Objectives

1. Promoting Voluntary Effortsto Reduce Dental Mercury Releasesto WastewaterMark McMillanColorado Department of Public Health and EnvironmentOctober 29, 2004

2. Objectives • Why this project, this place? • Project phases • Applying project results statewide

3. Why this project, this place? • March 2002 - Enforcement action against CF&I Steel (dba Rocky Mountain Steel Mills) • $1,800,000 penalty largely applied to Pueblo-based Supplemental Environmental Projects (SEPs): • $500,000: Community-Based Projects • $500,000: Alternative Energy Projects • $500,000: Mercury Removal Projects • ($300,000: Civil Penalty)

4. Why this project, this place? Mercury Removal Projects: • $400,000 – Mercury Switch Removal Project http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/hm/mercury/mercuryhom.asp • $100,000 – Other Pueblo-Based Mercury Pollution Prevention Projects

5. Why this project, this place? • Interest and support from CDPHE Water Quality Control Division • Hg in surface water can bioaccumulate in fish tissue, posing risk to wildlife and humans that eat contaminated fish • 41 states, including Colorado, have issued fish-advisories due to Hg contamination • POTWs may face increasing challenges meeting new, lowered discharge limits for Hg (due to new EPA standard test method)

6. Why this project, this place? • Dentists are a known source of Hg discharges to wastewater in Colorado • An Evaluation of the Source Impacts and Control of Mercury. Al Garcia, Littleton-Englewood Wastewater Treatment Plant, 2002. • Dental Hg releases to wastewater can be minimized through best management practices • Pueblo-based pilot project results may be transferable throughout the stateProject funding: $50,000

7. Project Phases • Phase 1: Dental Survey/Data Collection • Phase 2: Focused Outreach Effort • Phase 3: Measurement of Project Value and Success

8. Phase 1: Dental Survey/ Data Collection • Survey Purpose: To assess the use of BMP and BAT among Pueblo dentists, and to identify areas for outreach and improvement • Survey results are summarized in:Dental Mercury Pollution PreventionPhase I Summary Report, Tetra Tech EMI Inc., February 2004.

9. Phase 1: Dental Survey/ Data Collection • December 2003: Survey mailed to 59 dentists at 51 practices in Pueblo that either use or remove mercury-containing amalgam • Survey Response Rate: • 41 out of 59 dentists responded (69%) • 40 out of 51 practices responded (78%)

10. Phase 1: Dental Survey Results

11. Phase 1: Dental Survey Results

12. Mercury Amalgam Separators(The Hg5 Mercury Amalgam Separator System by SolmeteX Inc) • Typically designed for in-line installation between the chair-side water drain and vacuum pump. • Removes particles through physical and chemical processes, including: sedimentation, centrifugation, filtration, and ion exchange. • Must be at least 96% efficient to be ISO certified. • Required by law in Maine. Under consideration in seven other states. • Typical cost: $500 - $7,500(Ref. Journal of ADA)

13. Phase 1: Dental Survey/ Data Collection • American Dental Association: “Best Management Practices for Amalgam Waste,” February 2003: • “Amalgam should not be disposed of in the garbage, infectious waste ‘red bag,’ or sharps container…. because some communities incinerate municipal garbage, medical waste, and sludge from wastewater treatment plants.” • ADA strongly recommends recycling as a primary best management practice

14. Phase 1: Dental Survey Results

15. Phase 1: Dental Survey Results

16. Phase 1: Dental Survey Results

17. Phase 1: Dental Survey Results

18. Phase 1: Dental Survey Results

19. Phase 2: Focused Outreach • Dental Hg Fact Sheet • Panel Seminar • Increased Involvement by the Colorado Dental Association (CDA)

20. Phase 2: Dental Hg Fact Sheet • Regulatory Outlook for Pueblo Dentists • Mercury Amalgam Separators • Vendors, Operation/Maintenance, Cost • Mercury Recycling • Recyclers, Materials, Methods, Cost • BMP Scorecard

21. Phase 2: Panel Seminar • May 18, 2004 at Pueblo City-County Library • Agenda: • Welcome and Introduction by CDA • Regulatory Outlook for Pueblo Dentists • Mercury Amalgam Separators • Vendors, types of separators, installation considerations, operation/maintenance • Mercury Recycling • Vendors, types of recyclables, how to implement a recycling program • Breakout Session

22. Phase 3: Measurement of Project Value and Success • Follow-up Survey to Pueblo Dentists – May 2004 • Final Summary Report - August 2004 • Summary of Project Results: BMPs/BATs implemented, Hg releases prevented, life cycle of Hg captured • Lessons Learned: Barriers to amalgam separator implementation • Recommendations for project improvement • Recommendations for statewide implementation • Project Follow-up – 2005

23. Overall Conclusions From Dental P2 Effort • Surveys Useful for Gauging Interest, Gathering Information • Dentists Thought Fact Sheet, BMP Insert, Meetings Worthwhile • Voluntary Programs May Limit Need for Regulations • Voluntary Programs Allow Participants to Customize Their Role • Efforts Transferable

24. Applying Project Results Statewide • Pueblo pilot project is a first-step in providing compliance assistance to Colorado POTWs charged with meeting new, lowered discharge permit limits for Hg. • Outreach materials, including dental fact-sheet, vendor information, and panel seminar materials, will be made transferable through out the state. • Outreach materials and ongoing summary reports available at: http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/hm/mercury/dental.asp

25. Comments/Questions/Ideas? • Contact: • Mark McMillanCDPHE Mercury Programmark.mcmillan@state.co.us, 303-692-3140 • Rick KoplitzWater Quality Control Division, CDPHErick.koplitz@state.co.us ,303-692-3618 • Paul Cozetta Water Quality Control, City of Pueblo pcozzetta@pueblo.us, 729-544-3453