Virginia Law

A. Regulated medical waste management facilities having coverage under a permit-by-rule shall maintain and retain records and reports as required by this chapter.

B. A facility shall retain records whenever monitoring is required.

1. The facility shall retain records of all monitoring information, including all calibration and maintenance records and all original recordings for continuous monitoring instrumentation, for at least three years from the sample or measurement date. The director may request that this period be extended.

2. Records of monitoring information shall include:

a. The date, exact place, and time of sampling or measurements;

b. The name of the individuals who performed the sampling or measurements;

c. The date analysis were performed;

d. The name of the individuals who performed the analysis;

e. The analytical techniques or methods used; and

f. The results of such analyses.

C. The facility must maintain accurate written or digital records as required by this chapter. Records shall include all records required by the facility permit, this chapter, or other applicable regulations. Records must be maintained at the facility or another location approved by the department for at least three years from the date of the record, sample or measurement date, treatment date, shipping date, or receipt date. The department may request that this period be extended. Records shall be available for review by the department as requested.

D. The facility shall maintain a regulated medical waste management plan in the operating record in accordance with 9VAC20-121-330.

E. The owner or operator of a regulated medical waste management facility under a permit-by-rule that transfers or treats regulated medical waste, except for a captive regulated medical waste management facility, shall submit a Solid Waste Information and Assessment report to the department by March 31 of each year in accordance with 9VAC20-81-80.

F. A disclosure statement identifying all key personnel as required by § 10.1-1408.1 of the Code of Virginia shall be on file with the department and updated on a quarterly basis as necessary. At least one operator listed as key personnel on the facility's disclosure statement shall be licensed by the Board for Waste Management Facility Operators as required by § 10.1-1408.2 of the Code of Virginia.

G. If regulated medical waste is received from offsite, records shall be maintained for three years following receipt of the waste and shall include the date of receipt, name of each offsite generator, transporter, type and quantity (weight or volume) of waste received, and dates of subsequent treatment onsite or shipment offsite. The facility shall maintain a signed certificate, contract, or equivalent document for each load or inclusive of all loads received from offsite in which the generator affirms that the load does not contain hazardous waste or radioactive materials, unless the facility is permitted to receive those types of wastes.

H. If regulated medical waste is shipped or transferred offsite, the facility shall maintain records, including copies of all shipping papers, specifying the date of shipment, type, and quantity (weight or volume) of waste removed from the site and the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of both the transporters and the destination facility receiving the shipments for treatment or disposal.

I. A regulated medical waste treatment facility shall maintain an onsite treatment log at each treatment unit that is complete for the preceding three-year period. The log shall record the date, start time, end time, and operator of each treatment cycle; the type and quantity (weight or volume) of regulated medical waste treated onsite; monitoring records for the operating parameters (e.g. time, temperature, pressure, and chemical concentration) achieved throughout each treatment cycle; and the results of all validation and periodic challenge testing. Monitoring records shall include original recordings for continuous monitoring instrumentation and parametric controls as well as the results of all biological and thermochemical indicators. Where multiple treatment units are used, a working log can be maintained at each unit and such logs periodically consolidated at a central location as long as the records distinguish which treatment unit is applicable to each record. The consolidated logs shall be retained for three years and be available for review.

J. The facility shall retain records of all unauthorized waste in accordance with 9VAC20-121-230 K.

K. The facility must maintain a record of self-inspections in an inspection log. The log must include the date and time of the inspection, the name of the inspector, a description of the inspection, including the identity of the specific equipment and structures inspected, observations recorded, and the date and nature of any remedial actions implemented or repairs made.

L. Written documentation of all training received by each employee, including the date and topics of the training, shall be maintained in the facility's operating record.

M. A regulated medical waste management facility shall be subject to the following reporting requirements. The facility shall report to the department any noncompliance, emergency, or unusual condition that may endanger health, the environment, or the facility's operation. Any information shall be provided orally within 24 hours from the time the permittee becomes aware of the circumstances. A written submission shall also be provided within five working days of the time the facility becomes aware of the circumstances. The written report shall contain a description of the circumstances and its cause; the period of occurrence, including exact dates and times; and if the circumstance has not been corrected, the anticipated time it is expected to continue. It shall also contain steps taken or planned to reduce, eliminate, and prevent reoccurrence of the circumstances resulting in an unusual condition or noncompliance, to include retraining of staff as necessary. Reportable conditions include:

1. Any interruption to operations that requires implementation of the facility's emergency contingency plan or diversion of regulated medical waste to another management facility;

2. Releases or discharges of regulated medical waste from a fire, explosion, storm, or other emergency that could endanger human health or the environment outside the facility;

3. Unauthorized discharge of effluent, wash water, waste, or other pollutant to surface water (i.e., offsite, natural water body or tributary, including wetlands);

4. Spills of regulated medical waste in any areas not protected from the elements, such as outside of a building;

5. Storage of regulated medical waste beyond capacity or storage timeframes;

6. Failing results of periodic challenge testing;

7. Receipt or discovery of unauthorized waste;

8. Receipt of Category A waste; and

9. Shipment of regulated medical waste offsite in inappropriate packaging.

N. Copies of all reports required and records of all data used to complete the permit-by-rule application must be retained for at least three years from the date of the report or application. The director may request that this period be extended.

O. When the permittee becomes aware that the permittee failed to submit any relevant facts or submitted incorrect information in a permit-by-rule application or in any report to the department, the permittee shall promptly submit such omitted facts or the correct information with an explanation.