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TITLE 30ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
PART 1TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
CHAPTER 326MEDICAL WASTE MANAGEMENT
SUBCHAPTER FOPERATIONS REQUIRING A REGISTRATION
RULE §326.75Site Operating Plan

  (1) The design capacity of the facility shall not be exceeded during operation. The facility shall not accumulate solid waste in quantities that cannot be processed within such time as will preclude the creation of odors, insect breeding, or harborage of other vectors. If such accumulations occur, additional solid waste shall not be received until the adverse conditions are abated.

  (2) If a significant work stoppage should occur at a solid waste processing facility due to a mechanical breakdown or other causes, the facility shall accordingly restrict the receiving of solid waste. Under such circumstances, incoming solid waste shall be diverted to an approved backup processing or disposal facility. If the work stoppage is anticipated to last long enough to create objectionable odors, insect breeding, or harborage of vectors, steps shall be taken to remove the accumulated solid waste from the facility to an approved backup processing or disposal facility.

  (3) The owner or operator shall have alternative processing or disposal procedures for the solid waste in the event that the facility becomes inoperable for periods longer than 24 hours.

(o) Sanitation.

  (1) The owner or operator shall provide potable water and sanitary facilities for all employees and visitors.

  (2) At processing facilities, all working surfaces that come in contact with wastes shall be washed down on a weekly basis at the completion of processing. Processing facilities that operate on a continuous basis shall be swept daily and washed down at least twice per week.

  (3) Wash waters shall not be accumulated on site without proper treatment to prevent the creation of odors or an attraction to vectors.

  (4) All wash waters shall be collected and disposed of in an authorized manner.

(p) Ventilation and air pollution control. All facilities and air pollution abatement devices must obtain authorization, under Texas Health and Safety Code (THSC), Chapter 382 (Texas Clean Air Act) and Chapter 106 or 116 of this title (relating to Permits by Rule; and Control of Air Pollution by Permits for New Construction or Modification), from the Air Permits Division prior to the commencement of construction, except as authorized in THSC, §382.004. Additionally, all facilities and air pollution abatement devices must operate in compliance with all applicable air related rules including Chapter 101 of this title (relating to General Air Quality Rules) related to prevention of nuisance odors, minimizing maintenance, startup and shutdown emissions, and emission event reporting and recordkeeping.

(q) Health and safety. Facility personnel shall be trained in the appropriate sections of the facility's health and safety plan.

(r) Disposal of treated medical waste. Medical wastes that have been treated in accordance with the provisions of 25 TAC §1.136 may be managed as routine municipal solid waste unless otherwise specified in paragraphs (1) - (5) of this subsection.

  (1) Incinerator ash shall be disposed of in a permitted landfill in accordance with Chapter 330 of this title (relating to Municipal Solid Waste).

  (2) Treated microbiological waste, blood, blood products, body fluids, laboratory specimens of blood and tissue, and animal bedding may be disposed of in a permitted landfill. Any markings that identify the waste as a medical waste shall be covered with a label that identifies the waste as treated medical waste. The identification of the waste as treated may be accomplished by the use of color-coded, disposable containers for the treated waste or by a label that states that the contents of the disposable container have been treated in accordance with the provisions of 25 TAC §1.136.

  (3) Treated carcasses and body parts of animals designated as a medical waste may, after treatment, be disposed of in a permitted landfill in accordance with Chapter 330 of this title. The collection and transportation of these wastes shall conform to the applicable local ordinance or rule, if such ordinance or rule is more stringent than this subsection.

  (4) Treated recognizable human body parts, tissues, fetuses, organs, and the products of human abortions, spontaneous or induced, shall not be disposed of in a municipal solid waste landfill. These items shall be disposed of in accordance with the provisions of 25 TAC §1.136(a)(4).

  (5) Sharps treated and containerized with one of the approved methods as described under 25 TAC §1.136(a)(5) shall be disposed of in a permitted landfill in accordance with Chapter 330 of this title. Unused sharps shall be disposed of as treated sharps.


Source Note: The provisions of this §326.75 adopted to be effective May 26, 2016, 41 TexReg 3697

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