State Adoption: Hazardous Waste Pharmaceuticals Rule
JULY 5, 2019
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published its final rule on the Management Standards for Hazardous Waste Pharmaceuticals in February 2019.
These new regulations require many health care entities and retailers to examine hazardous waste management practices. Failure to comply with any part can result in costly fines and brand damage.
State-by-state adoption will be long and varied, and the Clean Earth team continues to monitor the latest activity. Please find the federal regulatory timeline for state adoption below.
Effective Aug. 21, 2019
The rule is effective on this date for the states listed below because both states don’t have a state-authorized Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) program:
- Alaska
- Iowa
Additionally, the rule is effective on Aug. 21 in the following states since these states adopt rules on their effective dates:
- Kentucky
- New Jersey
- Pennsylvania
Effective July 1, 2021
Authorized states adopt the rule on this date.
Effective July 1, 2022
Authorized states requiring statutory amendments must adopt the rule on this date.
Other Effective Dates
Additionally, there are states that have provided preliminary information on the rule.
North Carolina will adopt the nicotine exception on Aug. 21, 2019, but it will take nine months to a year to adopt Subpart P. Minnesota is adopting some portions of the rule immediately and is beginning to host industry outreach on proposed rulemaking.
The state of New York announced plans to begin its rulemaking process this summer, while Virginia announced plans to adopt it no later than Sept. 30, 2019.
Wisconsin plans to adopt the rule in late 2019. South Dakota has slated fall 2019, and Rhode Island is anticipated for late 2019.
It is important to note that no facility should make any changes to its programs until the rules take effect under the scheduled timeline.
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