There are a number of laws that govern how asbestos
materials are to be handled in schools, public and commercial
buildings, including buildings that are to be demolished
or undergoing major renovations. The laws that govern
asbestos management and removal under the Environmental
Protection Agency include: the Asbestos Hazard Emergency
Response Act (AHERA), the Asbestos
School Hazard Abatement Reauthorization Act (ASHARA)
and the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air
Pollutants for Asbestos (NESHAP).
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
regulates exposure to asbestos in the workplace. The Agency
for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) has
published information about the health effects that may
result from exposure to asbestos.
AHERA mandated that EPA develop
regulations to respond to asbestos in schools. To implement
this mandate, EPA promulgated the Asbestos-Containing
Materials in Schools Rule. This rule requires all private
and public non-profit elementary and secondary schools
to inspect their schools for asbestos-containing materials
(ACBM), develop a plan to manage the asbestos for each
school building, notify parents and staff regarding
the management plan availability, provide asbestos awareness
training to school maintenance and custodial workers,
and implement timely actions to deal with dangerous
asbestos situations.
ASHARA, passed in 1990, required
accreditation of personnel working on asbestos activities
in schools, public and commercial buildings. Specifically,
the Asbestos Model Accreditation Plan (40 CFR Part 763,
Appendix C) required the use of accredited inspectors,
workers, supervisors, project designers, and management
planners (schools only) when conducting asbestos activities
at schools, public and commercial buildings. EPA strongly
recommends that asbestos-related activities conducted
at public and commercial buildings follow the protocol
for management and removal of asbestos-containing materials
described in the Asbestos-Containing Materials in Schools
Rule (40 CFR part 763).
The National Emission Standards
for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Asbestos (NESHAP),
under Section 112 of the Clean Air Act, establishes
work practices to minimize the release of asbestos fibers
during activities involving the processing, handling,
and disposal of asbestos and asbestos-containing material
when a building is being demolished or renovated. The
requirements and standards are described in 40 CFR Part
61, Subpart M.
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