§ 23-24.9-9.1. Legislative findings.
(a) The general assembly further finds:
(1) In 1998, the Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers (NEG/ECP) established a landmark goal to “virtually eliminate” mercury emissions in the region.
(2) The Governors’ Mercury Task Force has set a goal of having seventy-five percent (75%) of dentists in the region install dental amalgam separators by the end of 2007 and ninety-five percent (95%) of dentists have them in place by the end of 2010.
(3) The Rhode Island Dental Association, the professional association representing the majority of the State’s dentists has been pro-active in adopting best management practices in handling disposal of dental amalgam.
(4) On Earth Day 2003 the United States Environmental Protection Agency awarded to the Rhode Island Dental Association the New England Region Environmental Merit Award for its mercury reduction efforts.
(5) In 2004 the Rhode Island Dental Association in cooperation with the Narragansett Bay Commission began a pilot program to adopt dental office best management practices.
(6) In 2004 the Narragansett Bay Commission awarded to the Rhode Island Dental Association its Environmental Merit Award for Pollution Prevention.
(7) By the end of 2005, all Rhode Island dental offices within the Narragansett Bay Commission’s jurisdiction had adopted Best Management Practices to prevent wastewater pollution.
(8) The department of environmental management is concerned about the contribution of mercury to the environment from amalgam waste disposed of into all wastewater discharges, including septic systems.
(9) Beginning in 2005, the Rhode Island Dental Association, working with the wastewater treatment facility operators in the Pawtuxet River basin have begun to adopt a uniform set of Best Management Practices to include all dental offices within the jurisdiction of those facilities.
History of Section.P.L. 2006, ch. 556, § 1.
Structure Rhode Island General Laws
Chapter 23-24.9 - Mercury Reduction and Education Act
Section 23-24.9-1. - Short title.
Section 23-24.9-2. - Findings.
Section 23-24.9-2.1. - Oversight and systems planning.
Section 23-24.9-3. - Definitions.
Section 23-24.9-4. - Interstate clearinghouse.
Section 23-24.9-5. - Notification.
Section 23-24.9-6. - Restrictions on the sale of certain mercury-added products.
Section 23-24.9-7. - Phase-out and exemptions.
Section 23-24.9-8. - Labeling required for certain products.
Section 23-24.9-9. - Disposal ban.
Section 23-24.9-9.1. - Legislative findings.
Section 23-24.9-9.2. - Best management practices.
Section 23-24.9-9.3. - Amalgam separators.
Section 23-24.9-9.4. - Exemptions.
Section 23-24.9-10. - Collection of mercury-added products.
Section 23-24.9-10.1. - Resource recovery corporation option.
Section 23-24.9-10.2. - Mercury-containing thermostats.
Section 23-24.9-10.3. - Sunset provisions.
Section 23-24.9-11. - Disclosure for mercury-added formulated products — Healthcare facilities.
Section 23-24.9-12. - Limitations on the use of elemental mercury.
Section 23-24.9-13. - Existing inventories.
Section 23-24.9-14. - Public education and outreach.
Section 23-24.9-15. - State procurement preferences for low or nonmercury-added products.
Section 23-24.9-16. - Violations.
Section 23-24.9-17. - State review.
Section 23-24.9-18. - Application to products regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Section 23-24.9-19. - Mercury advisory working group.
Section 23-24.9-20. - Regulations.