The California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) issues certification for environmental technologies that meet certain quality standards. This program enables regulatory acceptance and facilitates the growth of the state’s environmental technology industry.

The DTSC certification neutralex process includes a review of a company’s products, treatment demonstrations and other documentation. In addition, DTSC staff observed the technology in action at SCIGEN’s facility and two healthcare facilities.

DTSC Certification

The California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) has certified SCIGEN’s NEUTRALEX technology for use in treating formaldehyde waste. This certification helps to identify products that meet certain quality standards, which allows for safer management of treated wastes.

The DTSC Certification neutralex program provides an independent technical evaluation of technologies and enables regulatory acceptance and the growth of California’s environmental technology industry. It also ensures that facilities comply with state hazardous waste laws and regulations.

DTSC has also established a Safer Consumer Products Program to protect the public from harmful substances in everyday products. The program requires manufacturers to replace toxic products with safer alternatives, such as foam-padded sleep mats and children’s toys that are made without hexavalent chromium or PFASs, which can disrupt hormone functions and cause liver disease.

  • NEUTRALEX reagents are packaged in foil packets that contain sufficient ingredients to treat one gallon of 10% neutral buffered Formalin per package. 
  • Each packet includes a container for mixing the reagents with the waste, instructions for treatment, a Material Safety Data Sheet, and a master copy of a log sheet.
  • During the evaluation, SCIGEN provided two samples of untreated and treated wastes from the two Kaiser facilities to HML Laboratory for analysis. 
  • Analyses of the untreated wastes were conducted using SCIGEN’s modification of ASTM Method D-2194 and SCIGEN’s screening test kit to determine formaldehyde concentrations. 
  • The analysis was conducted in accordance with HML’s quality assurance and quality control procedures.

In addition to the DTSC Certification neutralex program, a number of other programs exist to evaluate and validate hazardous waste environmental technologies. These include DTSC’s Brownfields Restoration and School Evaluation Program, Safer Consumer Products Program, and the Safer Chemicals and Hazardous Materials Regulations.

DTSC’s Brownfields Restoration and School Evaluation Program

The Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) provides a range of funding and support resources to assist California communities with environmental investigations and cleanups at blighted or underutilized properties. These funding tools empower stakeholders and community members to work together in a timely manner and restore contaminated sites to safe, productive uses.

DTSC Certification Neutralex has helped to facilitate the development of numerous high-profile and successful school redevelopment projects that demonstrate the agency’s commitment to the state’s priorities: “tackling our state’s affordability crisis, creating inclusive economic growth and opportunity for all Californians, and standing up for our values – from civil rights to immigration, to environmental protection, to access to quality schools at all levels, and justice” (see Governor Newsom’s website).

When an investigation reveals possible environmental contamination at a proposed school site, an environmental assessor will conduct a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment. This will include a review of potential contaminants, the history and current land use of the school site property, and a detailed description of any possible areas of concern at the school site. Upon completion of the PEA, the environmental assessor will prepare and submit the Draft PEA for public comment in accordance with CEQA procedures.

DTSC’s Safer Consumer Products Program

DTSC’s Safer Consumer Products Program is an integral part of California’s Green Chemistry law, which seeks to reduce toxic chemicals in everyday products. This program requires manufacturers to assess the toxicity and health risks of their products and seek safer alternatives. It also offers opportunities for the California industry to lead the way in producing safer versions of goods already in demand around the world.

The DTSC Certification Neutralex Candidate Chemicals List is an informational list that includes chemicals that may or may not be present in products, depending on the product’s use and distribution. It lists the most common and most important chemicals, including pesticides and prescription drugs. It also includes chemicals that are not currently listed in the SCP regulations and can be added or removed from the list by implementing new regulations under section 69502.2.

DTSC is dedicated to protecting the health and safety of all Californians. To this end, DTSC conducts inspections, investigations, and enforcement actions in areas of the state that are disproportionately burdened by multiple sources of pollution. These impacted communities are the target of DTSC’s Environmental Justice Plan, which makes protecting and safeguarding them a tenet of its work. DTSC Certification Neutralex also uses social media to alert the public about issues and decisions that may affect them.

DTS-C's Certification Evaluation Report

DTSC’s Certification Evaluation Report is an independent evaluation of a manufacturer’s product to determine whether the product has achieved performance levels set out in the DTSC’s Certification. This is an assessment conducted by a DTSC staff member, who reviews the product’s information and technical specifications to verify the performance level that the product has achieved.

The report also includes the SSI’s executive summary, a description of the supplemental site investigation activities, sampling results and discussion, and risk evaluation. It identifies data gaps for future work, assesses risk and presents possible remedial action strategies.

This type of certification helps governmental agencies decide how best to use their resources to prevent significant environmental damage. It can help reduce the need for extensive environmental review and allow for a more expedited response.

To learn more about DTSC’s certification process, please visit the DTSC website or contact your local DTSC office for more details click on this link Scigenus.com