Compliance Assistance

About this sector

The healthcare and social assistance industry is classified under code 62 of the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) and under 80 in the previous system, the U.S. Standard Industrial Classification (SIC). Most of the material contained here focuses on activities performed at hospitals. However, since many of these activities can be performed by others in the healthcare industry this material applies to those providers as well. The healthcare industry includes the following: general medical and surgical hospitals, psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals, specialty hospitals, physicians’ offices, dentists’ offices, outpatient care centers, medical and diagnostic laboratories, home healthcare services, nursing care and assisted living facilities, residential mental retardation/health and substance abuse facilities, community care facilities for the elderly, licensed veterinary practitioners primarily in the practice of veterinary medicine, dentistry, or surgery for animals, and establishments providing testing services for licensed veterinary practitioners.

Additional Compliance Assistance information is provided by statute (e.g. Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act) or through compliance incentives and auditing. Note that multiple statutes may apply to your entity. Information on EPA's compliance monitoring program also is organized by statutory programs. All regulated entities may be subject to EPA's statutory and civil enforcement program.

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Tools and information on how to comply

The following list of resources focuses on federal regulations and is not exhaustive. Additional resources may be available from other parts of EPA or from other federal, state or local agencies.

Healthcare Environmental Resource Center contains comprehensive links to state agencies, extensive information and reference links on a wide range of topics, including hazardous waste, regulated medical (infectious) waste, and solid waste recycling, and on the numerous environmental, health and safety laws and regulations that impact healthcare facility operations.

The Profile of the Healthcare Industry is a plain language booklet that describe environmental problems associated with major U.S. industries. Information includes, but is not limited to, regulatory requirements, pollution prevention techniques, pollutant release data, and innovative programs.

National Compliance Assistance Clearinghouse links to public and private compliance assistance materials. Users may post documents and interact with assistance providers, both within and outside of EPA. The Clearinghouse allows users to search for relevant material on new and existing regulations, pollution prevention opportunities, and voluntary programs that were created by other parts of EPA, other federal agencies, tribes, states and local agencies, industry and other organizations.

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