Medical waste firm survives on technicality

Art Nadler

Wednesday, Oct. 14, 1998 | 11:17 a.m.

The city of North Las Vegas has decided to give an unlicensed waste-management company a break on a technicality, even though the Clark County Health District has raised concerns.

Environmental Technologies of Nevada Inc., a subsidiary of Silver State Disposal Service, operates an autoclave furnace at 3060 N. Commerce St. in North Las Vegas to treat medical waste.

The health district, which regulates medical-waste operations, requires such facilities to have business licenses and undergo fire inspections. Environmental Technologies says it doesn't need a business license, because its parent company has a solid-waste franchise agreement with Clark County.

Richard Maurer, North Las Vegas city attorney, agreed with the company on Tuesday.

"I want to see something in writing (from North Las Vegas) before we make a decision," said Edmund Wojcik, environmental health manager with the health district. "It is within their authority to set this requirement."

But Wojcik fears a bad precedent might be set, especially when dealing with companies that have other types of franchise agreements.

"It puts us a position where we will have to make interpretations on other franchise agreements," Wojcik said.

The health district is expected to vote on the matter at its Nov. 19 board meeting.

John Moran Jr., legal counsel for Silver State, said he is confident the health district will approve Environmental Technologies' application, even though it lacks a business license.

Meanwhile, University Medical Center, which has a contract with Environmental Technologies, sent a letter to the company last month giving it until Oct. 23 to settle its license dispute, when the hospital's board may take action. The hospital pays $165,234 a year in fees.

Kimberly Rolston, assistant administrator of procurement at UMC, said she hasn't had any reply from Environmental Technologies or Silver State Disposal.