Regulatory Text: 
Louisiana Administrative Code, Title 33 ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY, Part III Air (LAC 33:III)

Chapter 25.   Miscellaneous Incinerator Rules

Subchapter B. Biomedical Waste Incinerators

§2511. Standards of Performance for Biomedical Waste Incinerators
New section adopted in the Louisiana Register October 20, 1994 (LR20:1098 to 1100) (AQ83) and revisions adopted in the Louisiana Register October 20, 1994 (AQ83); October 20, 1995 (AQ125); December 20, 1996 (AQ145); July 20, 1998 (AQ171*); and October 20, 2005 (OS65).
Approved by EPA July 5, 2011 (76 FR 38977) effective August 4, 2011 (LAd34) LA021.
Regulations.gov docket EPA-R06-OAR-2007-0924

§2511.C.1 and §2511.L as approved by EPA January 28, 2016 (81 FR 04891) effective 
February 29, 2016 (LAd47), Regulations.gov docket EPA-R06-OAR-2012-0434 [LA039].

Unless otherwise indicated, all definitions and paragraphs in this section are as adopted 
in the Louisiana Register October 20, 1994 (LR 20:1098 to 1100) (AQ083)(LA021.03).
AQ083    §2511;LAd34;LA021.03;AQ083;LR20:1098 to 1100(10/20/1994)

   A. Applicability
      1. This Subchapter applies to all incinerators installed and 
operated in Louisiana for the purpose of reducing potentially 
infectious medical waste generated in all health and medical 
care facilities as defined herein.
      2. Crematories are exempt from this Subchapter.

AQ171*   §2511.B.Introductory paragraph;LAd34;LA021.05;AQ171*;LR24:1286(7/20/1998)
   B. Definitions. The words and terms used in this 
Subchapter are defined in LAC 33:III.Chapter 51, and 
LAC 33:III.111 and 40 CFR 60.2, as incorporated by 
reference in LAC 33:III.Chapter 30, unless otherwise 
specifically defined as follows:

      Antineoplastic Agents--that portion of potentially 
infectious medical waste containing chemicals that are 
administered to deter the growth of abnormal cells and/or 
tumors.

      Biomedical Waste Incinerator--any incinerator operated 
for reducing potentially infectious medical waste generated by 
health and medical care facilities.

      Chemotherapeutic Waste--that portion of potentially 
infectious medical waste containing chemical substances that 
are administered in the treatment of diseases, especially 
cancer, and diseases caused by parasites.

      Crematory--any furnace or incinerator used in the process 
of burning Type IV waste for the purpose of reducing the 
volume of the waste· by removing combustible matter and 
vaporizing moisture through the application of heat.

      Health and Medical Care Facilities--shall include, but not 
be limited to, hospitals, clinics, dialysis facilities, birthing 
centers, emergency medical services, physicians' offices, 
outpatient clinics, nursing homes, extended care facilities, 
podiatry offices, dental offices and clinics, medical research 
and diagnostic laboratories, home health care services, 
mortuaries, blood and plasma centers, blood collection mobile 
units, and veterinary medical centers.

      InfectiousWaste--that portion of potentially infectious 
waste which contains pathogens with sufficient virulence and 
quantity so lliat exposure to a susceptible host could result in 
contracting a disease.

      Medical Waste--that portion of potentially infectious waste 
generated by operation of programs and offices in health and 
medical care facilities.

      Potentially Infectious Medical Waste--a mixture of 
infectious waste, medical waste, and other waste which may 
potentially be infectious due to its physical characteristics or 
by how it was generated in the health care facilities. This 
includes, but is not limited to, the following types of waste:
         a. cultures and stocks of infectious agents from 
laboratories;
         b. pathological waste, including human tissue, organs, 
body parts, and fluids removed during surgery or autopsy;
         c. blood, serum, blood collection bags, tubes, and vials;
         d. needles, scalpels, syringes, pipettes, and other sharp 
objects used in health care or laboratory settings;
         e. bandages, diapers, and other disposable materials 
that have been in contact with infected wounds or 
contaminated by patients isolated to prevent the spread of 
infectious diseases; and
         f. any other refuse that has been in contact with any 
potentially infectious medical waste.

      PM10--particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter 
less than or equal to a nominal 10 micrometers as measured 
by the method in 40 CFR Part 50, Appendix J.

      PM10 Emissions--finely divided solid or liquid material 
with an aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to a nominal 
10 micrometers emitted to the ambient air as measured by the 
methods specified in 40 CFR Part 52.

      Type IV Waste--human and/or animal remains consisting 
of corpses, carcasses, organs, and solid organic wastes 
consisting of up to 85 percent moisture and 5 percent 
incombustible solids.

   C. Registration

§2511.C.1 SIP effective to February 28, 2016.
OS065    §2511.C;LAd34;LA021.11;OS065;LR31:2443(10/20/2005)
      1. Within 90 days after adoption of these regulations, 
all facilities operating incinerators designed or operated for 
the purpose of burning potentially infectious medical waste, 
shall submit a supplemental incinerator data form (SID-1) to 
the Office of Environmental Compliance, Emergency and 
Radiological Services Division, Single Point of Contact 
(SPOC).

§2511.C.1 as submitted to EPA August 14, 2009 [LA039.03] and resubmitted 
to EPA October 2015 [LA039.05], MM002 LR 33:2089 (October 20, 2007).
Approved by EPA January 28, 2016 (81 FR 04891) effective February 29, 2016 (LAd47),
Regulations.gov docket EPA-R06-OAR-2012-0434 [LA039].
      1. Within 90 days after adoption of these regulations,
all facilities operating incinerators designed or operated for
the purpose of burning potentially infectious medical waste,
shall submit a supplemental incinerator data form (SID-1) to
SPOC.

      2. All facilities operating unpermitted incinerators 
designed or operated for the purpose of burning potentially 
infectious medical waste, shall submit an Application for 
Approval of Emissions and Emissions Inventory Questionnaire 
with appropriate permitting information on or before October 
20, 1994.

   D. Incinerator Design Requirements
      1. All biomedical waste incinerators (BWIs) shall be 
multi-chambered units with burners capable of maintaining 
minimum temperatures of I500°F in the primary chamber and 
1800°F in the secondary chamber. Units burning 
chemotherapeutic waste, antineoplastic agents, and/or 
potentially infectious medical waste ·generated off-site shall 
require burners capable of maintaining minimum temperatures 
of 1500°F in the primary chamber and 2000°F in the 
secondary chamber. Design capacity shall be based on 8500 
BTU per pound of waste incinerated. A temperature indicator 
and/or recorder shall be installed to monitor gas temperatures 
at the exit of the primary chamber. Internal temperature of 
the secondary chamber shall be monitored and continuously 
recorded.
      2. All BWIs shall have a minimum retention time of 1.5 
seconds for gases in the secondary chamber. Incinerators 
burning antineoplastic agents, chemotherapeutic waste, and/or 
potentially infectious medical waste generated off-site shall 
require a minimum of 2.0 seconds retention time.
      3. All BWIs shall be equipped with an interlock that 
prevents the charge door from opening for 10 minutes after 
the secondary burner is ignited, or until the secondary 
chamber exit gases reach 1800°F, whichever occurs first. A 
visual warning system shall alert the operator when the 
interlock is bypassed for service or cleaning.

   E. Restrictions on Emissions
      1. All BWIs designed for less than 500 pounds-per-hour 
charging rate shall not emit PM10 in excess of 0.08 grains per 
dry standard cubic foot of flue gas corrected to 7 percent 
oxygen. BWIs designed for 500 pounds-per-hour or greater 
charging rate shall not emit in excess of 0.04 grains of PM₁₀ 
per dry standard cubic foot of flue gas corrected to 7 percent 
oxygen.
      2. Emission limits for all BWIs shall include:
         a. hydrogen chloride (HCl) - no more than four 
pounds-per-hour, unless controlled through an acid gas 
scrubber or other control device which achieves a 98 percent 
reduction of HCI:
            i. incinerators designed for 500 pounds-per-hour or 
greater charging rate shall be equipped with an acid gas 
control device or shall continuously monitor flue gas to show 
compliance with HCl emission limits; and
            ii. all BWIs which bum waste generated off-site shall 
be equipped with an acid gas control device of 98 percent 
efficiency;
         b. sulfur dioxide - 100 ppmv (dry basis) at seven 
percent oxygen or 70 percent reduction through an acid gas 
control device;
         c. carbon monoxide (one hour rolling average) - 100 
ppmv (dry basis) at 7 percent oxygen;
         d. nitrogen oxide- 250 ppmv (dry basis) at 7 percent 
oxygen;
         e. speciated hydrocarbons and heavy metals emissions 
must meet the requirements of LAC 33:III.Chapter 51;
         f. opacity of stack gases shall not exceed 10 percent; 
and
         g. excess oxygen in flue gas - two percent minimum by 
volume (dry basis).
      3. All BWIs designed for 500 pounds-per-hour or greater 
charging rate shall have a continuous monitoring and recording 
system installed for oxygen and carbon monoxide.
      4. (Reserved)

AQ125    §2511.E.5;LAd34;LA021.03;AQ125;LR21:1081(10/20/1995)
      5. All BWIs shall be designed with a stack emission 
point that controls to the maximum extent possible the 
discharge of air contaminants and which does not 
adversely impact air quality in the local area. All 
incinerator stack heights must be approved by the 
administrative authority.

      6. All BWIs with a design charging rate in excess of 250 
pounds per-hour shall conduct emission tests to verify 
compliance with this Subsection for PM10 and HCI. In 
addition, BWIs with a design charging rate of 500 pounds or 
more per hour shall conduct emission tests to verify 
compliance with the standards for the following pollutants 
using. the test methods from 40 CFR Part 60, Appendix A:

AQ145   §2511.E.6.a to E.6.d;LAd34;LA021.02;AQ145;LR22:1212p23(12/20/1996)
         a. Method 5 -Determination of Particulate Emissions from
 Stationary Sources (40 CFR part 60, appendix A, as incorporated 
by reference at LAC 33:III.3003);
         b. Method 6 - Determination of Sulfur Dioxide Emissions from 
Stationary Sources (40 CFR part 60, appendix A, as incorporated by 
reference at LAC 33:III.3003);
         c. Method 7 - Determination of Nitrogen Oxide Emissions from 
Stationary Sources (40 CFR part 60, appendix A, as incorporated by 
reference at LAC 33:III.3003);
         d. Method 26 - Determination of Hydrogen Chloride Emissions 
from· Stationary Sources   (40 CFR part 60, appendix A, as incorporated 
by reference at LAC 33:III.3003); and/or

AQ083    §2511;LAd34;LA021.03;AQ083;LR20:1099(10/20/1994)
         e. other tests which may be added at pretest meetings.

      7. A copy of all monitoring and tests results shall be 
submitted to the Louisiana Department of Environmental 
Quality, Air Quality Division, Engineering Section, for review 
and approval within 45 days of completion of testing.
F. Radioactive Materials. Incineration of radioactive 
materials shall comply with the requirements of LAC 
33:XV.436.

   G. Ash Removal and Disposal. The removal, handling, 
storage, and transportation of ashes from the BWIs shall not 
allow controllable particulate matter to become airborne in 
amounts that will cause a public nuisance or cause ambient air 
quality standards to be violated.

   H. Maintenance of Equipment. The BWI, auxiliary 
equipment, accessories, pollution control devices, and 
monitoring instruments shall be maintained in proper working 
order and operated according to manufacturer's instructions at 
all times that the incinerator is in operation.

   I. Restrictions. All batteries and chemotherapeutic waste 
listed under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, 40 
CFR 261.33(f), shall be removed from the waste feed stream 
prior to incineration:

   J. Circumvention. No owner or operator subject to the
provisions of this Chapter shall build, install, erect, or use any 
machine, equipment, process, or method, the use of which 
conceals an emission that would otherwise constitute a 
violation of an applicable standard. Such concealment 
includes, but is not limited to, the use of gaseous diluents to 
achieve compliance with an emissions standard and the 
installation of more than one incinerator to avoid coverage by 
a standard that applies only to incinerators with greater design 
charging capacities.

   K. Prohibited Activities. No owner or operator shall 
operate any source subject to this standard in violation of the 
standards after October 20, 1994.

§2511.L SIP effective to February 28, 2016.
   L. Recordkeeping/Reporting. The owner or operator of 
any BWI shall keep a daily record of the hours the unit was in 
operation and the amount of waste incinerated. A separate 
record shall be kept of all chemotherapeutic waste incinerated 
that is not listed under the Resource Conservation and 
Recovery Act, 40 CFR 261.33(f). This record shall show the 
name of the material, date and time incinerated, and amount 
burned. Records shall .be submitted to the Air Quality 
Compliance Division by March 31 for the previous calendar 
year.

§2511.L as submitted to EPA August 14, 2009 [LA039.03] and resubmitted 
to EPA October 2015 [LA039.05], MM002 LR 33:2089 (October 20, 2007).
Approved by EPA January 28, 2016 (81 FR 04891) effective February 29, 2016 (LAd47),
Regulations.gov docket EPA-R06-OAR-2012-0434 [LA039].
   L. Recordkeeping/Reporting. The owner or operator of
any BWI shall keep a daily record of the hours the unit was
in operation and the amount of waste incinerated. A separate
record shall be kept of all chemotherapeutic waste
incinerated that is not listed under the Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act, 40 CFR 261.33(f). This
record shall show the name of the material, date and time
incinerated, and amount burned. Records shall be submitted
to the Office of Environmental Compliance by March 31 for
the previous calendar year.