Hospital, medical and infectious waste incinerators would be required to reduce their emissions under a proposed federal rule change issued this week.

If finalized, the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) revised rule standards would affect all 57 such incinerators across the nation. The EPA issued the proposed modifications Monday.

Comments on the issue are due Feb. 17. Two American Hospital Association (AHA) affiliates, the American Society for Healthcare Engineering and the American Society for Healthcare Environmental Services, are reviewing the rule and are working with the AHA to submit comments.

For more information contact Ann Gibson, MHA director of federal relations, at (651) 603-3527.