EPA Inaction in Identifying Hazardous Waste

EPA Inaction in Identifying Hazardous Waste

EPA Inaction in Identifying Hazardous Waste.  The Office of Inspector General is an independent office within the EPA that helps the Agency protect the environment in a more efficient and cost effective manner. The Office performs audits, evaluations, and investigations of EPA and its contractors, to promote economy and efficiency, and to prevent and detect fraud, waste, and abuse.

On May 25 the EPA office of Inspector General issued a report entitled “EPA Inaction in Identifying Hazardous Waste Pharmaceuticals May Result in Unsafe Disposal”. This report is very critical of EPA’s lack of enforcement in healthcare and points out that no real changes have been made to the hazardous drug list since 1980. The report goes on to give examples of drugs which qualify to be P or U listed but are unregulated. The report compels the EPA to respond to the issues they questioned within 90 days and the EPA’s response be made available to the public. Below is a summary of the report, proposed solutions, as well as recommendations and key findings:

Brief Summary of Report: Problems Identified
• Federal EPA has not used its authority to regulate pharmaceutical waste since 1980.
• EPA does not have an established process for identifying and reviewing pharmaceuticals that
may qualify for regulation as hazardous waste.
• Healthcare facilities such as hospitals are generally unaware of RCRA regulatory requirements
resulting in mismanagement of pharmaceutical waste.
• UPW (Universal Pharmaceutical Waste) is no longer being considered, however, new hazardous
waste pharmaceutical regulations will be proposed by March of 2013.
Report Recommendations
• Identify and review existing pharmaceuticals to determine if they qualify for regulation
as hazardous waste.
• Establish a process to review pharmaceuticals for regulation as hazardous waste.
• Develop a nationally consistent outreach program to assist hospitals in complying with
RCRA regulations