PharmEcology learned today that its request for an extension of the deadline, along with other organizations, has been granted. The new deadline is March 4, 2009, as indicated below in the email from Lisa Lauer, USEPA.

“Thank you for your written requests for an extension to the commenting period for the proposal to add hazardous pharmaceutical wastes to the Universal Waste Rule. As is indicated in the various requests received, additional time is required in order to ensure that all aspects of the proposal will be sufficiently addressed and to allow time for the coordination of comments from the various stakeholders. The Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery (formerly, the Office of Solid Waste) will be granting a 30-day extension; thus, the commenting period for this proposed rulemaking will end on March 4, 2009. Notice of the comment period extension will be published in the Federal Register (the date of publication has yet to be determined).”

PharmEcology urges hospitals and other healthcare facilities to carefully read the proposed amendment and provide their comments to insure the best possible outcome for all concerned. The proposed amendment can be accessed at http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/hazard/wastetypes/universal/pharm.htm.

PharmEcology® Associates, LLC of Wauwatosa, WI was founded in 2000 and provides pharmaceutical waste management consulting services to the healthcare industry through seminars, on-site risk assessments, and other custom consulting services, in addition to the PharmE® Waste Wizard and PharmE® Inventory Analysis. For additional information on PharmE® Certification, contact us at 414-292-3959 or email us at info@pharmecology.com.