[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 173 (Wednesday, September 8, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 54627]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-22325]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-9197-7]


Best Management Practices for Unused Pharmaceuticals at Health 
Care Facilities

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: EPA is requesting public comments on a draft guidance document 
entitled, Best Management Practices for Unused Pharmaceuticals at 
Health Care Facilities. The guidance is targeted at hospitals, medical 
clinics, doctors' offices, long-term care facilities and veterinary 
facilities. EPA expects that this document will help reduce the amount 
of pharmaceuticals that are discharged to water bodies.

DATES: EPA requests comments on or before November 8, 2010. Comments 
received after this date may not be incorporated into the final 
guidance document.

ADDRESSES: EPA prefers receiving comments by e-mail. Please send e-mail 
comments to unusedpharms@epa.gov and include your name and 
organizational affiliation, if any. You may also send comments by 
postal mail to Meghan Hessenauer, Engineering and Analysis Division 
(4303T), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania 
Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Meghan Hessenauer, Engineering and 
Analysis Division, telephone: 202-566-1040; e-mail: 
hessenauer.meghan@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pharmaceuticals are being discovered in our 
Nation's waters at very low concentrations. EPA has been studying 
unused pharmaceutical disposal practices at health care facilities, 
prompted by the concern that large amounts of pharmaceuticals are being 
flushed or disposed of down the drain, ultimately ending up in rivers, 
streams and coastal waters.
    The Agency has drafted a guidance document for health care 
facilities, which describes:
     Techniques for reducing or avoiding pharmaceutical waste;
     Practices for identifying and managing types of unused 
pharmaceuticals; and
     Applicable disposal regulations.
    The guidance is targeted at hospitals, medical clinics, doctors' 
offices, long-term care facilities and veterinary facilities. EPA 
expects that this document will help reduce the amount of 
pharmaceuticals that are discharged to water bodies.
    The document is available on EPA's Web site at http://water.epa.gov/scitech/wastetech/guide/unusedpharms_index.cfm.
    EPA has visited many facilities and consulted with organizations in 
the health care industry, as well as federal, state and local 
government agencies. EPA continues to solicit recommendations from a 
wide range of stakeholders and welcomes comments on the draft document. 
We plan to publish a final version of the document in late 2010.

    Dated: September 1, 2010.
Ephraim S. King,
Director, Office of Science and Technology.
[FR Doc. 2010-22325 Filed 9-7-10; 8:45 am]
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