{"abstract":"EPA is proposing technology-based pretreatment standards under the Clean Water Act (CWA) for discharges of pollutants into publicly owned treatment works (POTWs) from existing and new dental practices that discharge dental amalgam. Dental amalgam contains mercury in a highly concentrated form that is relatively easy to collect and recycle. Dental offices are the main source of mercury discharges to POTWs. Mercury is a persistent and bioaccumulative pollutant in the environment with well-documented neurotoxic effects on humans. Mercury pollution is widespread and comes from many diverse sources such as air deposition from municipal and industrial incinerators and combustion of fossil fuels. Mercury easily becomes diffuse in the environment and mercury pollution is a global problem. Removing mercury from the waste stream when it is in a concentrated and easy to handle form like in waste dental amalgam is an important and commonsense step to take to prevent that mercury from being released back into the environment where it can become diffuse and a hazard to humans. The proposal would require dental practices to comply with requirements for controlling the discharge of mercury and other metals in dental amalgam into POTWs based on the best available technology or best available demonstrated control technology. Specifically, the requirements would be based on the use of amalgam separators and best management practices (BMPs). Amalgam separators are a practical, affordable and readily available technology for capturing mercury and other metals before they are discharged into sewers and POTWs. EPA is also proposing to amend selected parts of the General Pretreatment Regulations to streamline oversight requirements for the dental sector. EPA expects compliance with this proposed rule would reduce the discharge of metals to POTWs by at least 8.8 tons per year, about half of which is mercury. EPA estimates the annual cost of the proposed rule would be $44 to $49 million.","action":"Proposed rule.","agencies":[{"raw_name":"ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY","name":"Environmental Protection Agency","id":145,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/environmental-protection-agency","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/145","parent_id":null,"slug":"environmental-protection-agency"}],"body_html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/html/2014/10/22/2014-24347.html","cfr_references":[{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":403,"title":40},{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":441,"title":40}],"citation":"79 FR 63258","comment_url":null,"comments_close_on":"2014-11-21","correction_of":null,"corrections":[],"dates":"Comments on this proposed rule must be received on or before December 22, 2014. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), comments on the information collection provisions must be received by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on or before November 21, 2014. EPA will conduct a public hearing on November 10, 2014 at 1 p.m. in the William J. Clinton Building--East Room 1153, 1201 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC.","disposition_notes":null,"docket_ids":["EPA-HQ-OW-2014-0693","FRL-9911-63-OW"],"dockets":[],"document_number":"2014-24347","effective_on":null,"end_page":63286,"executive_order_notes":null,"executive_order_number":null,"explanation":null,"full_text_xml_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/xml/2014/10/22/2014-24347.xml","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2014/10/22/2014-24347/effluent-limitations-guidelines-and-standards-for-the-dental-category","images":{},"images_metadata":{},"json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/documents/2014-24347?publication_date=2014-10-22","mods_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/metadata/granule/FR-2014-10-22/2014-24347/mods.xml","not_received_for_publication":null,"page_length":29,"page_views":{"count":3974,"last_updated":"2026-04-04 18:15:03 -0400"},"pdf_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2014-10-22/pdf/2014-24347.pdf","presidential_document_number":null,"proclamation_number":null,"public_inspection_pdf_url":"https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2014-24347.pdf?1413895992","publication_date":"2014-10-22","raw_text_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2014/10/22/2014-24347.txt","regulation_id_number_info":{"2040-AF26":{"issue":"201610","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/2040-AF26/effluent-guidelines-and-standards-for-the-dental-point-source-category","title":"Effluent Guidelines and Standards for the Dental Point Source Category","xml_url":"http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaViewRule?pubId=201610&RIN=2040-AF26&operation=OPERATION_EXPORT_XML","priority_category":"Other Significant"}},"regulation_id_numbers":["2040-AF26"],"regulations_dot_gov_info":{"supporting_documents":[{"title":"Memorandum to the Record: Vacuum Pump Efficiency Based on Impellers - DCN DA00465","document_id":"EPA-HQ-OW-2014-0693-0640"},{"title":"Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District Mercury Program for Dental Facilities - DCN DA00552","document_id":"EPA-HQ-OW-2014-0693-0637"},{"title":"Maine Department of Environmental Protection Dental Amalgam Separator Systems Law Summary - DCN DA00539","document_id":"EPA-HQ-OW-2014-0693-0631"},{"title":"Louisiana Environmental Regulatory Code Title 33 Environmental Quality Part I. Office of the Secretary - DA DCN00543","document_id":"EPA-HQ-OW-2014-0693-0610"},{"title":"State of Michigan 94th Legislature - Enrolled House Bill No. 6307 - DCN DA00533","document_id":"EPA-HQ-OW-2014-0693-0603"},{"title":"New Mexico Board of Dental Health Care - Title 16 Occupational and Professional Licensing, Chapter 5 Dentistry, Part 58 Dental Amalgam Waste - DCN DA00529","document_id":"EPA-HQ-OW-2014-0693-0600"},{"title":"Mobile and Portable Dental Services in Preschool and School Settings: Complex Issues. - DCN DA00522","document_id":"EPA-HQ-OW-2014-0693-0596"},{"title":"AB Dental Trends The Field Proven Rasch Amalgam Separator (website) - DCN DA00475","document_id":"EPA-HQ-OW-2014-0693-0545"},{"title":"R&D Services The Amalgam Collector: Pricing and How to Order (website) - DCN DA00473","document_id":"EPA-HQ-OW-2014-0693-0543"},{"title":"Rebec Environmental Amalgam Separators (website) - DCN DA00472","document_id":"EPA-HQ-OW-2014-0693-0542"}],"regulatory_plan":{"html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/2040-AF26/effluent-guidelines-and-standards-for-the-dental-point-source-category","title":"Effluent Guidelines and Standards for the Dental Point Source Category"},"comments_url":"https://www.regulations.gov/docketBrowser?rpp=50&so=DESC&sb=postedDate&po=0&dct=PS&D=EPA-HQ-OW-2014-0693","supporting_documents_count":442,"docket_id":"EPA-HQ-OW-2014-0693","regulation_id_number":"2040-AF26","title":"Effluent Limitation Guidelines and Standards for the Dental Category","checked_regulationsdotgov_at":"2015-02-21T05:00:12Z"},"regulations_dot_gov_url":null,"significant":true,"signing_date":null,"start_page":63258,"subtype":null,"title":"Effluent Limitations Guidelines and Standards for the Dental Category","toc_doc":"Effluent Limitations Guidelines and Standards for the Dental Category","toc_subject":null,"topics":["Environmental protection","Mercury","Waste treatment and disposal","Water pollution control"],"type":"Proposed Rule","volume":79}