CHAPTER 301

H.P. 514 - L.D. 697

An Act To Require the Installation of Dental Amalgam

Separator Systems in Dental Offices

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. 38 MRSA §1661, sub-§§1-A and 1-B are enacted to read:

1-A.__Amalgam separator system.__"Amalgam separator system" means a device that removes dental amalgam from the waste stream prior to its discharge into either the local public wastewater system or a private septic system located at the dental facility and that meets a minimum removal efficiency of 95% if installed prior to March 20, 2003 or 98% if installed on or after March 20, 2003, as determined through testing in accordance with standards contained in "ISO 11143, Dental Equipment - Amalgam Separators," published by the International Organization for Standardization, in effect on the date the system is installed.

1-B.__Dental amalgam.__"Dental amalgam" means a mixture of silver and mercury used to restore dental integrity.

Sec. 2. 38 MRSA §1667, as enacted by PL 1999, c. 779, §2, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:

§1667. Dental procedures

1.__Prevention plan.__By July 15, 2002, the department shall work with dentists and other interested parties to develop a