FACT SHEET
NAFTA Environmental, Inc. Wellton Facility
BACKGROUND
NAFTA Environmental Inc. has submitted an application
to ADEQ to construct and operate a biohazardous medical
waste storage, transfer and treatment facility approximately
six miles east of Wellton, Arizona. ADEQ has reviewed the
application and has made a preliminary decision to approve
the plan, but will be conducting a public hearing to take
public comments prior to making a final decision.
The hearing will be held at the Antelope Union High
School in Wellton on June 29, 2005 at 6 p.m.
WHAT WILL NAFTA ENVIRONMENTAL DO
AT THIS LOCATION?
The facility will store, transfer, and treat biohazardous
medical waste that is generated off site. Biohazardous med-ical
waste is defined in Arizona Administrative Code R18-
13-1401.5 as one or more of the following wastes: cultures,
human blood and blood products, human organs, medical
sharps, and research animal wastes. These wastes are gen-erated
in hospitals, laboratories, dentist offices, clinics and
other medical facilities during research and treatment of
various conditions.
Medical waste will be received in leak-proof containers
at the facility where it will be treated in a steam autoclave.
The autoclave is an enclosed system that uses steam to
increase temperatures to over 280oF to kill infectious
agents and decontaminate the waste. The wastes are then
acceptable for disposal of in an approved solid waste landfill.
COULD NAFTA ENVIRONMENTAL ACCEPT
HAZARDOUS OR RADIOACTIVE WASTES?
No. The facility will only accept biohazardous medical
waste and ADEQ will not permit the acceptance of haz-ardous,
radioactive, or other prohibited types of waste such
as household waste, construction debris or special waste, as
defined in Arizona Revised Statutes 49-851.5.
NAFTA has stated that Yuma Regional Medical Center
will be one of the primary sources of waste it will receive.
However, the company is not restricted from accepting bio-hazardous
medical waste from other sources as well.
WILL THERE BE UNPLEASANT ODORS
ASSOCIATED WITH THIS FACILITY?
If NAFTA is unable to process any waste within 24 hours
of receipt, the waste will be refrigerated to prevent odors.
Steam from the autoclaving process is exhausted outdoors,
but ADEQ has determined that there are no regulated pollu-tants
which will be discharged from the autoclaving process.
HOW MUCH WASTE WILL NAFTA
BE TREATING?
NAFTA will be able to process up to 1,500 pounds of
biohazardous medical waste per hour and the facility plans
to operate 6-8 hours per day.
WILL THIS FACILITY BE SAFE IN OUR
COMMUNITY?
ADEQ's role is to ensure, through the plan review
process, that the proposed biohazardous medical waste
storage, transfer and treatment facility can operate without
creating a substantial endangerment to public health or safe-ty
or the environment, without causing an environmental
nuisance, and in accordance with applicable laws and rules.
NAFTA’s activities should pose no threat to local ground-water
and there are minimal emissions from a steam boiler.
After a thorough technical review of the application, ADEQ
concludes that the construction and operation of this facility
will provide all of the necessary protections to public health
and the environment.
WHAT HAPPENS IN THE EVENT OF AN
EMERGENCY?
In the event of a release, fire, or other emergency at the
facility, NAFTA will implement a contingency plan which
specifies the response actions, emergency equipment and
notification procedures for a variety of scenarios.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
The records for this facility are available for review at
ADEQ, 1110 W. Washington St., in Phoenix, Arizona.
Appointments can be made by calling (602) 771-4380 or toll
free (800) 234-5677, Ext. 771-4380.
The record is also available at the Wellton Public Library,
10425 Williams Street, Wellton, Arizona 85356.
For further information, contact:
Mr. Richard Jeffries,
1110 W. Washington Street, Phoenix, AZ 85007
(602) 771-4122 or
toll free at (800) 234-5677 Ext. 771-4122
e-mail: rbj@azdeq.gov
Fax: (602) 771-2302
Para información en español, vea el otro lado de esta página.
Para información sobre traducción, vea el otro lado de esta página
PARA MÁS INFORMACIÓN
Si usted gustaría una copia de este informativo en
español, por favor comuníquese con Monica Mascareno,
Coordinadora de Participación Comunitaria del Ministerio
de Calidad Ambiental del Estado de Arizona (ADEQ, por
sus siglas en inglés) al (602) 771-4710 o sin cobro dentro de
Arizona al (800) 234-5677, Ext. 771-4710.
Un traductor estará presente durante esta vista sobre
una aplicación para construir y operar una instalación de
almacenaje, transferencia, y tratamiento de desechos médi-cos
peligrosos, seis millas al este de Wellton, Arizona. La
vista se llevará a cabo el 29 de junio del 2005, en la escuela
secundaria “Antelope Union”, en Wellton, Arizona.
Publication Number: FS 04-19
