(a) On or before July 1, 1999, the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection shall publish notice of intent to adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to implement the set of waste management standards for thermostats containing mercury, batteries and pesticides which standards are provided in 40 CFR 273, et seq., as an alternative to regulating such wastes as otherwise provided under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (42 USC 6901 et seq.). The commissioner shall petition the United States Environmental Protection Agency under 40 CFR 273.80, et seq., to include fluorescent lamps in such alternative program of regulation. Such regulations shall further provide for and facilitate the storage of electronic equipment for recycling and the recycling of electronic equipment.

(b) Any waste from equipment containing mercury shall be disposed of or otherwise handled in accordance with the standards set forth in 40 CFR Parts 260, 261, 264, 265, 268, 270 and 273, until the commissioner adopts regulations as provided in subsection (a) of this section, at which time such regulations shall govern. Nothing in this section shall be construed to relieve any person from such person's obligation to comply with any other state or federal requirement or regulation applicable to equipment containing mercury.

(P.A. 99-228, S. 3, 5; P.A. 06-181, S. 6; P.A. 11-80, S. 1.)

History: P.A. 99-228 effective June 29, 1999; P.A. 06-181 designated existing language as Subsec. (a) and added Subsec. (b) re disposal or handling of waste from equipment containing mercury, effective June 7, 2006; pursuant to P.A. 11-80, “Commissioner of Environmental Protection” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection” in Subsec. (a), effective July 1, 2011.