Dental Amalgam Control Program (DA)

What are the One-Time Compliance Reporting Requirements? 

All dental sources (both exempt and non-exempt) must complete a One-Time Compliance Report (OCR), and if non-exempt, also each must submit a copy of its Operations and Maintenance Plan with this report.  

When are One-Time Compliance Reports due? 

Dentists must submit or resubmit a One-Time Compliance Report (OCR) to Metro within 90 days if any of the following occur: 

1. Initial discharge of a new business, 

2. The transfer of ownership of an existing business, 

3. A change in address (discharge location), 

4. Significant change in business practices (e.g., expanded operations, change in services), or 

5. Significant change to information contained in the OCR currently on file. 

What is an exempt dental facility? 

Businesses may claim “Exempt” status if any of the following apply:  

1. A dental provider exclusively practices:  

• Oral pathology

• Oral and maxillofacial radiology,  

• Oral and maxillofacial surgery 

• Orthodontics,  

• Periodontics

• Prosthodontics.  

2. The business is a mobile dental facility.  

3. The dental facility does not place any amalgam, and the removal of teeth with amalgam comprises less than 5 percent of the dental facility’s business.  

Where do I send the signed One-Time Compliance Report? 

Send or deliver the original, completed One-Time Compliance Report (OCR) and all required enclosures to: 

Metro Water Recovery 

ATTN: Dental Amalgam Program 

6450 York Street 

Denver, CO 80229-7499 

The completed hardcopy OCR with wet signatures must be mailed or hand-delivered; electronic submittals sent via email or fax will not be accepted, but may be sent in addition to the hardcopy. 

What is a Written Operations & Maintenance plan? 

A written Operation & Maintenance (O&M) plan shall consist of the written internal procedures for the amalgam separator system. The documents explain internal procedures specific to how amalgam and amalgam wastes are handled by the office personnel. (i.e., describe what is logged, when it’s logged, why it’s logged, where the waste goes, etc.) 

What happens if I do not comply? 

Failure to submit the One-Time Compliance Report by the 90-day deadline may result in enforcement action(s) that may include the assessment of penalties and/or suspension or termination of sanitary sewer service and/or other administrative or legal actions as provided for in Section 6.28 of Metro’s Rules and Regulations.  

Do you offer Staff Amalgam Handling Training? 

Yes, Metro has a Training Presentation linked in the DA Instructional Materials tab and an American Dental Association’s Best Management Practices linked in the DA Useful Links tab. Reviewing these resources counts toward the required training.  Record/log these training hours since this record/log will need to be provided during future site inspections to show compliance. 

What type of Line Cleaner is required? 

Use a line cleaner that has a pH between 6-8. Per Federal Regulations Section 441.30 (b)(2) – Dental unit water lines, chair-side traps, and vacuum lines that discharge amalgam process wastewater to the sewer must not be cleaned with oxidizing or acidic cleaners, including but not limited to bleach, chlorine, iodine, and peroxide that have a pH lower than 6 or greater than 8. 

Does Metro conduct Dental Inspections? 

All dental facilities in our service area are subject to inspection. The purpose of an inspection is to physically verify that a facility is actively complying with all applicable dental amalgam regulations.