The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) expects as many as 90 of the state’s 500 sewerage districts will need to develop and implement a Mercury Pollutant Minimization Program (MPMP) to reduce mercury flow to the greatest extent possible in the coming years. How this impacts dentists will depend on whether their sewerage district must comply with MPMP requirements.

At this time, the WDA is aware of amalgam separator mandates (not voluntary) and timelines in the following localities (note this is the most current information we have and will post new information as it becomes available):

Chippewa Falls

Applies to all dental offices that place or remove amalgam.

Best Management Practices (BMPs) – immediately 4-11-08

Installation of Separators – April 1, 2009

All dental facilities are required to complete the 5B form within 45 days and return to:

George Hobbs
Wasterwater Supervisor
1125 W River St.
Chippewa Falls, WI  54729

Fax 715-720-6918

Questions call 715-726-2745

Once the amalgam separator has been installed, the separate certification form must be sent back to the city of Chippewa Falls as well. 

Dane County

Applies to all dental offices that place or remove amalgam.

Best Management Practices (BMPs) - Dec. 31, 2008

Installation of Separators - Dec. 31, 2008

Reporting Requirements:

February 1, 2009 and annually thereafter, dental clinics will submit reporting information to the District using forms provided by the District to include: the date the amalgam separator was installed; the manufacturer name and model number of the separator; certification that the amalgam separator was installed and is being operated and maintained in accordance with instructions provided by the manufacturer; certification that best management practices for amalgam are being implemented; any other information deemed relevant by the district.

Waste Management Reporting Requirements: 

Not date specific.  Please see Waste Management Reporting Requirements at the end of this article.

Eau Claire

Applies to all dental offices that place or remove amalgam.

Preliminary Requirements:

March, 2007: Official Dental Facility Mercury Checklist (received from city of Eau Claire) must be certified and returned to the City of Eau Claire with dates of implementation listed or dates of planned future implementation.

Best Management Practices (BMPs): Immediately

Installation of Separators -  Jan. 1, 2008

Reporting Requirements:

Submit an “Amalgam Separator Installation Certification Form” within 30 days of installation of the amalgam separator.  Additionally, each dental office must maintain training, disposal and equipment maintenance records on site, available for inspection.

La Crosse

La Crosse Wastewater Utility had developed and is implementing a Mercury Pollutant Minimization Program (PMP) using guidance from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. 

Best Management Practices (BMPs) – implement immediately, return FORM 5B Dental Facility Mercury Checklist – by Wednesday, March 26th, 2008 to:

La Crosse Wastewater Utility
Attn: Jeff DeJarlais
905 Houska Park Dr
La Crosse, WI  54601

Menomonie

Applies to all dental offices that place or remove amalgam.

Best Management Practices (BMPs) - Immediately

Installation of Separators - July 1, 2010.

Reporting Requirements:

All dental facilities are required to complete the 5B form and return by March 1, 2010 to:

Paul Sterk
Wastewater Utility Superintendent
800 Wilson Avenue
Menomonie, WI  54751

FAX 715-232-2249

Questions call 715-232-2175

Installation Reporting Requirements:

Once the amalgam separator has been installed, the separate certification form must be sent back to the city of Menomonie.

Milwaukee

Applies to all dental offices that place or remove amalgam.

Best Management Practices (BMPs) – Immediately

Installation of Separators - Feb. 1, 2008

Reporting Requirements:

Feb. 1, 2005 each dental office shall submit a report that certifies the implementation of the management practices and identifies the contractors used to remove amalgam waste within the last 12 months.

Feb. 1, 2006 each dental office shall provide a schedule for the installation of the amalgam separator.

Installation Reporting Requirements:

Feb. 1, 2007.  Please see Installation Reporting Requirements below for details.

Waste Management Reporting Requirements:

Not date specific. Dental offices shall maintain these records for a minimum of five years.  Dental offices shall make these records available to the District for inspection and copying upon request from the District.  Please see Waste Management Reporting Requirements below for details.

Neenah-Menasha

Applies to all dental offices that place or remove amalgam.

Best Management Practices (BMPs) – Immediately

Installation of Separators: June 1, 2008

Reporting Requirements:

March 1, 2006: Each dental office submit a report that certifies the implementation of the best management practices for amalgam and identifies the contractors used to remove amalgam waste within the last twelve months.  This report shall also include information on the status of your facilities installation of an amalgam separator. 

Jan. 5, 2007, each dental office shall provide a schedule for the installation of the amalgam separator.

Installation Reporting Requirements:

Feb. 1, 2008.  See Installation Reporting Requirements below for details.

Waste Management Reporting Requirements:

These records shall be maintained for a minimum of three years and dental offices shall submit these records to the NMSC by Dec. 1 each year.  Please see Waste Management Reporting Requirements below for details.

Racine

Applies to all dental offices that place or remove amalgam.

Best Management Practices (BMPs) – Immediately

Installation of Separators - Feb. 1, 2008

Reporting Requirements:

July 31, 2007: all dental offices shall submit a report that certifies the implementation of the management practices and identifies the contractors used to remove amalgam waste within the last twelve months. 

Oct. 1, 2007: all dental offices shall provide a schedule for the installation of the amalgam separator. 

Installation Reporting Requirements:

Nov. 1, 2007.  Please see Installation Reporting Requirements below for details.

Waste Management Reporting Requirements:

Not date specific.  Dental offices shall maintain these records for a minimum of five years.  Dental offices shall make these records available to the Racine Wastewater Utility for inspection and copying upon request from the Utility.  Please see Waste Management Reporting Requirements below for details. 

Watertown

Best Management Practices (BMPs) – Immediately; all dental offices

Installation of Separators - Jan. 1, 2008

Reporting Requirements:

Jan. 1, 2008 each dental office shall submit a report to the Wastewater Manager that certified the implementation of the best management practices.

June 30, 2008 each dental office shall provide a schedule to the Wastewater Manager for the installation of the amalgam separator.

Installation Reporting Requirements:

Sept. 30, 3008.  Please see Installation Reporting Requirements below for details.

Waste Management Reporting Requirements:

Not date specific.  Please see Waste Management Reporting Requirements below for details.

Jan. 15, 2009 and the same date in all years in the future, a report must be submitted to the City of Watertown Wastewater Treatment Plant to include dates the amalgam separator was emptied along with a copy from a certified contractor which identifies the contractor and amount removed.

Waukesha

Per the City of Waukesha Wastewater Treatment Plan, amalgam separators must be in place by Dec. 31, 2008.

3-6-08 Letter from Dept of Public Works Wastewater Treatment Plant sent to offices stating requirement date.  Requested to complete enclosed checklist to help plant find out what Best Mgnt Practices (BMPs) are already in use; and by end of October, a similar list will need to be submitted.

- Submit Form 5B, initial checklist by 3-31-08.  For multi-dentist offices, use one checklist, but list names of all dentists on the checklist.

- By Oct. 31, 2008, submit report forms documenting implementation of all BMPs and progress on separator installation (forms will be mailed to offices).

- Install amalgam separators the meet ISO 11143 standards by Dec. 31, 2008.

Tim Young – Pretreatment Coordinator – City of Waukesha Wastewater Treatment Plant
262-524-3628
tyoung@ci.waukesha.wi.us

If your office resides in an area that is does not have a separator mandate in place, the WDA advises its members to establish basic dental waste recycling programs by following the Best Management Practices. If there is a separator mandate in place for your area and it is not listed on the above list, please contact the WDA so it can be added to this list. For more information, view the amalgam section of this Web site. Brochures and a DVD also are available by calling the WDA Legislative Office at (toll-free) 888-538-8932.