Medical Waste Management Act of 1991

Medical Waste Management Act of 1991 - Amends the Solid Waste Disposal Act to revise provisions concerning medical waste.

Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to promulgate regulations for the storage and containment of regulated medical waste. Requires such waste to be: (1) segregated from other waste at the point of origin in the generating facility; and (2) contained separately from other waste, secured to deny access by unauthorized persons, and marked with prominent warning signs. Prohibits the storage of such waste in a manner which will allow it to putrefy. Sets forth specific requirements for containment methods.

Permits the transfer of such waste by generators only to registered transporters. Prohibits the transport of such waste in the same vehicle with other waste unless the medical waste is separately contained or all of the waste is to be treated or disposed of as regulated medical waste. Permits the delivery of such waste for treatment or disposal only to facilities with valid permits.

Directs the Administrator to establish requirements for the handling of such waste by persons in contact with the waste during the transportation process. Requires the decontamination of transport vehicles that have contacted spilled or leaked medical waste.

Requires the Administrator to establish registration requirements for regulated medical waste transporters. Sets forth registration requirements, including a requirement that transporters show evidence of financial responsibility for potential cleanup costs. Requires fees to be collected from transporters for registration and inspections. Provides for annual inspections of medical waste transport vehicles by the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the annual expiration of registrations. Requires certificates of compliance issued by DOT to be placed on vehicles and containers that have passed annual inspections.

Requires a transporter to notify DOT with respect to changes in ownership, name, or location or in connection with accidents or spills that render a vehicle in noncompliance with this Act.

Directs the Administrator to apply regulations for roadway transporters to transporters using railways, airways, and waterways.

Requires the Administrator to establish standards for the treatment or disposal of regulated medical waste. Prohibits the disposal of such waste without treatment. Requires treatment to be completed by specified methods of incineration or decontamination by heating in steam sterilizers. Permits noninfectious medical waste to be discharged through a sewer to a publicly owned treatment works unless prohibited by a State or local health officer or the owner or operator of the treatment works. Directs the Administrator to establish a process for qualifying other innovative treatment technologies.

Sets forth requirements for the treatment and disposal of cultures of viable etiologic agents and recognizable human remains.

Directs the Administrator to establish a system of shipping papers that must accompany shipments of medical waste from the generating facility to the treatment or disposal facility. Prohibits the acceptance or transport of such waste unless accompanied by such papers. Authorizes the Administrator to promulgate alternative requirements for small generators.

Requires operators of medical waste treatment, storage, or disposal facilities to have valid medical waste management permits issued by the Administrator and approved operation plans. Provides for the submission of new or revised plans when there is a projected increase of more than 25 percent in the quantity of waste received per year by the facility or when there are changes made in plans. Withdraws approval for acceptance of waste for noncompliance with plans or permits. Requires facility operators to provide evidence of financial assurance as a permit condition.

Directs the Administrator to promulgate regulations establishing the content of State programs to regulate medical waste.

Requires the Administrator to study household medical waste and to designate waste that can be regulated by a collection and management system under this Act.