biological indicator.
C. For those treatment mechanisms that cannot ensure or provide integrity of the biological indicator (i.e., chemical inactivation/grinding), quantitative measurement of treatment efficacy requires a two step approach: Step 1, "Control"; Step 2, "Test." The purpose of Step 1 is to account for the reduction of test microorganisms due to loss by dilution or physical entrapment.
1. Step 1.
a. Use microbial cultures of a predetermined concentration necessary to ensure a sufficient microbial recovery at the end of this step.
b. Add suspension to a standardized medical waste load that is to be processed under normal operating conditions without the addition of the microbial inactivation agent (i.e., heat, chemicals).
c. Collect and wash waste samples after processing to recover the biological indicator organisms in the sample.
d. Plate recovered microorganism suspensions to quantify microbial recovery. (The number of viable microorganisms recovered serves as a baseline quantity for comparison to the number of recovered microorganisms from wastes processed with the microbial inactivation agent).
e. The required number of recovered viable indicator microorganisms from Step 1 must be equal to or greater than the number of microorganisms required to demonstrate the prescribed Log reduction as specified in 9VAC20-120-910 (i.e., a 6 Log10 reduction for vegetative microorganisms or a 4 Log10 reduction for bacterial spores). This can be defined by the following equation:
Log10RC = Log10IC %68 Log10NR
where: Log10RC is greater than or equal to 6 for vegetative microorganisms and is greater than or equal to 4 for bacterial spores and where:
Log10RC is the number of viable "Control" microorganisms (in colony forming units per gram of waste solids) recovered in the nontreated processed waste residue.
Log10IC is the number of viable "Control' microorganisms (in colony forming units per gram of waste solids) introduced into the treatment unit.
Log10NR is the number of "Control" microorganisms (in colony forming units per gram of waste solids) that were not recovered after processing. Log10NR represents an accountability fad-or for microbial loss.
2. Step 2.
a. Use microbial cultures of the same concentration as in Step 1.
b. Add suspension to the standardized medical waste load that is to be processed under normal operating conditions with the addition of the microbial inactivation agent.
c. Collect and wash waste samples after processing to recover the biological indicator organisms in the sample.
d. Plate recovered microorganism suspensions to quantify microbial recovery.
e. From data collected from Step 1 and Step 2, the level of microbial inactivation (i.e., "Log10 Kill") is calculated by employing the following equation:
Log10Kill = Log10IT %68 Log10NR %68 Log10RT, where:
Log10Kill is equivalent to the term Log10 reduction.
Log10IT is the number of viable "Test" microorganisms-(in colony forming units per gram of waste solids) introduced into the treatment unit. Log10IT = Log10IC.
Log10NR is the number of "Control microorganisms (in colony forming units per gram of waste solids) that were not recovered after processing.
Log10RT is the number of viable "Test" microorganisms (in colony forming units per gram of waste solids) recovered in treated processed waste residue.
A. Methodology employed to determine treatment efficacy of the technology will need to assure required microbial inactivation and assure the protocols are congruent with the treatment method. Protocols developed for efficacy testing shall incorporate, as applicable, recognized standard procedures such as those found in Test Methods for Evaluating Solid Waste, Physical/Chemical Methods and Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Waste Water.
B. The department shall prescribe those types and compositions of medical wastes that present the most challenge to treatment effectiveness under normal operating conditions of the equipment reviewed.
C. Dependent on the treatment process and treatment efficacy mechanisms utilized, protocols evaluating medical waste treatment systems shall specifically delineate or incorporate, as applicable:
1. Waste compositions that typify actual waste to be processed;
2. Waste types that provide a challenge to the treatment process;
3. Comparable conditions to actual use (i.e., process time, temperature, chemical concentration, pH, humidity, load density, load volume);
4. Assurances that biological indicators (i.e., ampules, strips) are not artificially affected by the treatment process;
5. Assurances of inoculum traceability, purity, viability and concentration;
6. Dilution and neutralization methods that do not affect microorganism viability;
7. Microorganism recovery methodologies that are statistically correct (i.e., sample collection, number of samples/test, number of colony forming units/plate); and
8. Appropriate microbial culturing methods (i.e., avoidance of microbial competition, the selection of proper growth media and incubation times).
A. To initiate the technology review process the petitioner shall complete and submit the "Petition For Evaluation and Approval of Regulated Medical Waste Treatment Technology Part A: General Information" to the department. The petitioner shall:
1. Provide a detailed description of the medical waste treatment equipment to be tested including manufacturer's instructions and equipment specifications, operating procedures and conditions including, as applicable, treatment times, pressure, temperatures, chemical concentrations, irradiation doses, feed rates, and waste load composition;
2. Provide documentation demonstrating the treatment method meets microbial inactivation criteria and required testing protocols including a detailed description of the test procedures and calculations used in fulfilling required performance standards verifying treatment efficacy, of user verification methodology, and of microbial culturing protocols that ensure traceability, purity and concentration;
3. Provide information on available parametric controls, verifying treatment efficacy and ensuring operator non-interference;
4. Provide documentation of applicable emission controls for suspected emissions;
5. Provide information relating to waste residues including their potential hazards/toxicities and their specific mode of disposal or recycling;
6. Provide documentation providing occupational safety and health assurance; and
7. Provide information on energy efficiency and other potential benefits the treatment technology has to offer to the environment.
B. The petitioner shall demonstrate that all required surrogate pathogens and resistant bacterial endospores are inactivated to criteria specified in 9VAC20-120-910 and 9VAC20-120-930 under the representative challenge waste load compositions.
C. The petitioner shall develop and demonstrate that site approval and user verification testing protocols are workable and valid.
D. The petitioner shall demonstrate where technically practical, the treatment efficacy relationship between biological indicator data and data procured from real-time parametric treatment monitoring equipment.
E. The petitioner shall demonstrate evidence of U.S. EPA pesticide registration for those treatment processes that employ a chemical agent to inactivate microorganisms.
F. Upon completion of items contained in 9VAC20-120-910 through 9VAC20-120-950, the technology approval that results is granted only under the conditions specified in the manufacturer's instructions and equipment specifications, operating procedures and conditions including, as applicable, treatment times, temperatures, pressure, chemical concentrations, irradiation doses, feed rates, and waste load composition. Any significant revisions to these equipment and operating conditions, as warranted relevant to the department, will require reapplication for approval to the department.
A. To fulfill treatment efficacy and information requirements for site approval, the equipment user shall:
1. Demonstrate that the equipment cited is the same equipment and process approved by the department as specified in 9VAC20-120-950.
2. Demonstrate that required resistant bacterial endospores are inactivated as specified in 9VAC20-120-910 B criteria under typical waste load and department specified challenge compositions;
3. Verify that user verification protocols adequately demonstrate treatment effectiveness; and
4. Verify the treatment efficacy relationship between biological indicator data and data procured from real-time parametric treatment monitoring equipment.
B. The site facility shall provide a written operations plan that includes:
1. The names or positions of the equipment operators;
2. The waste types or categories to be treated;
3. Waste segregation procedures required;
4. Wastes types prohibited for treatment;
5. Equipment operation parameters;
6. Treatment efficacy monitoring procedures;
7. Personal protective equipment requirements;
8. Emergency response plans; and
9. Operator training requirements.
C. The site facility shall submit to the department for their review:
1. Equipment model number and serial number;
2. Equipment specification and operations manual;
3. A copy of the facility's written plan; and
4. Certification documentation of operator training.
D. As a condition of site approval, the department shall have a right to inspect the facility and the right to revoke site approval if health and safety violations are discovered, if permit conditions are not being fulfilled, or if the facility is not adhering to its written plan.
E. Any modifications to the medical waste treatment unit may require re-approval by the director and may involve further efficacy testing.
A. To verify that the medical waste treatment unit is functioning properly and that performance standards are achieved, the petitioner shall:
1. Demonstrate that required resistant bacterial endospores are inactivated to criteria as specified in 9VAC20-120-910 B under standard operating procedures using protocols that have previously been approved by the department as specified under 9VAC20-120-950 and 9VAC20-120-960;
2. Establish a frequency of biological monitoring; and
3. Document and record all biological indicator and parametric monitoring data.
B. To document treatment efficacy for steam sterilizers and autoclaves, the equipment operator shall:
1. Adopt standard written operating procedures that denote:
a. Sterilization cycle time, temperature, pressure
b. Types of waste acceptable
c. Types of containers and closures acceptable
d. Loading patterns or quantity limitations;
2. Document times/temperatures for each complete sterilization cycle;
3. Use time-temperature sensitive indicators to visually denote the waste has been decontaminated;
4. Use biological indicators placed in the waste load (or simulated load) periodically to verify conditions meet microbial inactivation requirements as specified in 9VAC20-120-910 B; and
5. Maintain all records of procedure documentation, time-temperature profiles, and biological indicator results.
A. All small medical waste treatment devices shall fulfill the requirements necessary for technology approval and shall meet the treatment efficacy requirements as defined in 9VAC20-120-910.
B. Technology and siting approval are the responsibility of the petitioner. The petitioner shall provide to the department:
1. All information required for technology approval as defined in 9VAC20-120-950;
2. All information required of site approval for a typical site for which the equipment is designed as defined in 9VAC20-120-960; and
3. All materials and documents required of the user to ensure proper use, safety, and effective treatment. These materials and documents would include:
a. An operations and maintenance manual;
b. Information on proper use and potential misuse;
c. Treatment efficacy testing instructions;
d. Training/education manual; and
e. Available service agreements/programs.
C. The manufacturer (vendor) shall furnish the user of the treatment device:
1. An operations and maintenance manual;
2. Information on proper use and potential misuse;
3. Treatment efficacy testing instructions;
4. Training/education manual; and
5. Available service agreements/programs.
D. Upon the installation of the treatment device, the manufacturer shall compile a record of the buyer, the location, and the results of onsite challenge testing at time of purchase. This information shall be submitted annually to the department by the petitioner as the notification record of site registrations of equipment installed that previous year.
A. Information on the characteristics of all waste residues (liquids and solids), and the mechanisms and models of their disposal shall be provided by the petitioner on the "Evaluation of Medical Waste Treatment Technology: Information Request Form." This information will include:
1. Description of residues (i.e., liquid, solid, shredded, hazardous constituents);
2. Waste designation (i.e. hazardous, special, general);
3. Disposal mechanism (i.e. landfilling, incineration, recycling); and
4. Recycling efforts, if anticipated, (i.e., waste types, amounts, percentages, name and location of recycling effort).
B. Information on waste residue disposal shall be provided by the user facility as required under site approval (9VAC20-120-960). This information shall include:
1. All information requested in 9VAC20-120-1000 A;
2. The site of disposal (name and address);
3. The mechanism of disposal (i.e. landfilling or incineration); and
4. The amounts of residues anticipated to be disposed (e.g., volume and weight per week).
C. If residues are to be recycled the following information shall be provided by the user facility as required under site approval (9VAC20-120-960). This information shall include:
1. The types of waste residue to be recycled;
2. The amounts of waste residue to be recycled;
3. The percentage of the total waste and waste residue to be recycled;
4. The recycling mechanism used; and
5. The name and location of the recycler.
D. Previously untreated medical wastes used in the development and testing of prototypical equipment shall be considered potentially infectious and will be required to be disposed as untreated medical waste.
E. Prototypical equipment testing using non-infectious or previously treated medical waste (i.e., treated by an approved process such as steam sterilization) that has been inoculated with recommended surrogate pathogens can be disposed as general solid wastes after verification of treatment effectiveness.
F. All liquid and solid waste residues will be disposed of in accordance with applicable state and local regulations.
A. To assure proper operation of the treatment process, the manufacturer (vendor) shall provide to the user as part of the treatment equipment purchase an operator training program that will include:
1. A description of all mechanical equipment, instrumentation, and power controls;
2. A description of system's operations including waste types acceptable, loading parameters, process monitors, treatment conditions, and disposal;
3. A description of all parametric controls, their appropriate settings as correlated with biological indicators, and calibration requirements;
4. A description of proper responses, including identification of system upsets (i.e., power failure, jamming, inadequate treatment conditions) and emergency conditions (i.e., fire, explosion, release of chemical or biohazardous materials);
5. A description of personal protective equipment requirements for routine, abnormal, and emergency operations; and
6. A description of all potential occupational safety and health risks posed by the equipment and its use.
B. The facility shall additionally develop a written treatment equipment operations plan that will include:
1. Responsibility delegation for safe and effective equipment operation to operating personnel;
2. A description of operating parameters that must be monitored to ensure effective treatment;
3. A description of all process monitoring instrumentation and established ranges for all operating parameters;
4. A description of the methods required to ensure process monitoring instrumentation is operating properly; and
5. A description of methods and schedules for periodic calibration of process monitoring instrumentation.
C. The facility shall document and keep on record copies of all training for at least three years.
FORMS (9VAC20-120)
Solid Waste Management Facility Permit Applicant's Disclosure Statement (Cover Sheet), DEQ Form DISC-01 (rev. 8/2018)
Solid Waste Management Facility Permit Applicant's Disclosure Statement - Key Personnel Statement, DEQ Form DISC-02 (rev. 8/2018)
Local Government Certification Request, DEQ Form CERT-01 (rev. 8/2018)
Petition for Evaluation and Approval of Regulated Medical Waste Treatment Technology, DEQ Form RMWTP-01 (rev. 8/2018)
The following words and terms when used in this chapter shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Chapter 14 (§ 10.1-1400 et seq.) of Title 10.1 of the Code of Virginia defines words and terms that supplement those in this chapter. The Solid Waste Management Regulations (9VAC20-81) define additional words and terms that supplement those in the statutes and this chapter. When the statutes, as cited, and the solid waste management regulations, as cited, conflict, the definitions of the statutes are controlling.
"Approved sanitary sewer system" means a network of sewers serving a facility that has been approved in writing by the Virginia Department of Health, including affiliated local health departments. Such sewer systems may be approved septic tank or drainfield systems and onsite treatment systems, or they may be a part of a collection system served by a VPDES permitted treatment works.
"Ash" means the residual waste material produced from an incineration process or any combustion.
"ASTM" means the American Society for Testing and Materials.
"Autoclave" means a wet thermal [ sterilization treatment ] process that uses saturated steam under a specified amount of pressure for a specified exposure time and at a specific temperature.
"Bioaerosol" means a suspension of airborne particles, generally comprised of microorganisms (e.g., bacteria, viruses) or materials of biological origin released from humans, animals, plants, soil, water, or other sources. Particles range in size from very small to very large, and could include liquid droplets and materials left behind after such droplets evaporate (known as "droplet nuclei").
"Bioburden" means the degree of microbial contamination, including the type and total population of organisms, the number of spore formers present, and their resistance on any material and in a given amount of waste material prior to undergoing treatment.
"Biohazard" means biological substances that pose a threat to the health of living organisms, primarily that of humans, but can include substances harmful to animals.
"Biological indicator" means a preparation of a specific microorganism of a known concentration and resistance to a specific treatment process or to a known physical or chemical condition and is used to evaluate the capability of a process to effectively treat regulated medical waste. "Biological indicators" include bacterial spores or other microorganisms inoculated onto carriers (such as spore strips), spore suspensions, and self-contained biological indicators.
"Biological toxin" or "toxin" means a poison, especially a protein or conjugated protein produced by certain animals, plants, and pathogenic bacteria that is highly poisonous for other living organisms.
"Biologicals" means any preparations (sera, nonviable vaccines, vaccines attenuated in a manner that prevents propagation, antigens, toxins, and antitoxins) derived from a living organism or its products for use in diagnosis, immunization, or treatment of human beings or animals.
"Blood" means human blood, human blood components (e.g., serum and plasma), and products made from human blood.
"Bloodborne pathogen" means pathogenic microorganisms that are present in human blood (including human blood components and products made from human blood) that can cause disease in humans.
"Board" means the Virginia Waste Management Board.
"Body fluids" means liquid emanating or derived from humans, including blood; cerebrospinal, synovial, pleural, peritoneal, and pericardial fluids; semen and vaginal secretions; amniotic fluid; and any other body fluids that are contaminated with blood, mixed or combined with body fluids, or suspected by the health care professional in charge of being capable of producing an infectious disease in humans. This term does not include [ toenail nail ] and skin clippings, breast milk, sputum, semen, teeth, sweat, tears, urine, vomitus, or saliva that are not contaminated with visible blood unless transmission of an infectious disease is possible as determined by a health care professional.
"Calibration" means the demonstration that a measuring device produces accurate results within specified limits of its operating range.
"Captive regulated medical waste management facility" means a regulated medical waste management facility that is located on property owned or controlled by the generator of all waste managed or disposed of at that facility.
"Category A infectious substance" means an infectious substance in a form capable of causing permanent disability or life-threatening or fatal disease in otherwise healthy humans or animals when exposure to the substance occurs. Category A infectious substances are defined by 49 CFR 173.134 of the U.S. Department of Transportation Hazardous Materials Regulations.
"Category A waste" means wastes that are contaminated with a Category A infectious substance and must be packaged and transported in accordance with the U.S. Department of Transportation Hazardous Materials Regulations or an applicable [ DOT Department of Transportation ] special permit.
"Challenge testing" means periodic monitoring or testing of a regulated medical waste treatment device or system that employs the use of biological indicators to demonstrate continued, effective operation of the device or system.
"Closure" means the act of securing a regulated medical waste management facility and terminating use of the facility for management of regulated medical waste pursuant to the requirements of this chapter.
"Container" means any portable enclosure in which a material is stored, transported, treated, or otherwise handled.
"Contaminated" means the presence or the reasonably anticipated presence of blood or other body fluids, infectious agent, biohazard, or biological toxin on an item or surface.
"Cremains" means the ash or bone shadows that remain after cremation.
"Culture" means an infectious substance containing a pathogen that is intentionally propagated. "Culture" does not include a human or animal patient specimen.
"Cultures and stock" means materials derived from the management (e.g., the systems used to grow and maintain infectious agents in vitro, including nutrient agars, gels, broths, and cell lines) of agents infectious to humans, and associated biologicals, from medical or pathological laboratories, from research and industrial laboratories, or from the production of biologicals and includes discarded live or attenuated vaccines capable of propagation, or culture dishes and devices used to transfer, inoculate, or mix cultures.
"Cycle" means the total operating time required for a device to treat regulated medical waste, and for an autoclave, includes warm-up, residence time, and cool down time.
"D-value" or "decimal reduction value" means the thermal resistance or time in minutes at a specific temperature that is required for a one-log or 90% reduction of a specific microbial population under specified treatment conditions.
"Decontamination" means the use of physical or chemical means to remove, inactivate, or destroy human pathogens on a surface or item to the point where they are no longer capable of transmitting disease and the surface or item is rendered safe for handling, use, or disposal.
"Department" or "DEQ" means the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality.
"Director" means the Director of the Department of Environmental Quality or the director's designee.
"Discard" means to throw away or reject. When a material is soiled, contaminated, or no longer usable, and it is placed in a waste receptacle for disposal or treatment prior to disposal, it is considered discarded.
"Discharge" or "waste discharge" means the accidental or intentional spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, or dumping of regulated medical waste into or on any land or state waters.
"Disinfectant" means an antimicrobial product used on hard inanimate surfaces and objects to destroy or irreversibly inactivate infectious agents, such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses, but not necessarily bacterial spores. There are three types of disinfectants registered by EPA based on the type of efficacy data submitted: limited, general or broad-spectrum, and hospital grade.
"Disinfection" means any procedure that involves the application of an antimicrobial agent (disinfectant) registered with EPA that is consistent with its approved use in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. Disinfection shall not be considered a form of treatment, and appropriate handling of disinfected materials, as well as health and safety precautions, shall still be required to achieve protection of public health and the environment.
"Disposal" means the discharge, deposit, injection, dumping, spilling, leaking, or placing of any solid waste into or on any land or water so that such solid waste or any constituent of it may enter the environment or be emitted into the air or discharged into any waters, including groundwaters.
"Disposal facility" means a facility or part of a facility at which solid waste is intentionally placed into or on any land or water, and at which the solid waste will remain after closure.
"Domestic sewage" means untreated sanitary wastes that pass through a sewer system.
"Efficacy testing" means testing of a treatment method, system, or device, conducted by a laboratory, independent of the system manufacturer, in conformance with generally recognized scientific principles, microbiologic examinations, or other pertinent assessments of waste material to establish operating parameters for effective treatment of regulated medical waste.
"Effluent" means liquid waste such as spills, wash water, and wastewater emanating from regulated medical waste storage, transfer, and treatment areas.
"Empty" means wastes have been removed from a container using the practices commonly employed to remove materials of that type such as pouring, pumping, or aspirating.
"EPA" means the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
"Exposure time" or "residence time" means the length of time at which the treatment method is held at a specific temperature, pressure, irradiation level, or chemical concentration for effective treatment of regulated medical waste.
"Federal agency" means any department, agency, or other instrumentality of the federal government, any independent agency, or establishment of the federal government, including any government corporation and the Government Printing Office.
"Generate" means to cause waste to become subject to regulation. At the point a regulated medical waste is discarded, it has been generated. Timeframes associated with storage and refrigeration are linked to the date the waste is placed in storage, not the date the waste is generated.
"Generator" means any person, by site location, whose act or process produces regulated medical waste identified or defined in this chapter or whose act first causes a regulated medical waste to become subject to this chapter.
"Hazardous material" means a substance or material that has been so designated under 49 CFR Parts 171 and 173.
"Hazardous waste" means any solid waste defined as a "hazardous waste" by the Virginia Hazardous Waste Management Regulations.
"Health care professional" means a medical doctor or nurse practicing under a license issued by the Department of Health Professions.
"Household sharps" means any needles, syringes with attached needles, lancets, auto injectors, pen needles, and any other devices that are used to penetrate the skin for the delivery of medications that are derived from households through self-care, rather than under the care of a home health care professional or at a health care facility. "Household sharps" are sharps that, except for the fact that they are derived from a household, would otherwise be classified as a regulated medical waste in accordance with this chapter.
"Household waste" means any waste material, including garbage, trash, and refuse, derived from households. Households include single and multiple residences, hotels and motels, bunkhouses, ranger stations, crew quarters, campgrounds, picnic grounds, and day-use recreation areas. "Household waste" does not include sanitary waste in septic tanks (septage) that is regulated by other state agencies. Waste generated by a health care professional or nonstationary health care provider administering care in a household, mobile unit, or commercially operated residence, or outpatient recovery facility that meets the definition of regulated medical waste is not household waste and must be managed as regulated medical waste.
"Inactivated" or "inactivation" means having reached the point, through autoclaving, incineration, or other validated treatment process, where the waste material is no longer infectious, does not pose an infection risk, and is not considered to be a regulated medical waste.
"Infectious agent" means any organism or agent, including a synthetic agent, that causes disease or an adverse health impact in humans or can be transferred to humans, as well as animals that have an economic impact on human society.
"Infectious substance" means a material known or reasonably expected to contain a pathogen, including bacteria, viruses, rickettsiae, parasites, fungi, or prions, that can cause disease in humans or animals.
"Inner packaging" means a packaging that is the primary container, such as a red bag or sharps container, for which an outer packaging is required for transport.
"Nonstationary health care provider" means those persons who routinely provide health care at locations that change each day or frequently. This term includes traveling doctors, nurses, midwives, and others providing care in patients' homes, first aid providers operating from emergency vehicles, and mobile blood service collection stations.
"Offsite" means any site that does not meet the definition of onsite, as defined in this part, including areas of a facility that are not on geographically contiguous property or outside of the boundary of the site.
"Onsite" means the same or geographically contiguous property, which may be divided by public or private right-of-way, provided the entrance and exit to the facility are controlled by the owner or the operator of the facility. Noncontiguous properties owned by the same person but connected by a right-of-way that he controls and to which the public does not have access are also considered onsite property.
"Operating parameters" means the specific conditions of pressure, temperature, residence time, chemical concentration, and other physical or engineering condition established through efficacy testing of a treatment method and verified through validation testing to be effective for treatment of regulated medical waste.
"Outer packaging" means packaging that is the secondary container or the outermost enclosure, such as a disposable or reusable rigid pail, fiberboard carton, drum, or portable bin that is under normal conditions of use leak-resistant, strong enough to prevent tearing or bursting, puncture resistant, impervious to moisture, has leak proof sides and bottom, has a tight fitting cover or is otherwise closable, and is in good repair, of a composite or combination packaging together with any absorbent materials, cushioning and any other components necessary to contain and protect inner packaging.
"Overpack" means an enclosure that is used to provide protection or convenience in handling of a package or to consolidate two or more packages. "Overpack" does not include a vehicle, freight container, or aircraft unit load device. Examples of overpacks are one or more packages (i) placed or stacked onto a load board such as a pallet and secured by strapping, shrink wrapping, stretch wrapping, or other suitable means; or (ii) placed in a protective outer packaging such as a box or crate.
"Packaging" means the assembly of one or more containers and any other components necessary to assure compliance with minimum packaging requirements under Regulations Governing the Transportation of Hazardous Materials (9VAC20-110) or this chapter.
"Parametric controls" or "parametric monitoring device" means real time monitoring instrumentation integral to the treatment unit that is designed to quantitatively measure operational parameters, such as temperature, pressure, or other parameter, and provide an electronic or paper record of measurements that can be correlated to treatment. Parametric controls may be used to regulate or maintain preset operating parameters.
"Pathogen" means a microorganism, including bacteria, viruses, rickettsiae, parasites or fungi, or other agent, such as a proteinaceous infectious particle (prion), that can cause disease in humans or animals.
"Patient specimen" means human or animal materials collected directly from humans or animals and transported for research, diagnosis, clinical or investigational activities, or disease treatment or prevention. "Patient specimen" includes excreta, secreta, blood and its components, tissue and tissue swabs, body parts, and specimens in transport media (e.g., transwabs, culture media, and blood culture bottles) until such time that the patient specimen is discarded.
"Prion" means a pathogenic agent that is able to cause abnormal folding of specific normal cellular proteins called "prion proteins," which are found most abundantly in the brain. This abnormal folding is associated with neurological disease. Prions are proteinaceous infectious particles that are highly resistant to all but the most destructive methods of inactivation. They require specific inactivation, disposal, and containment procedures.
"Process rate" means the maximum rate of waste acceptance that a regulated medical waste management facility can process for transfer, treatment, or storage. This rate is limited by the capabilities of equipment, personnel, and infrastructure.
"Processing" means preparation, treatment, or conversion of regulated medical waste by a series of actions, changes, or functions that bring about a decided result.
"Regulated medical waste" or "RMW" means solid wastes defined to be regulated medical wastes in Part II (9VAC20-121-90) this chapter.
"Regulated medical waste management facility" means a site used for planned transfer, treatment, or disposal of regulated medical waste. A regulated medical waste management facility may consist of more than one transfer, treatment, or disposal unit. A regulated medical waste management facility is a type of solid waste management facility.
"Regulated medical waste transfer station" means a regulated medical waste management facility where regulated medical waste is received for the purpose of its subsequent consolidation, over-packing, storage, trans-loading, or subsequent transfer to another regulated medical waste management facility for further processing, treatment, transfer, or disposal. Parking a vehicle containing regulated medical waste during transportation for 24 hours or more is considered a regulated medical waste transfer station.
"Regulated medical waste treatment facility" means a regulated medical waste management facility where regulated medical waste is treated so that it no longer constitutes a threat to public health and the environment, and the waste is subsequently managed as solid waste.
"Reusable medical device" means a device, including surgical forceps, endoscopes, and stethoscopes, that is designed and labeled for multiple uses and is reprocessed by thorough cleaning followed by high-level disinfection or sterilization between patients.
"Sanitizer" means a substance, or mixture of substances, that reduces the bacterial population in the inanimate environment by significant numbers, (e.g., 3 log10 reduction) or more but does not destroy or eliminate all bacteria.
"Select agent or toxin" means a subset of biological agents and toxins that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture have determined have the potential to pose a severe threat to public health and safety, to animal or plant health, or to animal or plant products. Select agents and toxins are specified under 42 CFR §§ 73.3 and 73.4, 9 CFR §§ 121.3 and 121.4, and 7 CFR § 331.3.
"Sharps" means [ needles, scalpels, knives, lancets, syringes with attached needles, suture needles, pasteur pipettes, broken glass, broken rigid plastic, and similar items having a point or sharp edge or that are likely to cause percutaneous injury or break during transportation and result in a point or sharp edge that may puncture or compromise the integrity of the container. any object contaminated with a pathogen or that may become contaminated with a pathogen through handling or during transportation and also capable of cutting or penetrating skin or a packaging material. Sharps include needles, syringes, scalpels, broken glass, culture slides, culture dishes, broken capillary tubes, broken rigid plastic, and exposed ends of dental wires. Discarded unused sharps contained in the original liner and outer packaging are excluded from this definition. ]
"Sharps drop box" means a secure, tamper-proof sharps container for the temporary storage of only household sharps provided for the convenience of individual home generators who choose to transport their own household sharps to the collection point and where collected sharps are packaged, labeled, and managed as regulated medical waste.
"Shipment" means the movement or quantity conveyed by a transporter of a regulated medical waste between a generator and a designated facility or a subsequent transporter.
"Shipping paper" means a shipping order, bill of lading, manifest, or other shipping document serving a similar purpose and containing the information required by the U.S. Department of Transportation Hazardous Materials Regulations.
"Site" means all land or water and structures, other appurtenances, and improvements on them used for treating, storing, and disposing of regulated medical waste. This term includes adjacent land within the facility boundary used for the utility systems such as repair, storage, shipping or processing areas, or other areas incident to the management of regulated medical waste.
"Solid waste" means any of those materials defined as "solid waste" in 9VAC20-81-95 of the Virginia Solid Waste Management Regulations. Regulated medical waste that has been treated in accordance with this chapter is considered solid waste.
"Spill" means any accidental or unpermitted discharge, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, or dumping of wastes or materials that, when spilled, become wastes.
"Spore" means a dormant form of a microorganism that is more resistant to adverse conditions.
"Sterilize" means to inactivate all microorganisms on materials or waste.
"Storage" means the holding, including during transportation, of regulated medical waste.
"Surrogate waste load" means a load of noninfectious material used in validation test runs of treatment units that represents materials and packaging that would be found in the regulated medical waste stream to be treated by the facility.
"Transportation" or "transport" means the movement of regulated medical waste by air, rail, highway, or water.
"Transporter" means a person authorized in accordance with federal and state regulations and engaged in transportation or movement of regulated waste.
"Treatment" means any method, technology, or process designed to change the character or composition of any regulated medical waste so that it is inactivated and no longer constitutes a threat to public health and the environment. Treatment does not include compaction or disinfection.
"Treatment method" means a process including wet thermal sterilization (such as autoclaving) or dry thermal sterilization, chemical sterilization, combustion or incineration, and alternate technologies used to treat regulated medical waste.
"Thermochemical indicator" means a device (e.g., tape, paper strips, integrators, or small ampoules) that responds to the treatment process parameters in some measurable fashion, such as changing color or becoming striped when subjected to temperatures intended to provide sterilization of materials.
"Thermochemical recording device" means a device (e.g., thermocouple, wireless data loggers, or chemical monitoring probes) that reacts in response to one or more critical treatment parameters (such as temperature) and yields a quantifiable value that correlates to microbial lethality or predictable inactivation of microbial spore populations.
"Unauthorized waste" means waste that is not authorized by the department to be managed by [ a the ] regulated medical waste management facility. Examples are [ site-specific and ] dependent upon the treatment technology and permit but may include chemotherapeutic, pathological, pharmaceutical, radioactive, chemical, hazardous, or other wastes.
"Used health care product" means a medical, diagnostic, or research device or piece of equipment, or personal care product used by consumers, medical professionals, or pharmaceutical providers that does not otherwise meet the definition of patient specimen, biological product, or regulated medical waste, but is contaminated with potentially infectious body fluids or materials and is not decontaminated or disinfected to remove or mitigate the infectious hazard prior to transportation.
"Validation testing" means procedures conducted at the site of a regulated medical waste treatment facility prior to initial operation of a treatment system or device, the purpose of which is to demonstrate, through established operating parameters, the effective treatment of regulated medical waste.
"Vector" means a living animal, insect, or other arthropod that is capable of transmitting a pathogen or infectious disease from one organism to another.
"VPDES" means Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, the Virginia system for the issuance of permits pursuant to the Permit Regulation (9VAC25-31), the State Water Control Law (§ 62.1-44.2 et seq. of the Code of Virginia), and § 402 of the Clean Water Act (33 USC § 1251 et seq.).
"Waste management" means the entire process of managing waste from the point of generation to final disposition. For regulated medical waste, the process includes collection and segregation, characterization, classification, packaging, labeling, processing, staging, storing, decontamination, treatment, transportation, and disposal, as well as monitoring of waste management operations and sites to ensure that the management of these wastes is protective of human health and the environment.
"Waste management facility" means all contiguous land and structures, other appurtenances, and improvements on them used for treating, storing, or disposing of waste.
"Z-value" means the temperature change required for the D-value to change by 1 log (i.e., by a factor of 10) for a specific microbial population under specified treatment conditions.
The purpose of this chapter is to establish standards and procedures pertaining to regulated medical waste management in the Commonwealth of Virginia in order to protect the public health and public safety, and to enhance the environment and natural resources.
A. The Virginia Waste Management Board promulgates and enforces regulations that it deems necessary to protect the public health and safety, the environment, and natural resources.
B. The director is authorized and directed to administer this chapter in accordance with the Virginia Waste Management Act (§§ 10.1-1400 through 10.1-1457 of the Code of Virginia).
C. Nothing in this chapter shall limit or affect the power of the director, by the director's order, to prohibit storage, transfer, treatment, or disposal of any waste or require special handling requirements the director determines are necessary to protect the public health or the environment.
A. This chapter applies (i) to all persons who generate or transport, store, transfer, process, treat, dispose, or otherwise manage regulated medical waste; own or operate a regulated medical waste management facility; or allow a regulated medical waste management facility to be operated on their property in the Commonwealth of Virginia; and (ii) to those who seek approval to engage in these activities, except those specifically exempted or excluded elsewhere in this chapter. A "person" may include an individual, firm, company, corporation, partnership, association, state or federal government and any agency thereof, municipality, commission, political subdivision of a state, or any interstate body.
B. All existing regulated medical waste management facilities must comply with this chapter. Existing facilities, including those with an existing permit, must submit [ a complete updated ] permit application [ documents ] by [ (insert date months after the effective date of this regulation) September 15, 2024, ] to come into compliance with this chapter. [ If the updated application includes changes that result in a different type of facility as outlined in 9VAC20-121-300 C 2, a complete permit-by-rule application shall be required. Existing facilities that only make changes to come into compliance with the regulations shall submit the following updated documents, as applicable, in accordance with 9VAC20-121-310:
1. DEQ Form RMW PBR;
2. Disclosure statements (DEQ Form DISC-01 and DISC-02), if changes in key personnel;
3. Design and construction certification by a professional engineer, in accordance with 9VAC20-121 310 A 2 c;
4. Design plans in accordance with 9VAC20-121-310 A 2 d;
5. Facility standards certification and a copy of the Regulated Medical Waste Management Plan in accordance with 9VAC20-121-310 A 2 f;
6. Treatment Plan in accordance with 9VAC20-121-310 A 2 h and i, respectively;
7. Closure Plan and closure cost estimate, in accordance with 9VAC20-121-310 A 2 j and m;
8. Certification from the State Corporation Commission, in accordance with 9VAC20-121-310 A 2 l, if not previously provided; and
9. Applicable permit fee in accordance with 9VAC20-121-310 A 2 n. ]
A. No person shall operate any regulated medical waste management facility for the transfer, treatment, or disposal of regulated medical waste without a permit from the director.
B. No person shall allow regulated medical waste to be stored, disposed, or otherwise managed on the person's property except in accordance with this chapter.
C. It shall be the duty of all persons to manage their regulated medical waste in a legal manner. Untreated regulated medical waste, including its packaging, shall not be used, reused, or reclaimed.
D. No person shall:
1. Allow regulated medical waste to drain or discharge into surface waters except when treated onsite and discharged into surface water as authorized under a Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) Permit (9VAC25-31).
2. Cause the discharge of pollutants into waters of the United States, including wetlands, that violates any requirements of the Clean Water Act (33 USC § 1251 et seq.), including the VPDES requirements and Virginia Water Quality Standards (9VAC25-260).
3. Cause the discharge of a nonpoint source of pollution to waters of the United States, including wetlands, that violates any requirement of an area wide or statewide water quality management plan that has been approved under § 208 or 319 of the Clean Water Act (33 USC § 1251 et seq.) or violates any requirement of the Virginia Water Quality Standards (9VAC25-260).
4. Allow regulated medical waste to be deposited in or to enter any surface waters, groundwaters, or storm drains.
E. Any person who violates subsection A, B, C, or D of this section shall immediately cease the activity of improper management and shall initiate waste removal, cleanup, or closure.
A. All administrative enforcement and appeals taken from actions of the director relative to the provisions of this chapter shall be governed by the Virginia Administrative Process Act (§ 2.2-4000 et seq. of the Code of Virginia).
B. The Virginia Waste Management Board or the director may enforce the provisions of this chapter utilizing all applicable procedures under the law. The powers of the board and the director include those established under Chapter 11.1 (§ 10.1-1182 et seq. of the Code of Virginia); in Article 8 (§ 10.1-1455 et seq.) of Chapter 14 of Title 10.1 of the Code of Virginia; and particularly in § 10.1-1186 of the Code of Virginia. These sections describe the right of entry for inspections; the issuance of orders, penalties, injunctions; and other provisions and procedures for enforcement of this chapter.
A. All permits for regulated medical waste management facilities are subject to public participation, as specified in Part V (9VAC20-121-300 et seq.) of this chapter.
B. Modifications to regulated medical waste management facility permits shall be subject to public participation in accordance with Part V (9VAC20-121-300 et seq.) of this chapter.
C. Dockets of all permitting actions, enforcement actions, and administrative actions relative to this chapter shall be available to the public for review, consistent with the Virginia Administrative Process Act, Virginia Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700 of the Code of Virginia), and the provisions of this chapter.
D. Public participation in the compliance evaluation and enforcement programs is encouraged. The department will:
1. Investigate all citizen complaints and provide written responses to all signed, written complaints from citizens, concerning matters within the board's purview;
2. Not oppose intervention by any citizen in a suit brought before a court by the department as a result of the enforcement action; and
3. Provide notice on the department's [ internet ] website and provide at least 30 days of public comment on proposed settlements of civil enforcement actions, except where the settlement requires some immediate action. Where a public comment period is not held prior to the settlement of an enforcement action, public notice will still be provided following the settlement.
A. The Solid Waste Management Regulations (9VAC20-81) address other requirements for solid waste management. If there is a conflict between the provisions of this chapter and the solid waste management regulations, this chapter is controlling.
B. Regulated medical waste management facilities must also comply with any applicable sections of the Hazardous Waste Management Regulations (9VAC20-60). If there is a conflict between the provisions of this chapter and the hazardous waste management regulations, 9VAC20-60 is controlling.
C. Intrastate shipment of hazardous materials is subject to the Regulations Governing the Transportation of Hazardous Materials (9VAC20-110). If there is a conflict between the provisions of this chapter and the hazardous materials transportation regulations, 9VAC20-110 is controlling.
D. Generators of regulated medical waste and regulated medical waste management facilities may be subject to the general industry standard for occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens in 16VAC25-90-1910.1030 (29 CFR 1910.1030).
E. Persons transporting regulated medical waste are subject to the federal requirements in the U.S. Department of Transportation Hazardous Material Regulations at 49 CFR Parts 171 through 180.
F. Facilities managing select agents or toxins are subject to the Regulations for Disease Reporting and Control (12VAC5-90) as administered by the Virginia Department of Health. Facilities that possess, use, or transfer select agents or toxins are also subject to registration, reporting, inactivation, destruction, and compliance with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture's Federal Select Agent Program and the federal select agent regulations at 7 CFR Part 331, 9 CFR Part 121, and 42 CFR Part 73.
G. If there is a conflict between provisions of this chapter and adopted regulations of another agency of the Commonwealth, the provisions of these regulations are set aside to the extent necessary to allow compliance with the regulations of the other agency. If neither regulation controls, the more stringent standard applies.
H. Nothing in this chapter either precludes or enables a local governing body to adopt ordinances. Compliance with one body of regulation does not ensure compliance with the other, and normally, both bodies of regulation must be fully complied with.
I. The Financial Assurance Regulations for Solid Waste Disposal, Transfer, and Treatment Facilities (9VAC20-70) shall be applicable in all parts to regulated medical waste management facilities. Nothing in this chapter governing regulated medical waste management shall be considered to delete or alter any requirements of the department as set out in Financial Assurance Regulations for Solid Waste Facilities.
J. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 10 CFR, regulates management of radioactive materials. The Virginia Department of Health has established other requirements in accordance with Title 32.1 of the Code of Virginia. No regulated medical waste containing radioactive materials, regardless of amount or origin, shall be treated unless its management and treatment are in full compliance with these two bodies of regulations and are deemed by both regulations to represent no threat to public health and the environment.
A. A solid waste is a regulated medical waste subject to this chapter if it meets the criteria under subsection B of this section, unless specifically excluded or exempted by subsection C or D of this section. Claims that materials are not regulated medical wastes or are conditionally exempt from regulation shall demonstrate that the material meets the terms of an exemption. In doing so, appropriate documentation shall be provided to demonstrate that the material is not a regulated medical waste or is exempt from regulation.
B. A solid waste is a regulated medical waste if it meets either of the two criteria of this subsection:
1. The solid waste is suspected by the health care professional in charge of being capable of producing an infectious disease in humans. A solid waste shall be considered to be capable of producing an infectious disease if it has been or is likely to have been contaminated by an organism likely to be pathogenic to healthy humans, such organism is not routinely and freely available in the community, and if such organism has a significant probability of being present in sufficient quantities and with sufficient virulence to transmit disease. If the exact cause of a patient's illness is unknown, but the health care professional in charge suspects a contagious disease is the cause, the likelihood of pathogen transmission shall be assessed based on the pathogen suspected of being the cause of the illness.
2. The solid waste or solid waste stream is identified in the following list:
a. Discarded cultures, stocks, specimens, vaccines, and associated items likely to have been contaminated by them are regulated medical wastes if they are likely to contain organisms likely to be pathogenic to healthy humans. Wastes from the production of biologicals and antibiotics likely to have been contaminated by organisms likely to be pathogenic to healthy humans are regulated medical wastes;
b. Wastes consisting of human blood or body fluids, containers of human blood or body fluids, and items contaminated with human blood or body fluids are regulated medical waste. Human blood and body fluids solidified by absorbent gel, powder, or similar means are also regulated medical waste.
c. Human pathological and anatomical waste, including tissues, organs, body parts, and other pathological or anatomical wastes;
d. Sharps likely to be contaminated with [ organisms that are pathogenic to healthy humans, and all needles, scalpels, lancets, syringes with attached needles, suture needles, regardless of whether they have been used in patient care, are regulated medical wastes a pathogen or that may become contaminated with a pathogen through handling or during transportation and also capable of cutting or penetrating skin or a packaging material ]. This also includes sharps generated through veterinary practice, acupuncture needles, and household sharps collected in a sharps drop box;
e. When animals are intentionally infected with organisms likely to be pathogenic to healthy humans for the purposes of research, in vivo testing, production of biological materials, or any other reason, the animal carcasses, body parts, bedding material, and all other wastes likely to have been contaminated are regulated medical wastes when discarded, disposed of, or placed in storage;
f. Wastes that are contaminated with a Category A infectious substance are regulated medical waste that shall be managed in accordance with 9VAC20-121-160;
g. Any residue or contaminated soil, water, or other debris resulting from the cleanup of a spill of any regulated medical waste; and
h. Any solid waste contaminated by or mixed with regulated medical waste, including solid wastes that are packaged as regulated medical wastes.
C. The following materials are not solid wastes or regulated medical wastes:
1. Domestic sewage, including wastes that are not stored and are disposed of in a sanitary sewer system (with or without grinding).
2. Any mixture of domestic sewage and other wastes that pass through a sewer system to a wastewater treatment works permitted by the State Water Control Board or the Virginia Department of Health.
3. Sanitary waste from septic tanks (septage) and sewage holding tanks that is regulated by other state agencies.
4. Human remains when:
a. Under the control of a licensed physician or dentist, when the remains are being used or examined for medical purposes and are not solid wastes;
b. Provided to qualified educational programs as anatomical gifts;
c. Removed during a medical procedure and retained by the patient for religious or other purposes provided that the remains are not a source of disease transmission, as determined by a health care professional; [ and or ]
d. Properly interred in a cemetery or in preparation by a licensed funeral director or embalmer for such interment or cremation.
5. Individual human and animal cremains.
6. Dead or diseased animals subject to regulation by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
7. Bed linen, instruments, medical care equipment, and other materials that are routinely cleaned and reused for their original purpose are not subject to this chapter until they are discarded and are a solid waste unless a health care professional has determined these items to be to be capable of producing an infectious disease in humans in accordance with [ 9VAC20-121-90 subdivision ] B 1 [ of this section ]. These items do not include reusable carts or containers used in the management of regulated medical waste, which shall be managed in accordance with 9VAC20-121-130.
8. Used health care products and reusable medical devices, being returned to a manufacturer or third party for reprocessing (cleaning and disinfecting or sterilizing) and reuse if packaged and labeled in accordance with 49 CFR 173.134(b)(12)(ii)(A) through (D) and reprocessed in accordance with applicable U.S. Food and Drug Administration requirements. Used health care products and contaminated medical devices or equipment [ that meet either of the two criteria in subsection B of this section ] being sent offsite for recycling or disposal are regulated medical waste and shall be managed in accordance with this chapter. These items do not include reusable carts or containers used in the management of regulated medical waste, which shall be managed in accordance with 9VAC20-121-130.
9. The following items while in use: samples for laboratory tests, patient specimens, and criminal evidence items taken during enforcement procedures that meet the definition of regulated medical waste. Once these items are no longer needed for their intended purpose, they shall be managed as regulated medical waste unless exempt under [ 9VAC20-121-90 subsection ] D [ of this section ].
10. Tissue blocks of organs or tissues (except those associated with prions) that have been fixed in paraffin or similar embedding materials for cytological or histological examinations. Once these items are no longer needed for their intended purpose, they [ shall may ] be managed as solid waste.
D. The following solid wastes are not regulated medical wastes for purpose of this chapter:
1. Wastes that have been treated in accordance with this chapter are no longer regulated medical waste and may be used, reused, or reclaimed in accordance with the provisions of the Virginia Solid Waste Management Regulations (9VAC20-81), provided the following requirements are met:
a. Treated waste that was once regulated but is no longer regulated medical waste shall not be [ packaged repackaged ] as regulated medical waste. Solid waste [ packaged repackaged ] as regulated medical waste is regulated medical waste.
b. If the solid waste is no longer regulated medical waste because of treatment, the generator and the permitted treatment facility shall maintain a record of the treatment for three years after treatment. Generators treating regulated medical waste onsite shall maintain records in accordance with applicable provisions of Part V (9VAC20-121-300 et seq.) of this chapter. Generators shipping regulated medical waste offsite for treatment shall maintain records in accordance with 9VAC20-121-100 I.
c. The generator or proposed user of treated regulated medical waste may request that the department make a case-specific determination that the solid waste may be beneficially used in a manufacturing process to make a product or as an effective substitute for a commercial product. The requestor shall submit a beneficial use demonstration in accordance with the requirements of 9VAC20-81-97.
2. Household waste, including household sharps. Household sharps shall be placed in an opaque, leak proof, puncture resistant container that is closed, tightly sealed, and labeled for home use before being mixed with other solid wastes or disposed. Household sharps may be placed in U.S. Food and Drug Administration-cleared sharps containers if specifically designed and labeled for home use. Household sharps containers shall be labeled "HOUSEHOLD SHARPS – DO NOT RECYCLE" or "HOME GENERATED SHARPS – DO NOT RECYCLE" printed in large legible text and permanent ink. Household sharps centrally collected in a sharps drop box shall be managed as regulated medical waste in accordance with 9VAC20-121-300 E 1. Medical waste generated by a health care professional administering care in a household is regulated medical waste and must be managed in accordance with this chapter.
3. [ Toenail Nail ] and skin clippings, breast milk, sputum, semen, teeth, sweat, tears, urine, vomitus, or saliva, unless contaminated with visible blood or a health care professional has determined these items to be capable of producing an infectious disease in humans in accordance with [ 9VAC20-121-90 subdivision ] B 1 [ of this section ].
4. Dental amalgam managed in accordance with the Dental Rule (40 CFR Part 441).
5. Meat or other food items being discarded because of spoilage, contamination, or recall.
6. The following discarded items, when they are unused or expired: health care products, medical equipment, medical devices, [ unused sharps in the original packaging, ] or other materials, unless a health care professional has determined these items to be [ to be ] capable of producing an infectious disease in humans in accordance with [ 9VAC20-121-90 subdivision ] B 1 [ of this section ]. [ This does not apply to unused or expired sharps, which are a regulated medical waste in accordance with 9VAC20-121-90 B 2 d. ]
7. Used products for personal hygiene, such as diapers, facial tissues, underpads, adult incontinence products, sanitary napkins, and feminine hygiene items, unless a health care professional has determined these items to be capable of producing an infectious disease in humans in accordance with [ 9VAC20-121-90 subdivision ] B 1 [ of this section ].
8. The following discarded items when they are empty: urine collection bags and tubing, suction canisters and tubing, IV solution bags and tubing, colostomy bags, ileostomy bags, urostomy bags, plastic fluid containers, enteral feeding containers and tubing, hemovacs, urine bottles, and urine specimen cups, unless the items are subject to regulation under 16VAC25-90-1910.1030 (29 CFR 1910.1030) or a comparable state or federal standard.
9. The following discarded items: urinary catheters, suction catheters, plastic cannula, IV spikes, nasogastic tubes, oxygen tubing and cannula, ventilator tubing, enema bags and tubing, enema bottles, thermometer probe covers, irrigating feeding syringes, and bedpans or urinals, unless the items are subject to 16VAC25-90-1910.1030 (29 CFR 1910.1030) or a comparable state or federal standard.
10. Items such as bandages, gauze, or cotton swabs or other similar absorbent materials, unless at any time following use the items are saturated or would release human blood or human body fluids in a liquid or semiliquid state if compressed. Items that contain or that are caked with dried human blood or human body fluids and are capable of releasing these materials during handling are regulated medical waste. An item would be considered caked if it could release flakes or particles when handled.
11. Human blood and body fluids when solidified by absorbent gel, powder, or similar means as part of a spill cleanup at establishments engaged in operations other than health care or management of regulated medical waste. This category includes waste generated by stores, markets, office buildings, restaurants, businesses, schools, manufacturers, and commercial or industrial operations.
12. Waste generated from the care of an animal [ at a household or a farm ] when care is provided by the owner of the animal [ , such as at a household or farm ]. Waste generated [ by a veterinarian through veterinary practice that meets either of the two criteria of subsection B of this section ], such as sharps, must be managed as regulated medical waste.
13. Waste from cosmetology, ear and body piercing, nail salons, and tattoo establishments, except for sharps and unabsorbed human blood or body fluids.
14. Plant or animal wastes, such as bat guano, removed from construction or demolition projects when actions are taken to avoid worker exposure, including use of appropriate personal protective equipment, and the waste is managed in accordance with any applicable best management practice, special handling, and other precautions for processing or disposal.
15. Waste from food, drug, and cosmetics testing laboratories (except research laboratories) using microbiological methods for the detection of human infectious agents, microbial toxins, or chemical residuals as part of routine quality assurance testing of food, drugs, or cosmetic products.
16. Wastes regulated by the Virginia Department of Health, the State Water Control Board, the Air Pollution Control Board, Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Federal Drug Administration, U.S. Department of Agriculture, or any other state or federal agency with such authority.
A. Any person or facility handling, generating, storing, transporting, transferring, treating, or disposing of regulated medical waste shall comply with the general management requirements of this section.
B. [ Regulated All generators must identify and segregate regulated ] medical waste [ shall be identified and segregated ] from other waste, including radioactive waste, hazardous waste, and other solid waste, at the point of origin or as soon as practicable after generation. [ If When ] practical, [ the generator shall segregate ] regulated medical waste [ shall also be segregated ] based on the anticipated treatment method.
C. All generators must comply with the packaging, labeling, storage, reusable container, spill cleanup, transportation, and Category A waste management requirements for regulated medical waste outlined in Part III (9VAC20-121-100 et seq.) of this chapter, as applicable.
D. Anyone handling or packaging regulated medical waste and loading, unloading, or handling containers of regulated medical waste shall wear appropriate personal protective equipment in accordance with the standards for occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens in the general industry standard in 16VAC25-90-1910.1030 (29 CFR 1910.1030).
E. All regulated medical waste shall be handled in a manner that maintains the integrity of the packaging at all times, prevents damage, leakage, and spills and provides protection from the elements, vectors, and trespassers.
F. Trash chutes shall not be used to manage regulated medical waste. If slides, cart tippers, conveyors, or similar equipment are used to move regulated medical waste from the point of generation to storage areas, between containers, or to vehicles or treatment devices, the movement and impact shall be controlled to maintain the integrity of the regulated medical waste packaging and prevent damage, leaks, and spills. Waste shall not be thrown, dumped, walked upon, or handled in any other manner that could result in spills or releases of regulated medical waste or damage to the packaging.
G. Except in accordance with 9VAC20-121-240 B, regulated medical waste shall not be manually or mechanically compacted, compressed, or subjected to violent mechanical stress prior to treatment; however, after regulated medical waste is fully treated and is no longer regulated medical waste, it may be compacted in a closed container in a safe and sanitary manner.
H. All regulated medical waste generated shall either be treated onsite in accordance with Part IV (9VAC20-121-200 et seq.) of this chapter or packaged, labeled, and transported offsite to a facility permitted to receive the waste for transfer, treatment, or disposal.
I. Generators of regulated medical waste are subject to the following recordkeeping requirements:
a. The generator shall maintain all records of onsite treatment or shipment offsite for a minimum of three years following treatment or shipment. All records shall be available for review by the department upon request.
b. Generators treating regulated medical waste onsite, regulated medical waste transfer stations, and all other regulated medical waste treatment or disposal facilities shall maintain records in accordance with applicable provisions of Part V (9VAC20-121-300 et seq.) of this chapter.
c. Generators shipping regulated medical waste offsite for transfer, treatment, or disposal shall maintain records, including copies of all shipping papers, specifying the date of shipment, amount of waste removed from the site, and the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of the transporter and the destination facility receiving the shipment for treatment or disposal.
d. If regulated medical waste is received from offsite, records shall be maintained for three years following receipt of the waste and shall include the date of receipt, name of each offsite generator (except for generators of household sharps using sharps drop boxes), amount of waste received, and dates of subsequent treatment or shipment offsite.
A. All regulated medical waste shall be appropriately packaged, labeled, and managed as required by this section.
B. The generator of regulated medical waste is responsible for the packaging and labeling of regulated medical waste. Contractors or other agents may provide services to the generator, including packaging and labeling of regulated medical waste; however, no contract or other relationship shall relieve the generator of the responsibility for packaging and labeling the regulated medical waste as required by this chapter.
C. No person shall receive for transportation, transfer, storage, or treatment any regulated medical waste that is not packaged and labeled in accordance with this chapter. Contractors or other agents may package or label regulated medical wastes to comply with this chapter, so long as the packaging and labeling is performed onsite where the regulated medical waste was generated and no transportation, storage, treatment, or disposal occurs prior to the packaging. Nothing in this section shall prevent the proper repackaging and further transportation of regulated medical waste that has spilled during transportation. [ l ]
D. All regulated medical waste shall be packaged and labeled onsite prior to storage, treatment, transport, or other management and at a minimum must conform with the following:
1. When regulated medical wastes are first discarded, they shall be placed directly in bags or containers meeting the requirements of the standards for occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens in the general industry standard in 16VAC25-90-1910.1030 (29 CFR 1910.1030). The general industry standard requires the packaging to be closable, constructed to contain all contents and prevent leakage of fluids, labeled, and closed prior to removal. Red bags shall be used for the packaging of all regulated medical waste except as provided in subdivision 2 of this subsection.
2. Sharps shall be placed directly in puncture resistant containers as required by the general industry standards in 16VAC25-90-1910.1030(d)(4)(iii)(A). Sharps containers must not be filled beyond the fill line indicated on the container.
3. Waste packages must not be overfilled. As a bag or container becomes full at the point of generation, and prior to moving, it shall be closed, capped, or sealed so that no waste materials can leak, spill, or protrude during handling, storage, or transport.
4. Once closed, capped, and sealed, bags and containers of regulated medical waste shall not be opened, unsealed, unpackaged, or repackaged. If damage, spills, or outside contamination of the regulated medical waste packaging occurs, the bag or container shall be placed in a secondary packaging that meets all requirements of this subsection.
5. All regulated medical waste packaging shall be labeled. The label shall be securely attached to or printed on packaging. The label may be a tag or sticker securely affixed to the package. Permanent ink shall be used to complete the information on the label. The label and the information provided on the label must be clearly legible. The following information shall be included:
a. The name, address, and business telephone number of the generator. For hospitals, the label shall identify the specific department or lab where the waste originated;
b. The words "Regulated Medical Waste," "Biohazard," or "Infectious Waste" in large print; and
c. The universal biohazard symbol.
E. When regulated medical waste is conveyed in reusable carts or containers, the waste in the cart or container shall be packaged and labeled in accordance with this section.
F. When not being filled and prior to moving, wheeled carts and other items used to move regulated medical waste shall be secured, locked, or sealed so that no waste materials can leak and labeled with the universal biohazard symbol or color-coded red to indicate that the contents contain regulated medical waste.
G. Wheeled carts and roll-off containers shall not be used for the holding of liquids, sharps, animal carcasses or body parts, and human anatomical waste, including tissues, organs, or body parts, unless the regulated medical waste is:
1. Properly contained in rigid containers capable of retaining liquids with enough absorbent material to absorb all liquid present, and
2. Separated from other types of regulated medical waste by a leak-proof rigid barrier, divider, or separate compartment.
H. Prior to transporting regulated medical waste offsite for treatment, transfer, or disposal, waste shall be packaged and labeled for transportation in accordance with the standards of 49 CFR Part 173 of the U.S. Department of Transportation Hazardous Materials Regulations or packaged in accordance with an exemption approved by the U.S. Department of Transportation.
A. The requirements of this section apply to storage of regulated medical waste, including storage (i) in soiled utility rooms and other accumulation areas; (ii) at a generating facility; (iii) during transportation; (iv) at a regulated medical waste transfer stations; and (v) at a regulated medical waste treatment or disposal facility. This section also applies to areas used to transfer a load of regulated medical waste from one vehicle to another or when a vehicle containing regulated medical waste is parked for 24 hours or more during transportation.
B. All regulated medical waste shall be stored in a manner that:
1. Maintains the integrity of the packaging at all times, prevents damage, leakage, and spills and provides protection from the elements, vectors, and trespassers;
2. Maintains the packaging in an upright and stable configuration to minimize the potential for spills. If packages or containers are stacked, except during transport, the top of the stacked containers must not be more than six feet above the level of the floor. The integrity of the containers must not be compromised by the stacking arrangement;
3. Is clean and orderly and located in areas free of standing liquid and debris;
4. Provides security from unauthorized access and protects workers and the general public. Regulated medical waste shall be stored in areas where access is limited to only those persons specifically designated to manage regulated medical waste;
5. Meets the packaging and labeling requirements of 9VAC20-121-110; and
6. Meets the requirements of 9VAC20-121-130 when regulated medical waste is stored in reusable carts or containers.
C. Regulated medical waste transfer stations, treatment facilities, and generators of 250 gallons or more of regulated medical waste per calendar month are subject to the following storage requirements:
1. All regulated medical waste shall be stored on surfaces that are cleanable and impermeable to liquids. Carpets and floor coverings with cracks or gaps shall not be used in storage areas. Where tile floors are used and seams are present in the tile, the floor must be sealed with wax or other floor coatings in order to meet this requirement.
2. In areas used to store regulated medical waste, all floor drains shall discharge directly to an approved sanitary sewer system, and all ventilation shall discharge so as to minimize human exposure to the waste.
3. Signage shall be displayed to indicate any areas used to store regulated medical waste.
D. All regulated medical waste shall be stored in accordance with the following timeframes:
1. Generators of less than 250 gallons of regulated medical waste per calendar month shall arrange for the removal of all regulated medical waste stored onsite at least once per calendar month and provide shipment to a facility permitted to receive it for transfer, treatment, or disposal. No regulated medical waste shall be stored onsite for more than 45 calendar days, and no more than 250 gallons of regulated medical waste shall be stored onsite at any given time. Records shall be maintained in accordance with 9VAC20-121-100 I.
2. Generators of 250 gallons or more of regulated medical waste per calendar month shall arrange for the removal of all regulated medical waste stored onsite at least once per calendar week and provide shipment to a facility permitted to receive it for transfer, treatment, or disposal. No regulated medical waste shall be stored onsite for more than 10 calendar days. Records shall be maintained in accordance with 9VAC20-121-100 I.
3. Regulated medical waste treatment facilities shall provide treatment or removal of all regulated medical waste stored onsite on at least a weekly basis. No regulated medical waste shall be stored onsite for more than 10 calendar days. Records shall be maintained in accordance with 9VAC20-121-340 [ , as applicable ].
4. Regulated medical waste transfer stations shall store unrefrigerated regulated medical waste onsite for no more than seven calendar days. All regulated medical waste stored for more than seven calendar days must be refrigerated and stored in an ambient temperature between 35°F and 45°F (2°C and 7°C). No regulated medical waste shall be stored onsite for more than a total of 15 calendar days. Records shall be maintained in accordance with 9VAC20-121-340 [ , as applicable ].
5. Regulated medical waste transfer stations and treatment facilities shall clearly demonstrate the length of time that regulated medical waste is accumulated onsite by marking the outer packaging in permanent ink or maintaining an inventory, barcode, [ log, ] or other recordkeeping system.
E. Except in accordance with a permit:
1. No more than 25% of the regulated medical waste stored onsite each month shall be generated or received from offsite, except for emergency cleanups conducted in accordance with 9VAC20-121-300 E 5 and household sharps collected at sharps drop boxes in accordance with 9VAC20-121-300 E 1;
2. Regulated medical waste shall not be treated onsite; and
3. Regulated medical waste that is stored on a loading dock or in areas designated for loading shall be packaged, marked, and labeled for transport and shall not be stored in loading areas for more than 24 hours.
A. The requirements of this section shall be implemented whenever regulated medical waste is conveyed in reusable carts or containers.
B. The waste in the cart or container shall be packaged and labeled in accordance with 9VAC20-121-110.
C. Reusable carts and containers must be constructed of smooth, easily cleanable materials that are impervious to liquids and made of materials designed to withstand exposure to hot water or chemical disinfectants. A plastic bag shall not be reused.
D. Use of reusable carts and containers and any automated or mechanical cleaning and disinfection systems shall maintain the integrity of the packaging at all times, prevent damage, leakage, and spills and provide protection from the elements, vectors, and trespassers.
E. Persons cleaning and disinfecting reusable carts and containers shall wear appropriate personal protective equipment.
F. Immediately following each time a container is emptied and prior to being reused, all reusable carts and containers, including reusable suction canisters and fluid carts that receive blood, shall be both thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. Cleaning shall be conducted with detergent and water using an agitation method or by pressure and movement to remove all waste and visible contamination from all inner and outer surfaces of the container. At least one of the following methods shall be used for disinfection:
1. Utilizing an EPA-registered general or broad-spectrum disinfectant following manufacturer's label instructions;
2. Exposure to heated rinse water at a minimum of 180°F (82°C) and a maximum 195°F (90°C) for a minimum of 15 seconds, or until the surface reaches a temperature of 160°F (71°C); or
3. Immersion in or rinsing with, one of the following chemical sanitizers for a minimum of three minutes:
a. Hypochlorite solution (500 ppm available chlorine);
b. Phenolic solution (500 ppm active agent);
c. Iodophor solution (100 ppm available iodine);
d. Quaternary ammonium solution (400 ppm active agent); or
e. Other organic, plant-based, or nonchemical disinfectant registered by EPA.
G. All wash water from cleaning and disinfection shall be contained and discharged directly to an approved sanitary sewer system.
H. Reusable carts and containers shall not be reused if there are cracks, holes, damage, or other defects, including to a lid or locking mechanism or if contamination or waste residuals are present.
I. Reusable carts or containers used for the holding or storage of regulated medical waste shall not be used for any other purpose.
J. When reusable carts or containers containing regulated medical waste are used for offsite transport, all aspects of the cart or container management shall comply with federal Department of Transportation Hazardous Material Regulations, 49 CFR Parts 171 through 180, as applicable.
K. Reusable carts or containers that are damaged, defective, or ready to be discarded shall not be disposed of as solid waste unless they are cleaned and disinfected in accordance with this section, and all regulated medical waste labeling is removed or covered, prior to disposal. Containers unable to be cleaned and disinfected must be treated as regulated medical waste.
A. Any person or facility handling, generating, storing, transporting, transferring, treating, or disposing of regulated medical waste shall immediately address all spills of regulated medical waste, incidents or emergencies, maintenance events, and nonconformances that could have an impact on the management of regulated medical waste at the facility.
B. Anyone handling regulated medical waste shall maintain a spill containment and cleanup kit onsite within the vicinity of any area where regulated medical waste is managed, and the location of the kit shall provide for rapid and efficient cleanup of spills anywhere within the area. All vehicles transporting regulated medical wastes are required to carry a spill containment and clean up kit in the vehicle whenever regulated medical wastes are conveyed. A spill containment and cleanup kit shall consist of at least the following items:
1. Material designed to absorb spilled liquids, and the amount of absorbent material shall be that having a capacity, as rated by the manufacturer, of one gallon of liquid for every cubic foot of regulated medical waste that is normally managed in the area for which the kit is provided or 10 gallons, whichever is less;
2. In a sprayer capable of dispersing its charge in a mist and a stream at a distance, at least one gallon of an EPA-registered hospital grade disinfectant effective against mycobacteria, unless it can be demonstrated that an alternate EPA-registered disinfectant is protective of human health and the environment and is appropriate for the type of regulated medical waste managed and surfaces being disinfected;
3. Enough red plastic bags to double enclose at least 150% of the maximum load managed (up to a maximum of 500 bags) that meet the applicable requirements of 49 CFR Part 173, including the ASTM 125 pound drop test for filled bags (D959) or an exemption approved by the U.S. Department of Transportation and are accompanied by seals and labels. These bags shall be large enough to overpack any box or container normally used for regulated medical waste management by that generator, handler, or facility;
4. Appropriate personal protective equipment, such as puncture and leak resistant gloves, safety glasses or face shield, protective coveralls or bib, protective footwear, and mask or respiratory protection as needed; and
5. For vehicles only, a first aid kit, fire extinguisher, boundary marking tape, lights, and other appropriate safety equipment.
C. Following any spill or release of regulated medical waste or its discovery, the following procedures shall be implemented:
1. Take appropriate precautions to ensure personnel do not come into contact with any contaminants by wearing appropriate personal protective equipment.
2. Repackage spilled regulated medical waste in accordance with the packaging requirements in 9VAC20-121-110.
3. Transport any regulated medical waste by a transporter that meets the requirements of 9VAC20-121-150.
4. Clean and disinfect all areas and materials having been contacted by regulated medical waste using an EPA-registered hospital grade disinfectant effective against mycobacteria in accordance with manufacturer's label instructions, unless it can be demonstrated that an alternate EPA-registered disinfectant is protective of human health and the environment and is appropriate for the type of regulated medical waste managed and surfaces being disinfected.
5. Take necessary steps to replenish the spill containment and cleanup kit.
A. The requirements of this section apply to the transportation of regulated medical waste including by intermediate transporters and generators who transport their own waste offsite.
B. All transporters of regulated medical waste must comply with the general handling requirements in 9VAC20-121-100.
C. Regulated medical waste shall be transported in accordance with the applicable requirements for shipping papers, packaging, labeling, marking and vehicle placarding in accordance with the U.S. Department of Transportation Hazardous Materials Regulations, 49 CFR Parts 171 through 180. No person shall transport or receive for transport any regulated medical waste that is not packaged and labeled fully in accordance with the U.S. Department of Transportation Hazardous Materials Regulations. Reusable carts or containers used to transport regulated medical waste shall meet the requirements of the U.S. Department of Transportation Hazardous Materials Regulations and must be sealed, puncture resistant, and leak proof.
D. Transportation of regulated medical waste shall maintain the packaging in an upright and stable configuration to minimize the potential for spills. The integrity of the containers must not be compromised by the stacking arrangement.
E. All vehicles and equipment used in the transportation of regulated medical waste must have access control that limits access to those persons specifically designated to manage regulated medical waste, and the cargo carrying body must be secured except when loading and unloading.
F. Surfaces of vehicles and equipment used to transport regulated medical waste must be clean and impermeable to liquids if those areas are involved with the management of the waste. Carpets and floor coverings with cracks or gaps shall not be used. Vehicles used to transport regulated medical waste shall be clean and maintained in an orderly condition, free of standing liquid and debris, in those areas involved with the management of the waste.
G. Storage, transport, and transfer to, from, and between vehicles and equipment shall be under a cover or packaged in a container that protects the waste from the elements and over a floor or bermed pavement that will contain leaks and spills of liquid from the waste. All effluent, wash water, and other runoff shall discharge directly to or through a holding tank to an approved sanitary sewer system. A cover, floor, or pavement is not required if the activity is transient in nature, such as in the case of spill cleanup or collection of waste packages from professional offices for transport.
H. All vehicles transporting regulated medical waste must carry a spill containment and cleanup kit in the vehicle as specified in 9VAC20-121-140 B, whenever regulated medical wastes are conveyed. Following a spill of regulated medical waste or its discovery, the procedures specified in 9VAC20-121-140 C shall be implemented.
I. Any vehicle parked 24 hours or more during transport will be considered a regulated medical waste transfer station subject to the requirements of Part IV (9VAC20-121-200 et seq.) of this chapter. Unless exempt under 9VAC20-121-300 E, no storage during transport will be allowed without a permit issued in accordance with the procedures in Part V (9VAC20-121-300 et seq.) of this chapter.
J. All vehicles and equipment used to transport regulated medical waste must be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected before being used for any other purpose and prior to any transfer of ownership. Disinfection shall include using an EPA-registered hospital grade disinfectant effective against mycobacteria in accordance with manufacturer's label instructions, unless it can be demonstrated that an alternate EPA-registered disinfectant is protective of human health and the environment and is appropriate for the type of regulated medical waste managed and surfaces being disinfected. Any areas of vehicles or equipment that are visibly contaminated, or that become contaminated as a result of a spill, must be immediately decontaminated in accordance with 9VAC20-121-140.
K. Transport of regulated medical waste by the United States Postal Services that fully complies with 39 CFR 111 shall be considered to be transportation in compliance with this chapter if:
1. The generator maintains a complete and legible copy of the manifest or mail disposal service shipping record for a period of three years. Disposer's certification and other tracking items must be completed and shown on the copy;
2. The addressee is a facility permitted by all the appropriate agencies of the Commonwealth or the host state; and
3. No package shall be more than 35 pounds by weight.
L. Category A waste shall be managed in accordance with the requirements of 9VAC20-121-160.
A. Category A waste shall be managed in accordance with the requirements of this section.
B. Overarching Planning Considerations and Waste Generator Information and Responsibilities for Category A waste are specified in Sections 3 and 5 of Managing Solid Waste Contaminated with a Category A Infectious Substance. In addition to the general management requirements for regulated medical waste in Part III (9VAC20-121-100 et seq.), all Category A waste shall be handled in accordance with the following additional requirements:
1. Every effort shall be made to minimize the amount of Category A waste generated. Category A waste shall be physically separated, if practical, from other types of waste at the point of origin. When other types of regulated medical waste are mixed with Category A waste, the mixture shall be managed as Category A waste. Category A wastes not suitable for conventional treatment methods, such as batteries, electronics, and oxygen cylinders, shall be segregated from other waste at the point of generation for special handling.
2. All handling, storage, transfer, and treatment of Category A waste must be conducted in areas with cleanable and impermeable surfaces. Carpets and floor coverings with cracks or gaps shall not be used. Where tile floors are used and seams are present in the tile, the floor must be sealed with wax or other floor coatings in order to meet this requirement.
3. Equipment and handling techniques that could potentially cause bioaerosols, such as cart tipping, slides, conveyors, and mechanical cleaning or disinfection systems, shall not be used for Category A waste unless the movement and impact is controlled to maintain the integrity of the packaging, prevent exposure to the waste, and any aerosol, bioaerosol, or mist caused by the process is collected and treated or filtered.
4. Category A waste shall not be conveyed in reusable carts or containers unless the containers are subsequently cleaned and disinfected in accordance with 9VAC20-121-130 using an EPA-registered disinfectant appropriate for the type of Category A waste managed and materials being disinfected.
5. All spills of Category A waste shall be cleaned and disinfected in accordance with 9VAC20-121-140 using an EPA-registered disinfectant appropriate for the type of Category A waste managed and materials being disinfected.
6. Category A waste shall be stored in accordance with the requirements of 9VAC20-121-120 B and C. Packages or containers of Category A waste shall not be stacked.
7. A generator storing 250 gallons or more of Category A waste shall notify the department within 24 hours of exceeding 250 gallons. At least once per calendar week, accumulated Category A waste shall be treated onsite in accordance with this section or shipped offsite to a facility permitted to receive it for treatment or disposal. No Category A waste shall be stored onsite for more than 10 calendar days unless an extended storage timeframe is approved by the department. Records shall be maintained in accordance with 9VAC20-121-100 I.
8. The regulated medical waste transfer station or treatment facility shall notify DEQ of receipt of any Category A waste in accordance with 9VAC20-121-340.
C. Waste Transporter Information and Responsibilities for Category A waste are specified in Section 6 of Managing Solid Waste Contaminated with a Category A Infectious Substance. Packaging and labeling of Category A waste for transport must comply with the more stringent packaging standards of 49 CFR Parts 171 through 180 of the HMR, or may require a [ DOT Department of Transportation ] special permit for an exception to the HMR requirements to allow for alternative packaging to accommodate the waste.
D. Waste Treatment Information and Responsibilities for Category A waste are specified in Section 7 of Managing Solid Waste Contaminated with a Category A Infectious Substance. In addition to the general treatment requirements for regulated medical waste in Part IV (9VAC20-121-200 et seq.), all Category A waste shall be treated in accordance with the following additional requirements:
1. A facility shall only receive Category A waste for processing or treatment upon specific approval from the director or by specific provisions within the facility's permit.
2. Prior to treatment of any Category A waste, the facility shall notify DEQ and conduct additional validation testing in accordance with 9VAC20-121-260 and an approved treatment plan that is specific to the Category A waste stream and packaging types that will be received.
3. The treatment method and operating parameters shall be appropriate and effective for the type of Category A waste being managed. Treatment units that employ a mechanical process, such as grinding or shredding, prior to treatment or integral to the treatment unit, may not be appropriate for Category A waste streams. The facility shall demonstrate that the process prevents employee exposure to the waste; contains any aerosol, bioaerosol, or mist caused by the process; and treats or filters any air evacuated from the chamber during processing.
4. The facility shall not receive or treat Category A waste until the department has reviewed and approved the validation results, operating parameters, and protocols to be used for the treatment unit.
5. Treatment of Category A waste shall only be in accordance with the operating parameters and protocols approved by the department.
6. Challenge testing shall be performed and documented for every load containing Category A waste. The facility may request an alternate challenge test frequency once a high level of confidence is established that the Category A waste is being effectively treated.
7. The owner or operator shall provide a certification that the regulated medical waste management plan demonstrates protocols specific to the Category A waste stream to be treated and meets all additional standards of Part III (9VAC20-121-100 et seq.) and Part IV (9VAC20-121-200 et seq.), as applicable, in accordance with 9VAC20-121-330. The plan shall specify if and how management protocols for Category A waste differ from existing protocols for routinely received regulated medical waste, including how treated wastes will be disposed. The certification shall also include a statement that the emergency contingency plan has been provided to the local police and fire departments, local emergency manager, and local emergency health coordinator.
E. Final Disposal Information and Responsibilities for Category A waste are specified in Section 8 of Managing Solid Waste Contaminated with a Category A Infectious Substance. Category A waste shall be disposed of in accordance with the following requirements:
1. Category A waste that has been treated in accordance with the special requirements of this section is no longer Category A waste or regulated medical waste. Category A waste treated in accordance with this section is solid waste and shall be disposed of at a permitted solid waste disposal facility, provided the disposal is in accordance with the Solid Waste Management Regulations (9VAC20-81) and the facility's permit.
2. Category A waste not treated in accordance with this chapter shall not be transported to, received for transport, or disposal by, or disposed of in, any solid waste management facility.
A. Any person who designs, constructs, or operates any regulated medical waste transfer station or treatment facility not otherwise exempt under 9VAC20-121-300 E shall obtain a permit-by-rule pursuant to this chapter prior to operation and comply with the requirements of this part. Further, all applications pursuant to this chapter shall demonstrate specific means proposed for compliance with requirements set forth in this part.
B. All facilities, except exempted facilities, shall be maintained and operated in accordance with the permit-by-rule status pursuant to this chapter. All facilities shall be maintained and operated in accordance with the approved design and intended use of the facility.
C. Hazardous wastes shall not be managed or disposed in facilities subject to this regulation unless specifically authorized by the facility permit or the director and managed in accordance with 9VAC20-60. Any material from a state other than Virginia that is classified as a hazardous waste in that state shall be managed as hazardous waste in accordance with 9VAC20-60.
A. The siting of all regulated medical waste transfer stations or treatment facilities shall be governed by the standards as set forth in this section. These facilities shall:
1. Be adjacent to or have direct access to roads that are paved or surfaced and capable of withstanding anticipated load limits;
2. Not be sited or constructed in areas subject to base floods;
3. Shall not be closer than:
a. 50 feet to any property boundary;
b. 50 feet to any perennial stream or river;
c. 200 feet to any residence or recreational park area; or
d. 200 feet to any health care facility, school, or similar type public institution, unless the facility is located at the health care facility, school, or similar type public institution.
B. The site of a regulated medical waste transfer station or treatment facility shall provide room to minimize traffic congestion and allow for safe management of regulated medical waste and safe operation of the facility.
A. The design and construction of all regulated medical waste transfer stations or treatment facilities shall be governed by the standards as set forth in this section. These facilities shall have:
1. An access road suitable for loaded collection vehicles in all weather conditions from the entrance to the unloading or receiving area of the facility.
2. Onsite queuing capacity for the expected traffic so that the waiting collection vehicles do not back up onto the public road.
3. Unloading and loading areas of an adequate size and design to facilitate efficient transfer of regulated medical waste to and from collection vehicles and the unobstructed movement of vehicles.
4. Access controls such as perimeter security fencing, gates, locks, badge systems, or other controls to limit access to areas used to store, transfer, or treat regulated medical waste to only those persons specifically designated to manage regulated medical waste.
5. Adequate lighting so that operating personnel can exercise site control. Lighting may be provided by portable equipment as necessary.
6. Covered areas with cleanable and impermeable surfaces for handling, storage, transfer, and treatment of regulated medical waste and the cleaning and disinfection of reusable containers. These areas shall not be carpeted or have floor coverings with cracks or gaps. Where tile floors are used and seams are present in the tile, the floor must be sealed with wax or other floor coatings in order to meet this requirement.
7. Bermed pavement, a liquid retaining lip, or equivalent controls at loading docks and near rolling or bay doors to contain potential leaks and spills of regulated medical waste or other liquids.
8. Floors sloped or graded to drain such that all effluent, wash water, and other runoff from storage and processing areas, treatment equipment, waste compactors, and reusable container cleaning and disinfection areas is contained and discharged directly to an approved sanitary sewer system.
9. Ventilation that discharges to minimize human exposure to the waste.
10. A water supply shall be provided for cleaning purposes.
11. Fire alarm and protection systems capable of detecting, controlling, and extinguishing any and all fires.
12. Fixed radiation detectors in a location as close as practicable to the incoming waste loads and in an appropriate geometry to monitor all waste prior to storage, transfer, or treatment. A fixed radiation detector is not required at captive regulated medical waste management facility if the facility demonstrates that there is no potential for generation or management of radioactive materials or wastes. Demonstration shall include a certification that there is no radiation producing equipment or material onsite.
B. Effluent, wash water, and other runoff from the facility shall not be permitted to drain or discharge into surface waters except when authorized under a VPDES permit issued pursuant to 9VAC25-31.
C. Slides, cart tippers, conveyors, and similar equipment used to move regulated medical waste must be designed and constructed such that the movement and impact is controlled to maintain the integrity of the packaging at all times and prevent damage, leakage, and spills. Trash chutes shall not be used to manage regulated medical waste.
D. Any areas used for the storage of regulated medical waste shall be designed in accordance with 9VAC20-121-120 and have sufficient storage capacity for the maximum anticipated storage amount based on the amount of daily incoming waste and maximum length of time in storage.
E. All facilities that manage reusable containers or carts for regulated medical waste shall have designated areas for manual or mechanical cleaning and disinfection that comply with the requirements of 9VAC20-121-130.
A. The operation of regulated medical waste transfer stations or treatment facilities shall be governed by the standards as set forth in this section.
B. The regulated medical waste transfer station or treatment facility shall maintain and operate in accordance with a regulated medical waste management plan that meets all requirements of 9VAC20-121-330. This plan shall be reviewed and recertified annually, within one year from the date of the last certification, to ensure consistency with current operations and regulatory requirements, and shall be made available for review by the department upon request. If the applicable standards of this chapter and the facility's operations plan conflict, this chapter shall take precedence.
C. The facility must operate to comply with the general handling requirements of 9VAC20-121-100.
D. All regulated medical waste shall be packaged, labeled in accordance with 9VAC20-121-110 and managed in accordance with the storage conditions and timeframes required by 9VAC20-121-120. The facility shall employ methods to track and document specific incoming waste throughout the duration of storage, treatment or transfer, and shipment offsite.
E. All facilities that manage reusable carts or containers for regulated medical waste shall comply with the requirements of 9VAC20-121-130 and maintain onsite an adequate water supply and sufficient quantity of detergent and EPA-registered disinfectant or other approved materials, as applicable.
F. Except for reusable containers authorized by the department to be opened, regulated medical waste containers must not be opened or unpackaged unless approved as part of the consolidation or treatment process.
G. The facility shall immediately address all spills of regulated medical waste, incidents or emergencies, maintenance events, and nonconformances that could have an impact on the management of regulated medical waste. Spill containment and cleanup kits shall be maintained as required by 9VAC20-121-140 B, and immediately following a spill of regulated medical waste or its discovery, the procedures specified in 9VAC20-121-140 C shall be implemented.
H. Damaged or leaking packages of regulated medical waste shall either be properly repackaged prior to storage and subsequent shipment offsite or contained and treated onsite within 24 hours if the facility is permitted for treatment operations.
I. Transportation of regulated medical waste is subject to the requirements of 9VAC20-121-150.
J. Waste must not be accepted unless it is allowed in accordance with the permit-by-rule issued and the regulated medical waste management plan and there is sufficient storage, transfer, or treatment capacity. The amount of regulated medical waste received and stored at the facility shall not exceed the permit process rate and designed storage capacity.
K. Regulated medical waste transfer stations and treatment facilities regulated under this part shall implement an unauthorized waste control program in accordance with their written plan as required by 9VAC20-121-330 and the following provisions:
1. Prior to managing regulated medical waste or using process equipment, and at least annually, within one year from the date of the last training, the facility shall provide training to staff to recognize, segregate, properly manage, document, and report receipt of waste not authorized to be managed by the facility's permit.
2. If unauthorized waste is observed in the waste delivered to the facility prior to unloading, the owner or operator must refuse to accept the waste.
3. If the unauthorized waste is observed in the waste at the facility or delivered to the facility, the owner or operator shall segregate it, notify the generator (if applicable), document the incident in the operating record, make necessary arrangements to have the material managed in accordance with applicable federal and state laws, and notify the department of the incident to include the means of proper handling, in accordance with the reporting procedures of 9VAC20-121-340.
4. Any unauthorized waste accepted by the owner or operator shall be managed in accordance with applicable federal or state laws and regulations. The facility must carefully store the waste in a designated storage area within the facility separate from untreated regulated medical waste and treated regulated medical waste. Unauthorized waste that has been segregated and stored shall be adequately secured and contained to prevent leakage or contamination to the environment. The facility shall have the unauthorized waste removed or properly managed [ as soon as practicable, but ] no later than 10 calendar days after discovery [ or unless ] an alternate timeframe [ as up to 30 days is ] approved by the department [ for certain waste types ]. Handling and management of the unauthorized waste, including segregation, removal, and transportation, shall be by a person authorized to manage such waste and shall be transferred, treated, or disposed of at a permitted waste management facility approved to receive it.
5. The facility must maintain a record of all unauthorized waste accepted at the facility, the date accepted, the type of waste, date of transfer, treatment, or disposal, management method, and the name, address, and telephone number of the final treatment or disposal facility.
L. Radiation detection equipment shall be operated and maintained in a manner that ensures all incoming waste is screened and the measurements are meaningful and fulfill the objectives for detecting radiologically contaminated waste. If fixed radiation detectors become inoperable, repairs shall be made as soon as practicable, and appropriate portable equipment shall be used to screen incoming waste loads until the equipment is repaired.
M. Untreated waste, radioactive waste, hazardous waste, and any unauthorized waste must be segregated and stored in clearly identified containers. Category A waste shall be managed in accordance with the requirements of 9VAC20-121-160.
N. The facility shall be operated to maintain the design and construction standards as required by 9VAC20-121-220.
O. All areas used to transfer or treat regulated medical waste shall have prominent signage or markings displayed on the door or access point to indicate that the space is used to manage regulated medical waste, and those areas shall be secured to prevent unauthorized access.
P. Floors and areas used for the handling, tipping, storage, transfer, or treatment of regulated medical waste and reusable container cleaning must be kept clean, in an orderly condition, and free of standing liquid and debris.
Q. Effluent, wash water, and other runoff from facility floors, storage and processing areas, treatment equipment, waste compactors, and reusable container cleaning and disinfection areas shall be contained and discharged directly to an approved sanitary sewer system. Effluent, wash water, and other runoff from the facility shall not be permitted to drain or discharge into surface waters except when authorized under a VPDES permit issued pursuant to 9VAC25-31.
R. All infrastructure and equipment shall be properly maintained and operated as designed and approved in the facility's permit. Facility maintenance must include annual calibrations of parametric controls, including recording devices and temperature and pressure gauges; overall cleaning (the facility, vehicles, and processing systems); servicing of exhaust lines and drains; ensuring the proper functioning of pressure and safety valves, and water, steam, disinfectant and electrical lines; replacing gaskets as needed to ensure a complete seal at all times; ensuring floor drains are maintained such that liquid is free-draining at all times; and maintaining proper functioning of mechanical waste handling systems, conveyors and shredders, HEPA, and other ventilation and filtration devices, and radiation monitoring devices, as applicable.
S. Adequate numbers and types of properly maintained equipment shall be available for operation. Provision shall be made for substitute equipment to be available, except for treatment units which must be approved by the department, or the emergency contingency plan implemented to achieve compliance with this chapter, as applicable, within 24 hours should the former become inoperable or unavailable. Operators with training appropriate to the tasks they are expected to perform and in sufficient numbers for the complexity of the site shall be on the site whenever it is in operation.
T. Safety hazards to operating personnel shall be controlled through an active safety program consistent with the requirements of 29 CFR Part 1910, as amended.
U. Each facility shall conduct monthly inspections of all major aspects of facility operations necessary to ensure compliance with the requirements of this chapter. Records of these inspections must be maintained in the operating record and available for review in accordance with 9VAC20-121-340. If a deficiency or release is identified during an inspection, the owner or operator must document it on the self-inspection checklist, provide a remedy for the issue as soon as feasible, and document repairs and remedial actions, including the date implemented. The following aspects of the facility shall be inspected on a monthly basis whenever the facility is in operation:
1. Each component of the processing equipment, treatment system, and infrastructure;
2. Spill containment and cleanup kit and any other decontamination materials;
3. Safety and emergency equipment, including radiation detection equipment, fire alarm and protection systems, fire extinguishers, eyewash stations, or other equipment;
4. Waste storage areas and loading and unloading areas;
5. All floors and floor drains and any areas and inventory for managing, cleaning, and disinfecting reusable carts or containers;
6. Proper use of personal protective equipment by all employees;
7. Monitoring for pests and vermin, litter, blowing debris, odor, dust, breached containers, and spills; and
8. Any areas in which significant adverse environmental or health consequences may result if breakdown occurs.
V. Prior to managing regulated medical waste or using process equipment, and at least annually, within one year from the date of the last training, the facility shall provide all operators with training on the procedures for managing regulated medical waste specific to the transfer or treatment process used, including:
1. General handling of regulated medical waste and use of personal protective equipment;
2. Packaging, labeling, and storage of regulated medical waste;
3. Cleaning and disinfection of reusable containers;
4. Facility housekeeping and management of spills;
5. Overall process and mechanical operation of any equipment used [ , including operation of any treatment units and procedures for conducting periodic challenge testing; and; ]
6. Emergency contingency plan procedures, in case of system failure or other emergency [ ; and
7. In addition to the requirements of subdivisions 1 through 6 of this subsection, treatment facility operators shall be trained on the operation of any treatment units and procedures for conducting periodic challenge testing ].
W. The facility shall retain records in accordance with 9VAC20-121-340. Records shall be retained for three years and available for review as requested by the department.
A. Prior to disposal or recycling, all regulated medical waste, including its packaging, must be treated by a department approved regulated medical waste treatment process. Any method used for the treatment of regulated medical waste must be verifiable to render the waste noninfectious in a manner that is protective of human health and the environment. Untreated regulated medical waste shall not be recycled or disposed of in a solid waste landfill or other solid waste management facility.
B. The requirements in this subsection are applicable to all treatment methods. Additional requirements are provided in subsections C through I of this section and are dependent on the type of treatment used.
1. The treatment method and operating parameters shall be appropriate and effective for the type of waste being managed.
a. Human pathological and anatomical waste, including tissues, organs, body parts, and other related waste and animal carcasses shall [ not ] be treated by [ a noncombustion process incineration ] unless [ an alternative treatment process is ] approved by the department. Alkaline hydrolysis is an alternative treatment process that may be considered for treatment. Pathological waste in a liquid fixative may require special management, such as decanting the liquid for separate disposal, incineration, or management as hazardous waste if applicable.
b. Thermally resistant waste, including solidified liquids and bulk animal bedding, requires approval of treatment operating parameters on a case-by-case basis.
c. Category A waste shall be managed in accordance with the requirements of 9VAC20-121-160.
d. Waste contaminated with toxins and toxin waste solutions (depending on the toxin) can be inactivated by incineration or extensive autoclaving, or by soaking in suitable decontamination solutions. Toxin inactivation procedures shall not be assumed to be 100% effective without validation using specific toxin bioassays.
2. Treatment equipment shall include built-in automatic controls and fail safe mechanisms to ensure the waste cannot bypass the treatment process.
3. Size reduction, grinding, shredding, or puncturing of containers is permissible if integral to the treatment unit and shall be done with safe and sanitary methods. Nothing in this section shall prevent the use of devices that grind, shred, or compact to reduce volume at the point of generation and prior to enclosing the regulated medical waste in plastic bags and other required packaging; however, the waste remains regulated medical waste. The facility shall demonstrate that devices are constructed and operated in a manner that prevents employee exposure to the waste; contains any aerosol, bioaerosol, or mist caused by the process; and treats or filters any air evacuated from the chamber during processing. Appropriate means must be employed to appropriately protect workers and contain the waste when unloading regulated medical wastes from such a device.
4. If grinding, shredding, or size reduction or puncturing of packaging takes place prior to treatment, it shall occur in a closed unit immediately preceding the treatment unit. If grinding, shredding, or size reduction takes place following treatment, it must occur within 24 hours of leaving the treatment unit. Transfer from a grinder or shredder to or from a treatment unit shall be under forced draft ventilation that removes fumes from the operations area to a safe discharge.
5. All process units for the preparation or treatment of regulated medical waste shall be in closed vessels designed to operate under a negative pressure atmospheric control that filters all vents, discharges, and fugitive emissions of air from the process units through a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter with efficiency of 99.97% for 0.3 microns. Proper installation of filters shall be documented. Air and gases which have themselves been sterilized by the process are not required to pass through a filter.
6. All effluent must be discharged to an approved sanitary sewer system. Effluent from the facility shall not be permitted to drain or discharge into surface waters except when authorized under a VPDES permit issued pursuant to 9VAC25-31.
7. Only the types of regulated medical waste specified in the facility's permit shall be treated using the approved treatment unit. Treatment methods include:
a. Autoclaves (steam sterilization);
b. Microwaves;
c. Dry heat treatment;
d. Chemical treatment;
e. Alkaline hydrolysis;
f. Incineration; and
g. Alternate treatment technologies as reviewed and approved by the department in accordance with this chapter.
8. Prior to operation of any treatment unit, the facility must conduct validation testing in accordance with 9VAC20-121-260 and an approved treatment plan to establish the appropriate operating parameters for effective treatment of regulated medical waste. The results of the testing must be submitted to the department for review and approval in accordance with 9VAC20-121-320. The facility shall not receive or treat regulated medical waste until the department has approved the validation results, operating parameters, and protocols to be used for the treatment unit. Revalidation shall be conducted as required by 9VAC20-121-260.
9. Treatment units shall operate in accordance with the specified operating parameters and protocols set forth in subsections C through I of this section or alternate standards established through validation testing and approved by the department. Records of treatment shall be maintained in accordance with 9VAC20-121-340.
10. Periodic challenge testing shall be performed under full loading in accordance with 9VAC20-121-270 to evaluate the effectiveness of each treatment unit and treatment method.
11. Effective treatment of regulated medical waste must achieve a 6 [ log10 Log10 ] or greater reduction of the viable spore concentrations of the most appropriate bacterial species for the treatment method. Effective treatment is demonstrated by no growth in all treated biological indicators and growth in all untreated biological indicators during validation and periodic challenge testing.
12. The selection of the most appropriate biological indicator to utilize during validation and challenge testing of a treatment process shall be supported by referenced standards, guidelines, or information from peer reviewed journals related to the process.
a. Biological indicators shall utilize spores from one of the following bacterial species:
(1) Geobacillus stearothermophilus (G.s.);
(2) Bacillus atrophaeus (B.a.);
(3) Bacillus subtilis (B.s.);
(4) Other Bacillus species or spore forming bacteria from domestic or international culture collections; or
(5) Organisms that demonstrate the necessary resistance for the treatment method, as approved by the department.
b. The facility shall use commercially prepared biological indicators, such as spore strips, spore suspensions, and self-contained biological indicators.
c. Biological indicators shall be placed in the most challenging location during validation and periodic challenge testing. Indicator ports, chambers, or other mechanisms shall be used for placement of the biological indicator when placement directly into the waste may be compromised by the treatment method, such as when shredding, grinding, or other mechanism is used. Ports and chambers shall be accessible by the operator.
d. When using the appropriate biological indicator, the number to be used shall be based upon the amount of waste to be processed in accordance with 9VAC20-121-260 D 7 (for validation) and 9VAC20-121-270 B (for periodic challenge testing).
13. Parametric controls shall be used to monitor critical operational treatment parameters and provide a record of measurements that can be correlated to effective treatment.
14. Door alignment, gaskets, locking mechanisms, and other components of any treatment unit that utilizes a pressure vessel (such as an autoclave) shall achieve a complete seal during operation to prevent leaking of steam, liquid, or waste and avoid decreases in pressure or temperature that could cause isolated cold spots inside the unit.
15. In the event of power failure, interrupted, or incomplete treatment cycle, the facility shall investigate the cause of the failure and make any necessary repairs to resolve the issue prior to the next treatment cycle. Any waste in the treatment unit shall either be removed and managed as regulated medical waste or subjected to another full treatment cycle once repairs are made.
16. [ Reusable After each cycle, treated waste shall be removed from reusable treatment carts and containers. All reusable ] treatment carts and containers [ (such as autoclave carts) ] shall be [ clean and free of treated waste residuals before reuse cleaned on a periodic basis to remove the buildup of more than de minimus amounts of treated waste residual on cart and container surfaces ].
C. The requirements in this subsection are applicable to autoclave treatment methods.
1. All autoclaves shall be operated at 100% saturated steam conditions at [ a minimum operating temperature of 250oF (121oC) at no less than 15 pounds per square inch of gauge pressure. Autoclaves shall maintain the minimum operating temperature and pressure for an uninterrupted cycle of 90 minutes. Alternate combinations of operating temperatures, pressures, and cycle times may be appropriate combinations of operating temperatures, pressures, and residence times, that have been ] demonstrated through validation testing to achieve [ a ] reliable and [ complete kill of all effective treatment of ] microorganisms in regulated medical waste at design capacity. Longer [ steam sterilization times are required when a load contains a large quantity of liquid. treatment cycles may be needed for loads with liquids. Autoclave operating temperatures shall be greater than or equal to 250oF (121oC) at no less than 15 pounds per square inch of gauge pressure, and the minimum operating temperature and pressure shall be maintained during the residence time of the treatment cycle. ]
2. All autoclaves shall be equipped with continuous time, temperature, and pressure monitoring and recording.
3. For vacuum autoclaves, pre-vacuum [ cycles ] shall be conducted such that all system air is fully evacuated a minimum of [ three two ] times [ at the beginning of each prior to the residence phase of the ] treatment cycle [ and held with, during which ] all air [ is ] evacuated to ensure adequate steam exposure throughout the waste. Additional pre-vacuum pulls may be required based on certain waste or packaging types, and as determined through validation testing. ]
4. For gravity autoclaves, pressure pulsing must be performed to evacuate all air in the unit.
5. Validation and periodic challenge testing shall be performed using biological indicators utilizing spores from the bacterial species Geobacillus stearothermophilus.
D. The requirements in this subsection are applicable to microwave treatment methods.
1. Microwaving treatment shall incorporate pretreatment by shredding and steam injection or induction.
2. All microwaves shall be operated between 203oF and 212oF (95oC and 100oC) for a minimum of 45 minutes. Alternate operating temperatures and cycle times may be demonstrated through validation testing.
3. Microwave radiation power of the treatment process shall be at least six units each having a power of 1,200 watts or the equivalent power output.
4. Each microwave treatment unit shall be equipped to sense, display, and continuously record the temperature at the start, middle, and end of the treatment chamber.
5. Process temperatures at the exposure chamber entry and exit and the waste flow rate shall be continuously monitored, displayed, and recorded.
6. Validation and periodic challenge testing shall be performed using biological indicators utilizing spores from the bacterial species Bacillus atrophaeus.
E. The requirements in this subsection are applicable to dry heat treatment methods.
1. Dry heat systems shall be operated per the following operational standards:
a. Temperature of not less than 320oF (160°C) for 120 minutes;
b. Temperature of not less than 340oF (170°C) for 60 minutes; or
c. Temperature of not less than 360oF (180°C) for 30 minutes.
Alternate operating temperatures and cycle times may be demonstrated through validation testing.
2. Each treatment unit shall be equipped to sense, display, and continuously record the temperature of the treatment chamber.
3. Unless otherwise approved by the department, no treatment unit employing dry heat as the main treatment process shall have a treatment chamber capacity greater than 1.0 cubic foot in volume.
4. Validation and periodic challenge testing shall be performed using biological indicators utilizing spores from the bacterial species Bacillus atrophaeus.
F. The requirements in this subsection are applicable to chemical treatment methods.
1. Operating standards for chemical treatment systems are dependent on the chemical concentration and exposure time. Facilities wishing to employ a chemical treatment system shall submit an alternate treatment technology petition per 9VAC20-121-250 to justify the proposed operating parameters. Once the petition is approved, chemical concentration and treatment time operating parameters shall be demonstrated through validation testing in the presence of the maximum anticipated organic waste content.
2. The facility shall maintain registration for the chemical used in the treatment system in accordance with the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, if required.
3. Containers holding chemicals shall be labeled in accordance with 40 CFR 156 (Labeling Requirements for Pesticides and Devices), and the facility shall maintain Safety Data Sheets for all chemicals related to the chemical treatment system.
4. Validation and periodic challenge testing shall be performed using biological indicators utilizing spores from the bacterial species Bacillus subtilis or Bacillus atropheus.
G. The requirements in this subsection are applicable to alkaline hydrolysis treatment methods. Alkaline hydrolysis is a process by which heat and pressure dissolve and sterilize regulated medical waste in a strong solution of sodium or potassium hydroxide (NaOH or KOH, respectively).
1. Alkaline hydrolysis shall only be used for treatment of human pathological and anatomical waste, including tissues, organs, body parts, other related waste, and animal carcasses.
2. Systems that operate above atmospheric pressure must employ a dissolution chamber that is a certified pressure vessel by the American Society of Mechanical [ Engineers' Engineers ] (ASME).
3. Operating parameters for alkaline hydrolysis systems vary depending on the amount of regulated medical waste to be treated and the type of contamination:
a. To inactivate microbial pathogens, the waste must be heated to 212oF (100oC), and pressurized at 15 pounds per square inch for three hours;
b. To destroy transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE), including bovine spongiform encephalopathy, the waste must be heated to 300oF (150oC) and pressurized at 70 pounds per square inch for six to eight hours.
c. Chemical concentration and treatment time shall be demonstrated through validation testing in the presence of the worst case organic material waste content.
4. Treatment shall ensure the complete dissolution of all tissue remains, if applicable, and any solids left shall be disposed of at a solid waste management facility permitted to receive it.
5. Validation and periodic challenge testing shall be performed using biological indicators utilizing spores from the bacterial species Geobacillus stearothermophilus.
H. The requirements in this subsection are applicable to incineration treatment methods.
1. All incinerators shall be permitted under regulations of the State Air Pollution Control Board and be in compliance with the regulations of that body.
2. All combustible regulated medical waste shall be converted by the incineration process into ash that is not recognizable as to its former character.
3. Analysis of ash and air pollution control residues:
a. Incinerator bottom ash and residues collected from air pollution control equipment shall be collected separately in leak resistant containers with runoff controls to prevent releases from the ash storage. Incinerator bottom ash and air pollution control residues shall be stored separately until sample testing per subdivision 3 b of this subsection is performed and the waste streams are determined to be a solid waste.
b. Testing requirements:
(1) Representative samples consisting of 250 milliliters of each waste stream shall be collected once every eight hours of operation of a continuously fed incinerator and once every batch or 24 hours of operation of a batch fed incinerator. Samples shall be collected during each 1,000 hours of operation or quarterly, whichever is more often, and samples shall be thoroughly mixed and seven random portions of equal volume shall be composited into one sample for laboratory analysis. This sample shall be tested in accordance with the methods established by the Virginia Hazardous Waste Management Regulations (9VAC20-60) for determining if a solid waste is a hazardous waste.
(2) In addition to subdivision 3 b (1) of this subsection, composite samples of incinerator bottom ash shall be tested for total organic content.
c. If ash or air pollution control residues are found to be hazardous waste (based on a sample and a confirmation sample) the waste ash shall be managed of as a hazardous waste in accord with the Virginia Hazardous Waste Management Regulations (9VAC20-60). The operator shall notify the department within 24 hours. No later than 15 calendar days following, the permittee shall submit a plan for treating and disposing of the waste on hand at the facility and all unsatisfactorily treated waste that has left the facility. The permittee shall include with the plan a description of the corrective actions to be taken to prevent further unsatisfactory performance. No ash or air pollution control residues subsequently generated from the incinerator waste stream found to be hazardous waste shall be sent to a nonhazardous solid waste management facility in the Commonwealth unless written approval of the director is obtained in accordance with Solid Waste Management Regulations (9VAC20-81).
d. If ash or air pollution control residues are found not to be hazardous waste by analysis, they may be disposed of in a solid waste landfill that is permitted to receive municipal solid waste or incinerator ash, provided the disposal is in accordance with the Solid Waste Management Regulations (9VAC20-81).
e. A log shall document the ash sampling, to include the date and time of each sample collected; the date, time, and identification number of each composite sample; and the results of the analyses, including laboratory identification. Results of analyses must be returned from the laboratory and recorded within four weeks following collection of the composite sample. The results and records described in this part shall be maintained for a period of three years, and shall be available for review.
I. Alternate treatment technologies as reviewed and approved by the department. All alternate treatment technologies approved by the director shall conform to the general treatment standards in subsection B of this section and any additional requirements the department imposes at the time of approval.
1. Any person who desires to use a chemical treatment technology per subsection F of this section or treatment technology, other than those described in subsections C, D, and E or subsections G and H of this section, shall petition the director for a review under 9VAC20-121-250.
2. If the director finds that the technology and application is in accordance with this part, the department may consider the facility for permitting.
A. In accordance with 9VAC20-121-240 I, chemical treatment and other alternate treatment technologies may be approved for permitting if the department reviews the process and determines that the technology provides treatment in accordance with this chapter and protects public health and the environment, and if the department establishes appropriate conditions for their siting, design, and operation. This section establishes the criteria, protocols, procedures, and processes to be used to petition the director for review and to demonstrate the suitability of the proposed technology for the treatment of regulated medical waste.
B. Alternate treatment technologies are subject to the general treatment standards of 9VAC20-121-240 and the additional requirements of this section. To ensure effectiveness of the proposed chemical or alternate treatment technology, the applicant must demonstrate effective microbial and bacterial inactivation at a 6 [ log10 log10 ] or greater reduction for the microorganisms and spores listed in subsections C and D of this section through validation testing that meets the requirements of 9VAC20-121-260.
C. Microbial inactivation shall be demonstrated using one or more representative microorganisms from each microbial group:
1. For vegetative bacteria: either Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6538) or Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 15442).
2. For fungi: either Candida albicans (ATCC 18804), Penicillium chrysogenum (ATCC 24791), or Aspergillus niger.
3. For viruses: either Polio 2 or Polio 3, or MS-2 Bacteriophage (ATCC 15597-B1).
4. For parasites: either Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts or Giardia spp. Cysts.
5. For Mycobacteria: either Mycobacterium terrae, Mycobacterium phlei, Mycobacterium bovis (BCG) (ATCC 35743).
D. Bacterial inactivation shall be demonstrated for chemical, thermal, and irradiation treatment systems using spores from either B. stearothermophilus (ATCC 7953) or B. subtilis (ATCC 19659).
E. For those treatment processes that can maintain the integrity of the biological indicator carrier (i.e., ampules, plastic strips) of the desired microbiological test strain, biological indicators of the required strain and concentration shall be used to demonstrate effective treatment. Effective treatment is demonstrated by no growth in all treated biological indicators and growth in all untreated biological indicators during validation and periodic challenge testing.
F. For those treatment mechanisms that cannot ensure or provide integrity of the biological indicator (i.e., chemical inactivation or grinding), quantitative measurement of effective treatment requires a two-step approach: Step 1, "Control"; Step 2, "Test." The purpose of Step 1 is to account for the reduction of test microorganisms due to loss by dilution or physical entrapment.
1. Step 1 is:
a. Use microbial cultures of a predetermined concentration necessary to ensure a sufficient microbial recovery at the end of this step.
b. Add suspension to a standardized medical waste load that is to be processed under normal operating conditions without the addition of the microbial inactivation agent (i.e., heat, chemicals).
c. Collect and wash waste samples after processing to recover the biological indicator organisms in the sample.
d. Plate recovered microorganism suspensions to quantify microbial recovery. (The number of viable microorganisms recovered serves as a baseline quantity for comparison to the number of recovered microorganisms from wastes processed with the microbial inactivation agent).
e. The required number of recovered viable indicator microorganisms from Step 1 must be equal to or greater than the number of microorganisms required to demonstrate a 6 [ log10 log10 ] or greater reduction.
2. Step 2 is:
a. Use microbial cultures of the same concentration as in Step 1.
b. Add suspension to the standardized medical waste load that is to be processed under normal operating conditions with the addition of the microbial inactivation agent.
c. Collect and wash waste samples after processing to recover the biological indicator organisms in the sample.
d. Plate recovered microorganism suspensions to quantify microbial recovery.
3. From data collected from Step 1 and Step 2, the level of microbial and bacterial inactivation shall be calculated based on the:
a. Number of viable "Test" microorganisms (in colony forming units per gram of waste solids) introduced into the treatment unit,
b. Number of "Control" microorganisms (in colony forming units per gram of waste solids) that were not recovered after processing, and
c. Number of viable "Test" microorganisms (in colony forming units per gram of waste solids) recovered in treated processed waste residue.
G. To initiate the technology review process the applicant shall complete and submit DEQ Form RMWTP-01, Application for Evaluation and Approval of Regulated Medical Waste Treatment Technology to the department. The application shall be accompanied by:
1. A detailed description of the chemical or alternate treatment technology. The description must include:
a. A discussion of operating procedures and conditions, including, as applicable, treatment times, pressure, temperatures, chemical concentrations, irradiation doses, feed rates, and [ wasteload waste load ] composition;
b. A discussion of parametric controls, verifying effective treatment, and ensuring operator noninterference; and
c. A discussion of waste residues and by-products generated and methods of disposal or recycling.
d. The description shall be accompanied by the manufacturer's operations manual or equipment usage instructions, equipment specifications, and maintenance manual.
2. Documentation demonstrating the chemical or alternate treatment technology meets microbial and bacterial inactivation criteria specified under subsections B through F of this section. The documentation must include a description of the test procedures and calculations used in fulfilling required performance standards verifying effective treatment, of user verification methodology, and of microbial culturing protocols that ensure traceability, purity and concentration, and copy of all test results.
3. A chemical management plan describing all chemicals to be stored on site and include copies of Safety Data Sheets for all chemicals used for regulated medical waste treatment and EPA pesticide registration, if applicable.
4. Documentation providing occupational safety and health assurance.
H. The applicant shall demonstrate that all required surrogate pathogens and resistant bacterial endospores are inactivated to criteria specified in subsections B through F of this section under the representative surrogate waste load compositions.
I. The applicant shall demonstrate where the relationship between effective treatment, biological indicator data, and data procured from real-time parametric monitoring devices for the treatment unit.
J. The review of the application will occur in accordance with this subsection.
1. After receiving an application that includes the information and demonstrations required in subsections A through I of this section, the department will perform an administrative review and determine whether the information received is sufficient to approve the proposed chemical or alternate treatment technology. If the information is deemed to be insufficient, the department will request that additional information be furnished.
2. The applicant may submit the additional information requested or may demonstrate that the additional information should not be required. If the department agrees that the additional information is not required, the department will determine if the application is complete.
3. After the application is deemed complete, the director may then issue a treatment technology approval. The approval shall be issued under the conditions specified in the manufacturer's instructions and equipment specifications, operating procedures, and conditions as outlined in the application, including, as applicable, treatment times, temperatures, pressure, chemical concentrations, irradiation doses, feed rates, and waste load composition. Any significant revision to these conditions will require reapplication for approval in accordance with this section.
4. Following technology approval, any facility wishing to use the approved technology to treat regulated medical waste shall apply for and obtain the necessary permits in accordance with Part V (9VAC20-121-300 et seq.).
A. Prior to using any treatment system, the facility must conduct validation testing that employs the use of process controls, biological indicators, and process monitoring to establish operating parameters to demonstrate effective treatment of regulated medical waste.
B. Prior to validation testing, the owner or operator shall submit to the department a treatment plan containing the information required by 9VAC20-121-330 E. The plan shall demonstrate that the validation protocols for each treatment unit meet the standards of this section and shall indicate any additional protocols specific to the regulated medical waste to be treated, such as the use of packaging types that may affect treatment of the waste. Validation testing must be conducted in accordance with an approved treatment plan and the requirements of this section. The validation test results and operating parameters must be submitted to the department for review prior to acceptance of regulated medical waste for treatment.
C. To demonstrate reproducibility, a minimum of three separate treatment runs must be performed on three separate days, using three distinct loads, during which the department is present to witness at least one complete validation test run. All test runs shall meet the following requirements:
1. Operating parameters used during the tests must be consistent with the parameters that will be used during routine operation of the treatment process (e.g., cycle duration, temperature, pressure, chemical concentration, irradiation exposure time, or other treatment parameters as applicable).
2. Surrogate waste load composition (e.g., porosity, liquids, solids, moisture content, organic matter, thermal resistance, and type of packaging or containers) and [ wasteload waste load ] configuration (e.g., packing density and orientation) used during the tests must be consistent with the waste properties and loading process that will be used during routine operation. The surrogate waste load shall represent the most difficult waste anticipated to be treated during routine operation.
3. The weight and volume of the surrogate waste loads used during the tests must be consistent with the amount of waste that will be treated during routine operation. Validation testing must be performed at the treatment unit's full capacity unless an alternate load size is approved.
D. To assess treatment performance, the system must employ commercially-prepared biological indicators from the same lot or batch, each containing spores that demonstrate the necessary resistance for the treatment method, as determined by the department. The indicators must:
1. Have a minimum concentration of 6 [ log10 log10 ] spores per biological indicator. The concentration must be higher and more thermally resistant than the bioburden routinely associated with the waste;
2. Include a supplier's certificate of performance (or certificate of analysis) that identifies the organism (genus, species, strain, and population) and, for thermal treatment systems (including autoclaves), the D-value and Z-value. The D-value must be 1.5 to 3.0 minutes, unless otherwise approved by the department, and the Z-value must be no less than 50°F (10°C);
3. Be appropriate for the type of waste and device (i.e., self-contained, suspension, or spore strip), including the shelf life, the carrier material and primary packaging, the culture medium (for self-contained biological indicators) and the media, growth, and culture conditions (for non-self-contained biological indicators);
4. Be compatible with the treatment process and have a resistance relative to the temperature, pressures, conditions, chemicals, or irradiation used in the process; the infectious agents on a substrate; the type and density of the waste to be treated; and its packaging;
5. Be placed in a carrier system (e.g., net bags, wrapped in a paper towel and encased in cotton batting or inside tennis balls, socks, or alloy containers with holes in them) designed to mimic the thermal resistance of the waste before placement into the package to be treated. Materials used to hold biological indicators must be similar to the waste to be treated, provide effective protection from damage or breakage or from otherwise being compromised, be loose in the bulk of the waste, and be easily retrievable at the end of each validation test run. Indicators shall not be placed in carrier systems that would enhance treatment or produce erroneous results (such as metal containers that would conduct heat);
6. Be placed throughout the waste load during each validation test at the coldest or most challenging locations within the treatment unit, where the sum of all influences on the microorganisms results in minimal inactivation for a defined waste load;
7. Be used in accordance with the quantity specified as follows, for each test run:
a. Three biological indicators per cycle for 0 to 110 pounds of waste per load;
b. Five biological indicators per cycle for 111 to 550 pounds of waste per load;
c. Seven biological indicators per cycle for 551 to 1,100 pounds of waste per load;
d. Nine biological indicators per cycle for 1,101 to 1,650 pounds of waste per load;
e. Eleven or more biological indicators per cycle, as determined by the department, for greater than 1,650 pounds of waste per load; and
f. One or more biological indicators from the same lot or batch to be left untreated and used as a control;
8. Be stored in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications when not in use. Expired biological indicators shall not be utilized.
9. Biological indicators in the form of paper strips must not be used in devices or areas where fluids can pool or puddle around the indicator. Self-contained biological indicators with vent caps must not be used where liquids may accumulate and contaminate the indicators.
10. Qualitative or quantitative biological indicators shall be used provided the operator or vendor of the technology provides evidence from such sources as peered reviewed journals that support the use of that particular indicator. Biological indicators requiring microbial bioassay to confirm effective treatment must be quantitatively analyzed after the treatment cycle. All self-contained biological indicators used for test runs must be evaluated for growth (e.g. qualitatively analyzed for color change) following incubation in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.
E. Concurrent with biological indicators, the process must employ devices or instrumentation that demonstrates the treatment unit is achieving critical operating parameters for effective treatment. Process monitoring shall include:
1. Thermochemical indicators (e.g., tape, paper strips, or integrators) that demonstrate that the waste has been exposed to a certain temperature or chemical concentration;
2. Thermochemical recording devices (e.g., wireless data loggers, thermocouples, or chemical monitoring probes) that are placed in or on waste packages and that provide a measurable record of actual treatment conditions of the waste [ ; and. The minimum number of thermochemical recording devices to be used during each validation test shall be at least one device per treatment bin plus one additional device in the treatment chamber; and ]
3. Parametric controls or monitoring devices integral to the treatment system that record critical operational treatment parameters and provide a record of measurements that can be correlated to effective treatment.
F. Effective treatment of regulated medical waste must achieve a 6 [ log10 log10 ] or greater reduction of the viable spore concentrations of the most appropriate bacterial species for the treatment method. Effective treatment is demonstrated by no growth in all treated biological indicators and growth in all untreated biological indicators during each test run. In certain situations where the waste poses a greater risk (e.g., a higher bioburden waste), the department may require a greater reduction.
G. The facility shall submit to the department for approval a summary of the validation test results demonstrating the treatment effectiveness and specifying the operating parameters based on the results of all validation test runs. The report shall describe the results of all validation test runs, including:
1. Date and time of all test runs, including the operator's name and cycle start and end times;
2. Surrogate waste load composition, configuration, and size;
3. Number, type, batch or lot number, expiration date, and placement of biological indicators, thermochemical indicators, and thermochemical recording devices; and
4. Results of all methods used to monitor operating parameters achieved throughout the treatment cycle and the accuracy of parametric monitoring devices, including copies of charts, graphs, or other read-outs from the treatment equipment and growth results of all treated indicators and untreated controls.
H. Validation testing must be repeated when any of the following occurs:
1. Failure of any treatment process to achieve operational parameters, such as time, temperature, or pressure during validation testing;
2. Failure to achieve microbial inactivation in any biological indicator during any treatment cycle during validation testing;
3. Failure of the untreated control indicator to show growth of the viable spore concentration;
4. Any modifications to any of the treatment process operational parameters, bioburden, waste mass, chemical type, concentration, irradiation or exposure time, type of waste to be treated, or mechanical or engineering changes to the treatment system from those assessed during the validation testing;
5. A failure identified in subdivision 1, 2, or 3 of this subsection during periodic challenge testing as identified by biological or process monitoring that occurs three or more times in a calendar year or during the first 30 days of actual operation;
6. A treatment device has been operational without a repeat validation for at least five years; or
7. A treatment device has not been used for at least one year.
A. After initial validation testing and during routine operation, a regulated medical waste treatment facility shall perform periodic challenge testing under full loading to evaluate the effectiveness of each treatment device in accordance with procedures outlined in the facility's approved treatment plan.
B. Periodic challenge testing shall be performed in accordance with the following requirements:
1. Biological indicators shall be used to periodically challenge test a load of regulated medical waste and must comply with all requirements of 9VAC20-121-260 D, with the exception of the quantity of biological indicators required under 9VAC20-121-260 D 7.
2. Periodic challenge testing must include at least one-third of the number of appropriate biological indicators that are required for the validation test, or two indicators, whichever is greater, unless otherwise determined by the department. One or more additional biological indicators from the same lot or batch shall be left untreated and used as a control.
3. The results of all periodic challenge testing shall be maintained for three years in accordance with 9VAC20-121-340 and shall include:
a. Date and time of all challenge tests, including the operator's name and cycle start and end times;
b. Number, type, batch or lot number, expiration date, and placement of biological and thermochemical indicators; and
c. Results of all methods used to monitor operating parameters achieved throughout the treatment cycle, including copies of charts, graphs, or other read-outs from the treatment equipment and growth results of all treated indicators and untreated controls.
4. Effective treatment of regulated medical waste must be demonstrated by a 6 [ log10 Log10 ] or greater reduction of spore concentrations in all biological indicators in each periodic challenge test. A challenge test is considered a failure if any of the following occurs:
a. Failure of any treatment process to achieve operational parameters such as time, temperature, or pressure;
b. Failure to achieve microbial inactivation in any biological indicator during any treatment cycle. All biological indicators must show passing results (no growth in the viable spore concentration) after treatment or the challenge test is considered a failure; or
c. Failure of the untreated control indicator to show growth of the viable spore concentration.
C. Any regulated medical waste treated during or after a challenge test shall be stored temporarily until challenge test results are obtained. Regulated medical waste shall not be shipped offsite until the challenge test is complete and shows passing results for all biological indicators.
D. Unless otherwise approved by the department, for the first 30 days of actual operation, each treatment unit shall undergo challenge testing twice per day. The first load of each day shall be used for one of the required challenge tests.
E. Following the first 30 days of actual operation, periodic challenge testing must be conducted at a minimum of once per week or every 40 hours of operation, whichever is greater.
F. After six months of successful operation with no challenge test failures in weekly or 40- hour testing, challenge testing shall be conducted at least once per month.
G. Any challenge test failures during the first six months of actual operation shall require a return to daily challenge testing for at least 30 operating days. After the first six months of actual operation, any challenge test failure shall require a return to challenge testing once per week or every 40 hours of operation, whichever is greater.
H. Following any challenge test failure:
1. The waste shall continue to be managed as regulated medical waste and shall be retreated, stored temporarily until retreatment, or diverted to another approved facility for treatment or disposal. Regulated medical waste shall not be considered treated until a subsequent challenge test is conducted with passing results;
2. The facility shall evaluate and correct any issues with the treatment cycle and unit prior to treating any additional waste;
3. The facility shall notify the department of the failure in accordance with 9VAC20-121-340; and
4. The facility shall increase the frequency of challenge testing in accordance with subsection G of this section.
A. Regulated medical waste that has been treated in accordance with this part is no longer a regulated medical waste. Treated regulated medical waste is a solid waste. Treated waste may be compacted in a closed container in a safe and sanitary manner.
B. Treated waste shall be disposed of at a permitted solid waste disposal facility in accordance with the Solid Waste Management Regulations (9VAC20-81) and the solid waste disposal facility's permit. Regulated medical waste not treated in accordance with this chapter remains a regulated medical waste and shall not be transported to, received for transport or disposal by, or disposed in any solid waste management facility.
C. Where non-bulk treatment is used, treated waste shall be placed in sealed bags or containers that allow for visible assessment of treatment, such as clear bags or bags marked with sterilization indicators. The bags shall not be red in color. Opaque bags and bags with special labels are permissible if agreed upon in writing by the solid waste management facility receiving the treated waste. Treatment cart liners that are resistant to treatment conditions (such as temperature) may be used to package treated waste. Where bulk treatment is used and the solid waste is immediately placed or compacted in closed bulk solid waste management containers that are more than 64 gallons in volume, the repackaging of the solid waste in bags is not required. Treated waste shall not be repackaged as regulated medical waste.
D. The regulated medical waste treatment facility shall have a written [ agreement with treated waste disposal plan that shall be provided to ] each permitted solid waste management facility that will transfer, store, or dispose of the treated waste. The [ agreement plan ] shall specify and include the following:
1. A description of how the treated waste will be packaged and transported to each solid waste management facility, including the types and colors of bags or containers used, and any special labeling if applicable;
2. The type of regulated medical waste treated, treatment method, and name, address, and telephone number of the treatment facility; [ and ]
3. The name, address, and telephone number of any transfer stations or other intermediate facilities or locations where the treated waste will be transferred or temporarily stored prior to transport to a permitted solid waste disposal facility [ ;
4. The plan shall be updated and redistributed to receiving facilities when there are changes to the treatment process or facility operation that impact the plan.
5. The facility shall maintain records of distribution of the plan to all transfer, storage, or disposal facilities that manage the treated waste ].
E. If treated residuals are determined to be hazardous, then the waste must be managed in accordance with the Virginia Hazardous Waste Management Regulations (9VAC20-60).
A. The owner or operator of a regulated medical waste management facility shall close the facility in a manner that minimizes the need for further maintenance, and controls, minimizes, or eliminates, to the extent necessary to protect human health and the environment, the post-closure escape of regulated medical waste, uncontrolled effluent, surface runoff, or waste decomposition products to the groundwater, surface water, or atmosphere.
1. When a unit that has been used for regulated medical waste management is to cease operations involving regulated medical waste, the unit and all related equipment, structures, and surfaces shall be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. Cleaning shall be conducted with detergent and water. At a minimum, disinfection shall include using an EPA-registered hospital grade disinfectant effective against mycobacteria in accordance with manufacturer's label instructions, unless it can be demonstrated to the satisfaction of the department that an alternate EPA-registered disinfectant will be protective of human health and the environment and is appropriate for the type of regulated medical waste managed and surfaces being disinfected.
2. All regulated medical waste, materials contaminated with waste constituents, and treatment residue shall be removed and disposed of in accordance with this chapter.
B. Closure plan and modification of plan.
1. The owner or operator of a regulated medical waste management facility shall have a written closure plan that meets the requirements of 9VAC20-121-330 G.
2. The owner or operator may amend the closure plan at any time during the active life of the facility. The owner or operator shall so amend the plan any time changes in operating plans or facility design affects the closure plan. The amended closure plan shall be placed in the operating record.
3. The owner or operator shall submit to the department the amended closure plan that was placed in the operating record.
4. At least 180 days prior to beginning closure of each unit, the owner or operator shall notify the director of the intent to close.
5. The owner or operator shall provide to the department a certification that the facility has been closed in accordance with the closure plan.
C. The owner or operator shall complete closure activities in accordance with the closure plan and within six months after receiving the final volume of wastes. The director may approve a longer closure period if the owner or operator can demonstrate that the required or planned closure activities will take longer than six months to complete, and that the owner or operator has taken all steps to eliminate any significant threat to human health and the environment from the unclosed but inactive facility.
D. The owner or operator shall post one sign notifying all persons of the closing and providing a notice prohibiting further receipt of waste materials. The sign shall remain in place until closure activities are complete. Further, suitable barriers shall be installed at former accesses to prevent new waste from being delivered.
E. The department shall inspect the facility to confirm that the closure is complete and adequate in accordance with this chapter. The department shall notify the owner of a closed facility in writing if the closure is satisfactory, or if unsatisfactory, shall require any necessary construction or such other steps as may be necessary to bring unsatisfactory sites into compliance with this chapter. Notification by the department that the closure is satisfactory does not relieve the operator of responsibility for corrective action to prevent or abate problems caused by the facility.
A. Any facility operated for the transfer or treatment of regulated medical waste that is not exempt in accordance with this chapter, must hold a permit-by-rule from the department prior to commencement of operations.
B. Each regulated medical waste management facility permit-by-rule shall be limited to one site and shall be nontransferable between sites.
C. A new permit-by-rule is required when there is:
1. Any new regulated medical waste management facility; or
2. Any change in design or process of a regulated medical waste management facility that will [ , in the opinion of the department, ] result in a [ substantially ] different type of facility. [ These changes may include a change from transfer to treatment facility, change of physical location, or change from captive to non-captive facility. ]
D. The director may grant a variance from any provision contained in this part to a permittee provided the requirements of Part VI (9VAC20-121-400 et seq.) of this chapter are met.
E. The following regulated medical waste management activities are conditionally exempt from the requirements of this part provided no open dump, hazard, or public nuisance is created and wastes are managed in accordance with the requirements promulgated by other applicable state or federal regulations or the conditions provided in this section.
1. Household sharps may be collected in a sharps drop box located in a public restroom, airport, train station, health clinic, pharmacy, health department, police or fire station, community organization building, permitted solid waste management facility, or other location as a convenience to the public, as long as the following requirements are met:
a. Sharps drop boxes shall only receive household sharps from individual home generators who choose to transport household sharps to the drop box. Sharps drop boxes shall not receive waste from collection vehicles or other entities that have collected waste from more than one real property owner;
b. All owners and operators of sharps drop boxes must comply with the general handling, packaging and labeling, storage, reusable container, spill cleanup, transportation, and Category A waste management requirements for regulated medical waste outlined in Part III (9VAC20-121-100 et seq.) of this chapter; and
c. Collected sharps shall be treated or disposed of as regulated medical waste in accordance with this chapter. Untreated sharps shall not be recycled or disposed of in a solid waste landfill or other solid waste management facility. Collected sharps that are shipped offsite as part of a mail-back program shall be transported in accordance with the requirements of 39 CFR 111 and 9VAC20-121-150 K.
2. Facilities that employ a treatment method to treat regulated medical waste onsite but subsequently package, label, and transport the waste offsite to be further managed as regulated medical waste are exempt from permitting in accordance with this chapter, but are subject to all other standards outlined in Part III (9VAC20-121-100 et seq.) for the management of regulated medical waste.
3. Treatment systems (such as an effluent decontamination system) used to treat industrial or domestic sewage discharges in compliance with federal, state, or local pretreatment requirements as applicable. If the treatment unit separates solids from liquids prior to discharge, the solids shall be managed as regulated medical waste unless it meets an exemption in accordance with this chapter.
4. Combustion of up to 10% by weight of regulated medical waste in a Virginia Solid Waste Management Regulations (9VAC20-81) permitted solid waste incinerator, thermal treatment, or waste to energy facility. Regulated medical waste must be an approved supplemental waste or included in an approved material review process in accordance with the State Air Pollution Control Board regulations and management of the regulated medical waste prior to addition to the incinerator, thermal treatment, or waste to energy unit must be in accordance with this chapter.
5. Temporary offsite storage of regulated medical waste generated from an emergency cleanup for up to 72 hours, including in a locked vehicle, prior to transporting directly to a regulated medical waste management facility permitted to receive the waste for treatment, transfer, or disposal, provided that all regulated medical waste is:
a. Generated from an emergency or unplanned sudden or nonsudden spill or release of regulated medical waste requiring immediate response in order to protect human health or the environment, and the regulated medical waste was not generated by a health care professional or nonstationary health care provider;
b. Collected from not more than one individual regulated medical waste generator and is not received from collection vehicles or other entities that have collected waste from more than one real property owner;
c. Managed, stored, and transported in accordance with all requirements of Part III (9VAC20-121-100 et seq.) of this chapter, except for the storage timeframe which shall be no more than 72 hours; and
d. Not a Category A waste, hazardous waste, or radioactive waste.
A. This subsection contains the requirements for permits-by-rule. The owner or operator of a facility described in subdivision A 1 of this section shall be deemed to have a regulated medical waste management facility permit if (i) the owner or operator submits the completed DEQ Form RMW PBR, Regulated Medical Waste Management Facility Permit-by-Rule Form, and all required information and attachments as detailed in subdivision A 2 of this section, and (ii) the department acknowledges completeness of the submittal per subdivision A 4 of this section.
1. Except for exempt facilities described in 9VAC20-121-300 E, the owner or operator of the following regulated medical waste management facilities shall apply for a permit-by-rule:
a. Regulated medical waste transfer stations as defined by this chapter, including when a vehicle transporting regulated medical waste will be parked for 24 hours or more during transport;
b. Facilities treating regulated medical waste employing a treatment method described in 9VAC20-121-240; and
c. Facilities treating regulated medical waste employing an alternate treatment method as described in 9VAC20-121-250.
2. The owner or operator of a regulated medical waste management facility shall submit the following information and documentation to the department:
a. To initiate the permit-by-rule application process, any person who proposes to establish a new regulated medical waste management facility, or modify an existing regulated medical waste management facility shall file a notice of intent with the director stating the type of facility for which the permit-by-rule application is made, the precise location of the proposed facility, and the intended use of the facility. The notice shall be in letter form and be accompanied by the following documents:
(1) A disclosure statement (DEQ Forms DISC-01 and DISC-02) identifying all key personnel as required by § 10.1-1408.1 of the Code of Virginia.
(2) A copy of the certification for at least one operator licensed by the Board for Waste Management Facility Operators as required by § 10.1-1408.2 of the Code of Virginia.
(3) A certification (DEQ Form CERT-01) from the governing body of the county, city, or town in which the facility is to be located stating, without qualifications, conditions, or reservations, that the location and operation of the facility are consistent with all applicable ordinances. No certification shall be required for the application for a modification to an existing permit-by-rule.
(4) The results of the public participation effort conducted in accordance with the requirements contained in subdivision A 3 of this section;
b. A certification that the facility meets the siting standards, as applicable, of 9VAC20-121-210;
c. A certificate signed by a professional engineer that the facility has been designed and constructed in accordance with the design and construction standards, as applicable, of 9VAC20-121-220;
d. Design plans certified by a professional engineer consisting of at least the following:
(1) A title sheet indicating the facility name, who prepared the plans, the person for whom the plans were prepared, a table of contents, and a location map showing the location of the site and area to be served.
(2) An exterior site plan identifying building dimensions of the transfer or treatment facility and the location of property boundaries and building setbacks, fencing, loading or unloading areas, vehicle staging and queuing locations, and parking areas.
(3) An interior site plan identifying location and size of all receiving, storage, temporary storage, including storage areas to be used to segregate unauthorized waste, radioactive waste, hazardous waste, and other untreated waste from treated waste, and processing areas, and location of treatment units, reusable container washing stations, and floor drains.
(4) A process flow diagram for all treatment units showing, piping and instrumentation, vents, and liquid discharge locations;
e. Documentation of the authorization to discharge into an approved sanitary sewer system or publicly or privately owned treatment works;
f. A certification that the facility meets the standards of Part III (9VAC20-121-100 et seq.) and Part IV (9VAC20-121-200 et seq.), as applicable, [ in a and a copy of the ] regulated medical waste management plan to be maintained in the operating record in accordance with 9VAC20-121-330. The certification shall also include a statement that the emergency contingency plan has been provided to the local police and fire departments, local emergency manager, and local emergency health coordinator;
g. Alternate treatment technologies shall provide a copy of the treatment technology approval;
h. A treatment plan for each treatment unit in accordance with 9VAC20-121-330 E;
i. For treatment facilities, a [ written agreement treated waste disposal plan ] in accordance with 9VAC20-121-280 D [ with each permitted solid waste management facility that will transfer, store, or dispose of treated waste ];
j. A closure plan in accordance with 9VAC20-121-330 G;
k. Demonstration of legal control over the site for the permit life;
l. A certification from the State Corporation Commission that the business entity pursing the permit-by-rule status is a valid entity, authorized to transact its business in Virginia. This requirement does not apply to those facilities owned solely by governmental units;
m. Closure cost estimates and proof of financial responsibility as required by the Financial Assurance Regulations for Solid Waste Disposal, Transfer, and Treatment Facilities (9VAC20-70). Proof of financial responsibility must be for the entity identified in subdivision A 2 l of this section. For treatment facilities, proof of financial responsibility is required prior to department approval to begin operation in accordance with 9VAC20-121-320; and
n. The applicable permit fees under the provisions of 9VAC20-90.
3. Public participation.
a. The applicant for a new regulated medical waste transfer station or treatment facility shall publish a notice once a week for two consecutive weeks in a major local newspaper of general circulation of the intent to construct and operate a facility eligible for a permit-by-rule. The notice shall include:
(1) A statement of the applicant's intent to apply for a permit-by-rule to operate a regulated medical waste transfer station or treatment facility;
(2) A brief description of the proposed facility and its location;
(3) A statement that the purpose of the public participation is to identify issues of concern, to facilitate communication and to establish a dialogue between the applicant and persons who may be affected by the facility;
(4) Announcement of a 30-day comment period, in accordance with subdivision A 3 d of this section;
(5) Announcement of the date, time, and location for a public meeting to be held in accordance with subdivision A 3 c of this section;
(6) The name, address, and telephone number of the owner's or operator's representative who can be contacted by interested persons to answer questions or receive comments on the siting and operation of the proposed regulated medical waste facility; and
(7) Location where copies of the documentation to be submitted to the department in support of the permit-by-rule notification can be viewed and copied in accordance with subdivision A 3 b of this section.
b. The owner or operator shall place a copy of the documentation and support documents in a location accessible to the public in the vicinity of the proposed facility.
c. The owner or operator shall hold a public meeting not earlier than 14 days after the publication of the notice required in subdivision A 3 a of this section and no later than seven days before the close of the 30-day comment period. The meeting shall be held to the extent practicable in the vicinity of the proposed facility at a time convenient for the public.
d. The public shall be provided 30 days to comment on the technical and the regulatory aspects of the proposal. The comment period will begin on the date the owner or operator publishes the first notice in the local newspaper.
e. The requirements of this section do not apply to the owners or operators of a regulated medical waste treatment unit that has received a permit from the department based on the regulations promulgated by the State Air Pollution Control Board or State Water Control Board that required facility-specific public participation procedures.
4. Upon receiving the certifications and other required documents, including the results of the public meeting and the applicant's response to the comments received, the department shall conduct a completeness review and respond within 30 days.
a. If the applicant's submission for a regulated medical waste transfer station is administratively complete, the applicant shall be deemed to operate under permit-by-rule status.
b. If the applicant's submission for a treatment unit is administratively complete, the applicant shall be deemed to operate under permit-by-rule status and granted authorization to initiate validation testing in accordance with an approved validation protocol and 9VAC20-121-320. The facility shall not accept regulated medical waste for treatment until the results of validation testing and operating parameters are submitted and approved by the department.
c. If the applicant's submission is administratively incomplete, the department will respond with a letter stating that the facility will not be considered to have a permit-by-rule or initiate the validation protocol until the missing certifications or other required documentation is submitted. At the time of the initial receipt or at a later date, the director may require changes in the documents designed to assure compliance with this chapter. Should such changes not be accomplished by the facility owner or operator, the facility will not be deemed to have a regulated medical waste management facility permit.
5. A permit-by-rule shall not be transferred by the permittee to a new owner or operator. However, when the property transfer takes place without proper closure, the new owner shall notify the department of the sale and fulfill all the requirements contained in subdivision A 2 of this section. Upon presentation of the financial assurance proof required by Financial Assurance Regulations for Solid Waste Disposal, Transfer, and Treatment Facilities (9VAC20-70) by the new owner, the department will release the former owner from the closure and financial responsibilities and acknowledge existence of the new permit-by-rule in the name of the new owner.
6. The owner or operator of a facility operating under a permit-by-rule may modify its design and operation by furnishing the department a new certificate and applicable permit fees under the provisions of 9VAC20-90. For modifications of design, the new certificate shall be prepared by a professional engineer and shall include new documentation required under subdivision A 2 of this section, as applicable, and subdivision A 3 of this section. For modifications to the operations, the owner or operator shall submit to the department a new certificate and documentation required under subdivision A 2 of this section, as applicable. For treatment units, a new treatment plan and revalidation with department approval to begin operation will be required for design and operation changes that include changing the treatment unit type, changing the treatment unit operating parameters, changes in waste stream, and adding a new treatment unit. Whenever modifications in the design or operation of the facility affect the provisions of the closure plan, the owner or operator shall revise the closure plan and submit to the department a new certificate and documentation required under subdivision A 2 of this section, as applicable. Should there be an increase in the closure costs, the owner or operator shall submit a new proof of financial responsibility as required by 9VAC20-70.
7. The director may terminate a regulated medical waste management facility's coverage under a permit-by-rule and require closure of the facility when the director finds that:
a. As a result of changes in key personnel, the requirements necessary for a permit-by-rule are no longer satisfied;
b. The applicant has knowingly or willfully misrepresented or failed to disclose a material fact in the disclosure statement or any other report or certification required under this chapter or has knowingly or willfully failed to notify the director of any material change to the information in the disclosure statement;
c. Any key personnel have been convicted of any of the crimes listed in § 10.1-1409 of the Code of Virginia, punishable as felonies under the laws of the Commonwealth or the equivalent under the laws of any other jurisdiction or has been adjudged by an administrative agency or a court of competent jurisdiction to have violated the environmental protection laws of the United States, the Commonwealth, or any other state, and the director determines that such conviction or adjudication is sufficiently probative of the permittee's inability or unwillingness to operate the facility in a lawful manner; or
d. The operation of the facility is inconsistent with the facility's regulated medical waste management plan or the requirements of Part IV (9VAC20-121-200 et seq.) of this chapter.
B. Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, in the event the director finds an imminent and substantial endangerment to human health or the environment, the director may issue a temporary emergency permit to a facility to allow transfer, treatment, or storage of regulated medical waste. Such permits:
1. May be issued to allow:
a. Transfer, treatment, or storage of regulated medical waste at a nonpermitted facility;
b. Transfer, treatment, or storage of types of regulated medical waste not covered by the permit for a facility with an effective permit;
c. Treatment of regulated medical waste by a new or temporary treatment unit or treatment unit or method not covered by the permit for a facility with an effective permit; or
d. Temporary transfer, treatment, or storage activities not covered by the permit for a facility with an effective permit.
2. If oral, the emergency permit shall be followed within five calendar days by a written emergency permit.
3. Shall not exceed 90 days in duration.
4. Shall clearly specify:
a. The regulated medical wastes to be received;
b. The manner and location of their transfer, treatment, storage, or disposal; and
c. For emergency treatment units, the treatment plan in accordance with 9VAC20-121-330 E.
5. Shall be accompanied by a public notice including:
a. Name and address of the office granting the emergency authorization;
b. Name and location of the facility so permitted;
c. A brief description of the wastes involved;
d. A brief description of the action authorized and reasons for authorizing it; and
e. Duration of the emergency permit.
6. Shall incorporate, to the extent possible and not inconsistent with the emergency situation, all applicable requirements of this chapter, and shall include the applicable permit fees under the provisions of 9VAC20-90.
7. For emergency treatment units, the facility shall not accept regulated medical waste for treatment until the results of validation testing and operating parameters are submitted and approved by the department.
8. Any permit issued under this subsection may be renewed not more than three times if necessary and with appropriate justification. Each such renewal shall be for a period of not more than 90 days.
A. A regulated medical waste treatment facility will be approved to perform its validation protocol following determination of a complete permit-by-rule application in accordance with the procedures outlined in 9VAC20-121-310. Before receipt of waste by the facility, the permittee must:
1. Arrange for a department representative to inspect the site to observe at least one validation test run and perform validation testing in accordance with approved protocols.
2. Submit to the department for approval a summary of the validation test results demonstrating the treatment effectiveness and specifying the operating parameters based on the results of all validation test runs. The report shall include the results of all validation test runs.
B. Following approval by the department of the validation results, a regulated medical waste treatment facility may begin receiving and treating regulated medical waste as defined in the permit-by-rule. The facility shall comply with the operating parameters necessary to achieve treatment. A regulated medical waste treatment facility shall not receive or treat regulated medical waste until the department has approved the validation results and operating parameters to be used for the treatment unit.
C. Each facility permitted to accept regulated medical waste requires periodic inspection and review of records and reports. By accepting coverage under a permit-by-rule in accordance with 9VAC20-121-310, the owner or operator agree to the specified periodic inspections.
D. Compliance with a valid permit-by-rule and this chapter during its term constitutes compliance for purposes of enforcement with the Virginia Waste Management Act. However, a permit-by-rule may be modified or terminated for cause as set forth in 9VAC20-121-310 A 6 and A 7.
E. A permit-by-rule does not convey any property rights or any sort or any exclusive privilege.
F. A permit-by-rule does not authorize any injury to persons or property or invasion of other private rights or any infringement of federal, state, or local law or regulations.
G. A permit-by-rule may be transferred by the permittee to a new owner or operator only if the permit-by-rule has been terminated and reissued or modified to identify the new owner or operator and incorporate such other requirements as may be necessary. Upon presentation of the financial assurance proof required by 9VAC20-70 by the new owner, the department will release the old owner from the old owner's closure and financial responsibilities and acknowledge existence of the new or modified permit-by-rule in the name of the new owner.
A. All permitted regulated medical waste management facilities, such as regulated medical waste transfer stations or treatment facilities, shall prepare and maintain a written regulated medical waste management plan. The plan shall include a certification page signed by a responsible official. This signature shall certify the plan meets the requirements of this chapter. The plan shall be maintained in the operating record and shall be made available for review by the department upon request. The plan shall include, at a minimum, the items in subsections B through G of this section.
B. A written waste acceptance plan, which includes, at a minimum:
1. Types and quantities of regulated medical waste to be managed, including sources of the waste and proposed service areas (if waste is accepted from offsite). The plan shall identify:
a. Acceptable waste types for treatment onsite (if applicable); and
b. Acceptable wastes types to be transferred to another approved facility for treatment or management offsite. The plan shall include a description of the offsite facility that will receive the waste, including [ the ] name, address, and telephone number for the receiving facility and how specific waste types will be managed.
2. Protocols for identification and segregation of regulated medical waste from other types of waste, including radioactive wastes, hazardous wastes, and other solid waste. The plan shall include a description of how incoming waste will be monitored to detect the presence of radioactive materials and actions that will be taken to verify the source of any alarm.
3. Procedures for handling Category A waste in accordance with 9VAC20-121-160.
4. Facilities that accept regulated medical waste from offsite shall include the following:
a. A description of onsite traffic control, schedules, and routing for waste delivery vehicle flow and methods of enforcement of traffic flow plans for the waste delivery vehicles;
b. Procedures for arrival confirmatory inspections of each delivery vehicle and their loads to ensure that the waste has been packaged and transported in accordance with the U.S. Department of Transportation Hazardous Materials Regulations and this chapter;
c. A description of how the waste will be off-loaded, weighed, and compared to the shipping paper that accompanies the waste and how any discrepancies will be resolved; and
d. For each generator or customer, the facility shall maintain a signed certificate, contract, or equivalent document for each load or inclusive of all loads received from the generator in which the generator affirms that the loads do not contain unauthorized waste.
5. Procedures for handling regulated medical waste received from onsite or offsite that is not packaged, labeled, or marked correctly; leaking, dented, ripped, torn, bulging, or otherwise damaged; or not accompanied by a shipping paper.
C. A written description of the procedures for the detection and management of unauthorized waste in accordance with 9VAC20-121-230 K. The plan shall contain, at a minimum:
1. A list of unauthorized waste types that are not acceptable for management at the facility.
2. Methods used by the operator to prevent management of unauthorized wastes, such as routine monitoring and observation of incoming waste, generator agreements, and informational materials.
3. Procedures to detect and address any unauthorized waste discovered at the facility, including the protocol for identifying and contacting the generator and to prevent recurrence.
4. Procedures for containing and storing each type of unauthorized waste, such as radioactive or hazardous waste, until it is removed for proper management, including designated storage locations, storage timeframes, packaging, and labeling.
5. Instructions for documenting and notifying the department of receipt and ultimate disposition of unauthorized waste.
D. A written operations plan that includes, at a minimum:
1. A general description of the overall process and equipment used. The plan shall include the following: hours of operation; process rate; procedures for daily startup; methods, containers, and other devices for the collection, off-loading, tipping, and conveyance of regulated medical waste from the point of generation or receipt to areas for processing; normal loading, unloading, and waste handling procedures; and timeframes for transfer or treatment.
2. Protocols for packaging and labeling regulated medical waste for treatment onsite or transport offsite, including protocols for labeling or marking wheeled carts, containers, conveyance systems, or other items used for moving regulated medical waste.
3. Procedures for temporary onsite storage of regulated medical waste until it is collected for treatment onsite or transport offsite. The plan shall identify each storage location and capacity, the maximum length of time the waste will be stored, and procedures used to document compliance with required storage timeframes.
4. Methods and equipment used to empty, clean, and disinfect reusable containers in accordance with 9VAC20-121-130, including types and quantities of reusable containers and disinfectant to be used, disinfection procedures utilized between uses, and final disposal in case of damage or wear and tear. The plan shall also include a description of appropriate personal protective equipment, such as puncture and leak resistant gloves, safety glasses or face shield, protective coveralls or bib, protective footwear, and mask or respiratory protection as needed, used to protect personnel when cleaning and disinfecting reusable containers.
5. Procedures for spill prevention and response and how spilled waste will be collected, packaged, and the spill area decontaminated in accordance with 9VAC20-121-140. This includes locations and contents of all spill containment and cleanup kits.
6. Names, addresses, and telephone number of final treatment or ultimate disposal facilities to be used for untreated waste and treated residues, facility-generated wastes, unauthorized waste, hazardous waste, radioactive waste, and other waste bypassed or disposed.
7. A description of equipment and procedures used to control access to areas used for the storage, transfer, and treatment of regulated medical waste. The plan shall identify all entry and exit points where access is controlled.
8. Methods and equipment used for routine cleaning and disinfection of facility equipment, floors, vehicles, and other surfaces that come into contact with regulated medical waste.
9. Measures used to control and monitor for fire, dust, noise, litter, odors, vectors, and blowing debris at the facility.
10. Collection and management of effluent, wash water, and other runoff from facility floors, storage and processing areas, waste compactors, and reusable container cleaning and disinfection areas, including location and discharge of drains.
11. Identification of all appropriate personal protective equipment, such as puncture and leak resistant gloves, safety glasses or face shield, protective coveralls or bib, protective footwear, and mask or respiratory protection as needed, and when the items are used to protect personnel managing regulated medical waste at the facility. The plan shall also include a description of donning and offing procedures for personal protective equipment.
12. A self-inspection plan that at a minimum includes copies of the inspection checklists that comply with 9VAC20-121-230 U [ of this chapter ] along with a description of the types of potential problems and corrective actions that may result from the inspections.
13. A schedule and description of initial and annual refresher training to be provided to employees in-person, in a language they can understand, including interactive training, and the types and numbers of adequately trained personnel. Initial training shall be provided within seven working days of employment, and annual refresher training shall be provided within one year from the date of the last training. Training shall include:
a. Operational procedures in accordance with 9VAC20-121-230 V;
b. Protocols to recognize, manage, document, and report unauthorized waste in accordance with 9VAC20-121-230 K;
c. Procedures for retraining staff when noncompliance or other incidents occur; and
d. Any other specialized waste training specific to the job function.
14. Procedures for recordkeeping in accordance with 9VAC20-121-340. The procedures shall address how inventory will be managed and methods used to track, link, and document specific incoming waste loads to specific outgoing waste loads.
15. A description of the type and estimated daily quantity of any facility-generated waste residues and procedures for handling and disposal of the residues.
E. A written treatment plan for each unit used to treat regulated medical waste that meets the standards of 9VAC20-121-240 and 9VAC20-121-250 and includes at a minimum:
1. A detailed description of the treatment technology to be used, including:
a. An overview of the treatment process and description of the treatment unit, including manufacturer, model name or number, and treatment capacity;
b. Procedures for equipment startup and shut down including warm-up, loading and unloading wastes, and anticipated load size during routine operation;
c. A description of built-in automatic controls and fail safe mechanisms to ensure the waste cannot bypass the treatment process;
d. If applicable, methods used to grind, shred, or puncture containers or packaging before, during, or after treatment, along with the methods to prevent exposure to the waste; contain any aerosol, bioaerosol, or mists caused by the process; and treat or filter any air evacuated from the chamber during processing;
e. If applicable, methods to transfer from a grinder or shredder to or from a treatment unit under forced draft ventilation that removes fumes from the operations area to a safe discharge;
f. Methods for maintaining negative pressure atmospheric control in the vessel and filtering all vents, discharges, and fugitive emissions of air from the process units through a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter with efficiency of 99.97% for 0.3 microns. Installation and maintenance of filters shall be specified;
g. Methods to manage effluent including location and discharge of drains; and
h. A description of preventative maintenance that is performed on the treatment unit, including on engineering and electronic controls.
2. Identification of acceptable waste types to be treated and a listing of types of wastes that shall not be treated.
3. Treatment unit operating parameters (e.g., cycle duration, temperature, pressure, chemical concentration, irradiation exposure time, or other treatment parameters as applicable) and a description of how the operating parameters will be monitored and recorded, including number, type, and location of parametric monitoring devices, thermochemical indicators, and thermochemical recording devices, as applicable for routine operation.
4. Identification of the biological indicators to be used and documentation that lack of growth in the treated indicator corresponds to a 6 [ log10 Log10 ] reduction of viable spores. An explanation of why each indicator is suitable for the treatment process and wastes to be treated, including referencing any standards, guidelines, or information from peer reviewed journals, shall be included. The facility shall also specify the:
a. Type of biological indicators (spore strip, suspension, or self-contained), including a copy of the supplier's certificate of performance (or certificate of analysis) that identifies the organism (genus, species, strain, and population), purity, and for thermal treatment systems (including autoclaves) the D-value, and Z-value;
b. Estimated shelf life and storage conditions to be maintained;
c. Culture medium, incubation procedures, and incubation time (for self-contained biological indicators) and the media, growth, and culture conditions (for non-self-contained biological indicators), including how the results are to be interpreted and recorded;
d. Carrier system or material and primary packaging;
e. Relative resistance to temperature, pressure, chemicals, irradiation, infectious agents, or any other conditions used in the treatment process; and
f. Number, location, and placement of untreated (control) and treated indicators relative to the coldest spot in the treatment unit as identified by the manufacturer.
5. Number, type, and placement of thermochemical indicators, including a description of how results will be interpreted and recorded.
6. A validation plan that includes a detailed description of the validation testing protocol used to demonstrate effective treatment by each treatment unit that meets the standards of 9VAC20-121-260 and includes:
a. Surrogate waste load composition, including packaging type, porosity, relative percentages of inorganic and organic components, moisture content, thermal resistance, and a relative breakdown of solid components, such as blood culture bottles, plastics (including suction canisters), microbiological waste, and sharps;
b. Load configuration including packing density, orientation, and load size;
c. Number, type, and location or placement of biological indicators; thermochemical indicators; thermochemical recording devices; and any other methods used to monitor operating parameters and accuracy of parametric monitoring devices during validation runs to ensure that the gauge or electronic read-out is a true reflection of conditions inside the treatment unit;
d. A description of how the results will be interpreted and documented; and
e. Identification of who will conduct the validation testing.
7. A detailed description of the periodic challenge testing procedures used to evaluate the effectiveness of each treatment device under full loading, which meets the standards of 9VAC20-121-270 and includes:
a. Frequency of challenge testing to be performed;
b. Number, type, and location or placement of biological and thermochemical indicators, and other methods used to monitor operating parameters;
c. A description of how the results will be interpreted and documented;
d. Procedures used to address challenge test failures, including evaluating and correcting any issues with the treatment cycle and unit, and management of untreated regulated medical waste to include temporary storage or diversion to another approved facility for treatment or disposal; and
e. Procedures for reporting failing results of challenge testing to the department in accordance with 9VAC20-121-340.
8. Identification of all appropriate personal protective equipment, such as puncture and leak resistant gloves, safety glasses or face shield, protective coveralls or bib, protective footwear, and mask or respiratory protection as needed, and when the items are used to protect personnel.
9. Safety procedures used to minimize occupational exposure and prevent physical injury to operators during loading, unloading, and treatment cycle.
10. Procedures for handling and disposing of treated wastes, including packaging, labeling, and transport.
11. A copy of the [ written agreement with each permitted solid waste management facility that will transfer, store, or dispose of the ] treated waste [ disposal plan ] in accordance with 9VAC20-121-280 D.
F. A written emergency contingency plan that describes the organized, planned, coordinated courses of action to be followed in the event of emergencies and nonoperation. In addition to submission to the department, the plan shall be provided to the local police and fire departments, local emergency manager, and local emergency health coordinator. The plan shall include:
1. Procedures to minimize hazards to human health and the environment from utility failure, fires or explosions, spills, leaks and releases, and exposure to regulated medical waste.
2. A description of the actions facility personnel shall take in the event of various emergency situations (fire, explosion, catastrophic loss, temporary shutdown, release of regulated medical waste or regulated medical waste constituents, or other incident that could threaten human health or the environment), including evacuation procedures.
3. A list of available fire protection and emergency equipment, and appropriate uses, such as fire extinguishers, emergency safety showers, eye wash stations, spill control materials, and alarm systems.
4. Procedures to be employed in the event of equipment breakdown or maintenance events, including standby equipment, extension of operating hours, or diversion of waste to another facility.
5. A list of onsite and offsite backup equipment with names and telephone numbers where offsite equipment may be obtained.
6. Provisions for loading, unloading, storage, transfer, treatment, or other disposal capabilities to be used during emergency situations, including when the facility downtime exceeds 24 hours.
7. The designation of alternate treatment areas or plans for transfer of stored waste in the event facility or system downtime exceeds 72 hours.
8. Procedures for spill cleanup and decontamination following a release of regulated medical waste.
9. A description of arrangements made with the local police and fire department that allow for immediate entry into the facility by their authorized representatives should the need arise, such as in the case of response personnel responding to an emergency situation.
10. The telephone numbers for local fire and police departments.
11. An identification of personnel designated as emergency coordinators. A list of names, addresses, and phone numbers (office and home) of all persons qualified to act as an emergency coordinator for the facility. Where more than one person is listed, one shall be named as primary emergency coordinator and the other shall be listed in the order in which they will assume responsibility as alternates. The emergency coordinator must be onsite or on-call and is responsible for responding to emergencies and coordinating emergency response measures.
12. A description of where and how emergency response information will be posted.
G. A written closure plan that identifies the steps necessary to completely close the facility or unit at its full operation under the permit conditions, which includes:
1. Procedures for removal of regulated medical waste, treated residue, and other materials for proper treatment or disposal;
2. Methods for cleaning and disinfecting the unit or facility and all related equipment, structures, and surfaces;
3. A description of any sampling to be conducted to ensure the facility has been decontaminated;
4. A schedule for final closure including, as a minimum, the anticipated date when wastes will no longer be received, the date when completion of final closure is anticipated, and intervening milestone dates that will allow tracking of the progress of closure; and
5. Actions necessary for facility abandonment or uses other than for regulated medical waste management.
A. Regulated medical waste management facilities having coverage under a permit-by-rule shall maintain and retain records and reports as required by this chapter.
B. A facility shall retain records whenever monitoring is required.
1. The facility shall retain records of all monitoring information, including all calibration and maintenance records and all original recordings for continuous monitoring instrumentation, for at least three years from the sample or measurement date. The director may request that this period be extended.
2. Records of monitoring information shall include:
a. The date, exact place, and time of sampling or measurements;
b. The name of the individuals who performed the sampling or measurements;
c. The date analysis were performed;
d. The name of the individuals who performed the analysis;
e. The analytical techniques or methods used; and
f. The results of such analyses.
C. The facility must maintain accurate written [ or digital ] records as required by this chapter. Records shall include all records required by the facility permit, this chapter, or other applicable regulations. Records must be maintained at the facility or another location approved by the department for at least three years from the date of the record, sample or measurement date, treatment date, shipping date, or receipt date. The department may request that this period be extended. Records shall be available for review by the department as requested.
D. The facility shall maintain a regulated medical waste management plan in the operating record in accordance with 9VAC20-121-330.
E. The owner or operator of a regulated medical waste management facility under a permit-by-rule that transfers or treats regulated medical waste, except for a captive regulated medical waste management facility, shall submit a Solid Waste Information and Assessment report to the department by March 31 of each year in accordance with 9VAC20-81-80.
F. A disclosure statement identifying all key personnel as required by § 10.1-1408.1 of the Code of Virginia shall be on file with the department and updated on a quarterly basis as necessary. At least one operator listed as key personnel on the facility's disclosure statement shall be licensed by the Board for Waste Management Facility Operators as required by § 10.1-1408.2 of the Code of Virginia.
G. If regulated medical waste is received from offsite, records shall be maintained for three years following receipt of the waste and shall include the date of receipt, name of each offsite generator, transporter, type and quantity (weight or volume) of waste received, and dates of subsequent treatment onsite or shipment offsite. The facility shall maintain a signed certificate, contract, or equivalent document for each load or inclusive of all loads received from offsite in which the generator affirms that the load does not contain hazardous waste or radioactive materials, unless the facility is permitted to receive those types of wastes.
H. If regulated medical waste is shipped or transferred offsite, the facility shall maintain records, including copies of all shipping papers, specifying the date of shipment, type, and quantity (weight or volume) of waste removed from the site and the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of both the transporters and the destination facility receiving the shipments for treatment or disposal.
I. A regulated medical waste treatment facility shall maintain an onsite treatment log at each treatment unit that is complete for the preceding three-year period. The log shall record the date, start time, end time, and operator of each treatment cycle; the type and quantity (weight or volume) of regulated medical waste treated onsite; monitoring records for the operating parameters (e.g. time, temperature, pressure, and chemical concentration) achieved throughout each treatment cycle; and the results of all validation and periodic challenge testing. Monitoring records shall include original recordings for continuous monitoring instrumentation and parametric controls as well as the results of all biological and thermochemical indicators. Where multiple treatment units are used, a working log can be maintained at each unit and such logs periodically consolidated at a central location as long as the records distinguish which treatment unit is applicable to each record. The consolidated logs shall be retained for three years and be available for review.
J. The facility shall retain records of all unauthorized waste in accordance with 9VAC20-121-230 K.
K. The facility must maintain a record of self-inspections in an inspection log. The log must include the date and time of the inspection, the name of the inspector, a description of the inspection, including the identity of the specific equipment and structures inspected, observations recorded, and the date and nature of any remedial actions implemented or repairs made.
L. Written documentation of all training received by each employee, including the date and topics of the training, shall be maintained in the facility's operating record.
M. A regulated medical waste management facility shall be subject to the following reporting requirements. The facility shall report to the department any noncompliance, emergency, or unusual condition that may endanger health, the environment, or the facility's operation. Any information shall be provided orally within 24 hours from the time the permittee becomes aware of the circumstances. A written submission shall also be provided within five working days of the time the facility becomes aware of the circumstances. The written report shall contain a description of the circumstances and its cause; the period of occurrence, including exact dates and times; and if the circumstance has not been corrected, the anticipated time it is expected to continue. It shall also contain steps taken or planned to reduce, eliminate, and prevent reoccurrence of the circumstances resulting in an unusual condition or noncompliance, to include retraining of staff as necessary. Reportable conditions include:
1. Any interruption to operations that requires implementation of the facility's emergency contingency plan or diversion of regulated medical waste to another management facility;
2. Releases or discharges of regulated medical waste from a fire, explosion, storm, or other emergency that could endanger human health or the environment outside the facility;
3. Unauthorized discharge of effluent, wash water, waste, or other pollutant to surface water (i.e., offsite, natural water body or tributary, including wetlands);
4. Spills of regulated medical waste in any areas not protected from the elements, such as outside of a building;
5. Storage of regulated medical waste beyond capacity or storage timeframes;
6. Failing results of periodic challenge testing;
7. Receipt or discovery of unauthorized waste;
8. Receipt of Category A waste; and
9. Shipment of regulated medical waste offsite in inappropriate packaging.
N. Copies of all reports required and records of all data used to complete the permit-by-rule application must be retained for at least three years from the date of the report or application. The director may request that this period be extended.
O. When the permittee becomes aware that the permittee failed to submit any relevant facts or submitted incorrect information in a permit-by-rule application or in any report to the department, the permittee shall promptly submit such omitted facts or the correct information with an explanation.
A. Any person affected by this chapter may apply to the department for a variance from any requirement of this chapter. Variance determinations shall be subject to the provisions of the Virginia Administrative Process Act (§ 2.2-4000 et seq. of the Code of Virginia).
B. The department shall not accept any variance application relating to:
1. Equivalent testing or analytical methods contained in EPA Publication SW-846;
2. A change in the regulatory requirements that the applicant is currently violating until such time as the violation has been resolved through the enforcement process.
A. The director may grant a variance from any regulation contained in Part III (9VAC20-121-20 et seq.) through Part V (9VAC20-121-300 et seq.) of this chapter to an applicant if the applicant demonstrates to the satisfaction of the director that:
1. a. Strict application of the regulation to the facility will result in undue hardship that is caused by the applicant's particular situation;
b. The alternate is equally protective of human health and the environment as that provided for in the regulations; or
c. Technical conditions exist that make a strict application of the regulation difficult to achieve; and
2. Granting the variance will not result in an unreasonable risk to the public health or the environment.
B. Effects of the decisions.
1. When the director renders a decision under this section in accordance with the procedures contained in 9VAC20-121-420, the director may:
a. Deny the application;
b. Grant the variance as requested; or
c. Grant a modified or partial variance.
2. When a variance is granted, the director may:
a. Specify the termination date of the variance; or
b. Include a schedule for:
(1) Compliance, including increments of progress, by the facility with each requirement of the variance; and
(2) Implementation by the facility of such control measures as the director finds necessary in order that the variance may be granted.
A. Persons requesting variance from a provision of this chapter shall submit an application for such variance in accordance with this section.
1. All applications submitted to the director shall include:
a. The applicant's name and address;
b. A statement of applicant's interest in the proposed action;
c. A description of the desired action and a citation to the regulation from which a variance is requested;
d. A description of the need and justification for the proposed action;
e. The duration of the variance, if applicable;
f. The potential impact of the variance on public health or the environment;
g. Other information believed by the applicant to be pertinent; and
h. The following statements signed by the applicant or his authorized representative:
"I certify that I have personally examined and am familiar with the information submitted in this application and all attached documents, and that, based on my inquiry of those individuals immediately responsible for obtaining the information, I believe that the submitted information is true, accurate, and complete. I am aware that there are significant penalties for submitting false information, including the possibility of fine and imprisonment."
2. In addition to the general information required of all applicants under this part:
a. To be successful the applicant shall address the applicable standards and criteria;
b. An explanation of the applicant's particular situation that prevents the facility from achieving compliance with the cited regulation; and
c. Other information as may be required by the department.
B. The variance application shall be processed in accordance with this subsection.
1. After receiving an application that includes the information required in subsection A of this section, the director will determine whether the information received is sufficient to render the decision. If the information is deemed to be insufficient, the director will request that additional information be furnished.
2. The applicant may submit the additional information requested or may demonstrate that the additional information should not be required. If the director agrees that the additional information should not be required, the director will act in accordance with subdivision 3 of this subsection.
3. After the application is deemed complete:
a. The director will make a tentative decision to grant or deny the variance request.
b. If the variance request is tentatively denied, the director will offer the applicant the opportunity to withdraw the request, submit additional information, or proceed with the evaluation.
c. The director will issue a notice tentatively granting the variance request. Notification of this tentative decision will be provided by newspaper advertisement in the locality where the applicant is located. The director will accept comment on the tentative decision for 30 days.
d. After evaluating all public comments, the director will, within 15 days after the expiration of the comment period:
(1) Notify the applicant of the final decision; and
(2) Notify all persons who commented on the tentative decision.
C. Decision resolution.
1. In the case of a denial, the applicant has a right to request a formal hearing to challenge the rejection.
2. If the director grants a variance request, the notice to the applicant shall provide that the variance may be terminated upon a finding by the director that the applicant has failed to comply with any variance requirements.
Local Government Certification Request, DEQ Form CERT 01 (rev. 8/2018)
Regulated Medical Waste Management Facility Permit-by-Rule Form, DEQ Form RMW PBR (eff. 1/2022)
[ Managing Solid Waste Contaminated with a Category A Infectious Substance (August 2019), approved for publication by the National Security Council (NSC)-led Domestic Resilience Group (DRG) on August 19, 2019.