Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 102 Part 3.djvu/1004

 102 STAT. 2956 42 USC 6992g.

PUBLIC LAW 100-582—NOV. 1, 1988

"SEC. 11008. REPORT TO CONGRESS.

"(a) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than 3 months after the expiration of the demonstration program, the Administrator shall report to Congress on the following topics: "(1) The types, number, and size of generators of medical waste (including small quantity generators) in the United States, the types and amounts of medical waste generated, and the on-site and off-site methods currently used to handle, store, transport, treat, and dispose of the medical waste, including the extent to which such waste is disposed of in sewer systems. "(2) The present or potential threat to human health and the environment posed by medical waste or the incineration thereof. "(3) The present and potential costs (A) to local economies, persons, and the environment from the improper handling, storage, transportation, treatment or disposal of medical waste and (B) to generators, transporters, and treatment, storage, and disposal facilities from regulations establishing requirements for tracking, handling, storage, transportation, treatment, and disposal of medical waste. "(4)(A) The success of the demonstration program established under this subtitle in tracking medical waste, "(B) changes in incineration and storage practices attributable to the demonstration program, and "(C) other available and potentially available methods for tracking medical waste and their advantages and disadvantages, including the advantages and disadvantages of extending tracking requirements to (i) rural areas and (ii) small quantity generators. "(5) Available and potentially available methods for handling, storing, transporting, and disposing of medical waste and their advantages and disadvantages. "(6) Available and potentially available methods for treating medical waste, including the methods of incineration, sterilization, chemical treatment, and grinding, and their advantages, including their ability to render medical waste noninfectious or less infectious, and unrecognizable and otherwise protect human health and the environment, and disadvantages. "(7) Factors affecting the effectiveness of the treatment methods identified in subsection (a)(5), including quality control and quality assurance procedures, maintenance procedures, and operator training. "(8) Existing State and local controls on the handling, storage, transportation, treatment, and disposal of medical waste, including the enforcement and regulatory supervision thereof. "(9) The appropriateness of using any existing State requirements or the requirements contained in subtitle C as nationwide requirements to monitor and control medical waste. "(10) The appropriateness of the penalties provided in section 11006 for insuring compliance with the requirements of this subtitle, including a review of the level of penalties imposed under this subtitle. "(11)(A) The effect of excluding households and small quantity generators from any regulations governing the handling, storage, transportation, treatment, and disposal of medical waste, and

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