Federal Asbestos Regulations and Guidance

Last updated 11/06/07

• The Consumer Product Safety Commission
• The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
• Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA))

NOTE:

Before starting a project that disturbs asbestos, first contact the local air authority for regulatory information. Most Western Washington counties have a local air authority agency to contact for information about local asbestos regulations. 

The Department of Ecology maintains a map with links to local air authorities  on the Ecology Air Program web site.

Top

The Consumer Product Safety Commission

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)  Exit Ecology at http://www.cpsc.gov/ is responsible for the regulation of asbestos in consumer products.CPSC provides information about laboratories for asbestos testing, guidelines for repairing and removing asbestos, and general information about asbestos in the home.

• A toll-free information line (800) 638-2772 (CPSC).
• A teletypewriter (TTY) for the hearing impaired 1-800-638-8270.

Top

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)  Exit Ecology - protects the general public from airborne asbestos exposure.

The Regional EPA Headquarters office in Seattle, Washington has extensive and well organized astestos information on-line:

•  Regional EPA Asbestos Home Page  Exit Ecology

A list of EPA Hotlines can be found at http://www.epa.gov/epahome/hotline.htm  Exit Ecology

• EPA's National Asbestos home page  Exit Ecology.
• The Public Information Center for general EPA regulations is at (202) 382-2080 or (202) 475-7751.
• The Asbestos Ombudsman Clearinghouse/Hotline, (800) 368-5888, provides general asbestos information and regulatory help to the public and small businesses.
• A List of Commonly Requested Asbestos Documents on the EPA Region 10 Asbestos  Exit Ecology website.
• Asbestos in Your Home booklet summarizes information for the homeowner, but is applicable to businesses as well. The booklet is available on the EPA, Region III web page at http://www.epa.gov/asbestos/pubs/ashome.html  Exit Ecology

The Washington State equivalent of EPA is the Department of Ecology, which can have additional state only regulations.

EPA Asbestos Laws

EPA has two different asbestos laws or regulations and their resulting implementations.

• The Clean Air Act (CAA). The CAA regulations are the responsibility of the Office of Air and Radiation (OAR).
• The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). TSCA is administered and managed by the Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT).

The Clean Air Act is administered by the Washington State Department of Ecology and delegated to local air pollution agencies or regional Ecology offices.

• NESHAP. The National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Asbestos, under Section 112 of the Clean Air Act.
• NESHAP establishes work practices to minimize release of asbestos fibers during activities involving processing, handling and disposal of asbestos when a building is being demolished or renovated.
• The requirements and standards are described in 40 CFR Part 61, Subpart M.

The Asbestos NESHAP requires action to be taken by

• the person who owns, leases, operates, controls, or supervises the facility being demolished or renovated (the "owner"), and by
• the person who owns, leases, operates, controls or supervises the demolition or renovation (the "operator").

Owners and operators subject to the Asbestos NESHAP are required to notify delegated State and local agencies and/or their EPA Regional Offices before demolition or renovation activity begins. The Asbestos NESHAP also regulates asbestos waste handling and disposal.

• Asbestos NESHAP Adequately Wet Guidance  Exit Ecology. EPA (1990), 4 pages. This publication emphasizes the need for proper wetting of asbestos containing material prior to removal.
• Demolition Practices Under the Asbestos NESHAP  Exit Ecology. EPA (1996), 10 pages. This publication summarizes EPA-accepted work practices. OSHA requirements differ, especially regarding "nonfriable" ACM (asbestos contractors may not be aware of this difference).

TSCA is directly administered by the regional EPA office in Seattle, Washington.

• The TSCA Assistance Information Service, (202) 554-1404, or 202-554-0551 (TDD), E-mail to tsca-hotline@epa.gov , the fax number is: 202-554-5603 (Fax available 24 hours a day). It provides TSCA information, copies of regulations, Agency guidance documents, and referrals to more specific sources of information.

AHERA, the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act,  concerns regulations to respond to asbestos in public and private schools. The Asbestos-Containing Materials in Schools Rule implements this mandate.

• Public and commercial buildings means the interior space of non-school buildings but does not refer to residential apartment buildings of less than 10 units or detached single-family homes.

Top

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration  Exit Ecology protects workers from asbestos exposure in the workplace, or in connection with their jobs. The Washington State equivalent of OSHA is (WISHA), which can have additional state only standards.

Contact the Department of Labor and Industries,  Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act, WISHA Services Division  Exit Ecology for Washington State OSHA information.

• See State Asbestos Regulations and Guidance for more information and contacts.

OSHA's general website is http://www.osha.gov/  Exit Ecology.

• OSHA staff establishes protective work standards, enforces those standards, and reaches out to employers and employees through technical assistance and consultation programs.
• OSHA Expert Advisors has a very useful and comprehensive index to asbestos, lead, respiratory protection, confined spaces and other references and documents at http://www.osha-slc.gov/dts/osta/oshasoft/  Exit Ecology.
• The Asbestos Advisor 2.0 is an OSHA software program designed to help building owners determine if they are in compliance with current federal regulations. You can download the program from http://www.osha-slc.gov/dts/osta/oshasoft/asbestos/index.html  Exit Ecology.

Top