The Environmental
Protection Agency regulates asbestos according to two environmental
laws, the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA), which
addresses asbestos in schools, and the National Emission Standards for
Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP), issued pursuant to the Clean Air Act.
Enter here to learn more about AHERA and NESHAP.
This manual is intended to apply primarily to
demolition and cleanup activities for buildings that contain Category I
nonfriable ACM. Although references will be made to Category II
nonfriable ACM, for the purposes of this document, it and all other RACM
will be assumed to have been removed prior to the start of actual
demolition activities. Work practices associated solely with building
renovations are not addressed.
This pamphlet answers
the most commonly asked questions about the Asbestos NESHAP for
demolitions and renovations. Many of the questions included in this
pamphlet have been raised by demolition and renovation contractors in
recent years. Most questions relate to how a demolition or renovation
contractor or building owner can best comply with the regulation. The
responses assume that the questioner has a basic understanding of the
Asbestos NESHAP and demolition and renovation practices. A brief
glossary of terms is also included at the back of the pamphlet.
This manual was prepared
by Entropy Environmentalists, Inc., for the Stationary Source Compliance
Division of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This document
provides basic information on what asbestos is; the history of asbestos
use in industry and in construction of public buildings; exposure risks
and potential health effects; regulations governing asbestos; and a
listing of where to go to find out additional asbestos information.
This information sheet
was created by the State of Florida for Small Business Owners, and Home
Owners that deal with asbestos materials.
