Asbestos National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP)

Rule Summary

EPA's air toxics regulation for asbestos is intended to minimize the release of asbestos fibers during activities involving the handling of asbestos.

Air toxics regulations under the Clean Air Act specify work practices for asbestos to be followed during demolitions and renovations of all facilities, including, but not limited to, structures, installations, and buildings (excluding residential buildings that have four or fewer dwelling units). The regulations require a thorough inspection where the demolition or renovation operation will occur. When buildings are under renovation, they are not being demolished, but asbestos-containing building material is being removed or disturbed. Performing the work in accordance with the Asbestos NESHAP helps to ensure that areas in use during the renovation are not contaminated and that the area under renovation, when it is complete, is also free of contamination.

Three of the major health effects associated with asbestos exposure are lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis.

Learn more about Asbestos and how the NESHAP affects different industries.

Rule History

06/10/2019 - Notice of Final Approval for an Alternative Work Practice Standard for Asbestos Cement Pipe Replacement (84 FR 26852)

04/25/2018 - Notification of Request for Comments: Alternative Work Practice for Asbestos Cement Pipe Replacement (83 FR 1842)

07/20/2004 - Final Rule; Amendments: NESHAP for Asbestos (69 FR 43322)

09/18/2003 - Proposed Rule: NESHAP for Asbestos(68 FR 54794) & Direct Final Rule; Amendments: NESHAP for Asbestos (68 FR 54790)

01/16/1991 – Federal Register Correction

11/20/1990 - Final Rule: Asbestos NESHAP Revision: 1990 Final Rule (55 FR 48406)

01/10/1989 – Proposed Rule

09/23/1988 – Corrections to a Final Rule

03/10/1986 – Final Rule; correction

06/21/1994 – Final Rule; correction

04/05/1984 - Final Rule: Amendments to Asbestos Standard: 1984 Final Rule (49 FR 13658)

07/13/1983 – Proposed Rule

06/19/1978 – Final Rule Amendments

03/02/1977 – Amendments

03/02/1977 – Proposed Amendments

10/14/1975 - Amendments to Standards for Asbestos and Mercury (40 FR 48291)

10/26/1974 – Proposed Amendments

05/03/1974 – Additions and Miscellaneous Amendments; corrections

04/06/1973 - Final Rule: National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Asbestos, Beryllium and Mercury (38 FR 8820)

12/07/1971 – Proposed Rule

Additional Resources

Background Information on National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP): Proposed Amendments to Standards for Asbestos and Mercury (pdf)(4.9 MB)

Asbestos Contamination of the Air in Public Buildings (pdf)(2.5 MB)

Airborne Asbestos Health Assessment Update (pdf)(6.3 MB)

Background Information on the Development of National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP): Asbestos, Beryllium, and Mercury (pdf)(4.4 MB)

Biologic Effects of Atmospheric Pollutants: Asbestos - The Need For and Feasibility of Air Pollution Controls

Asbestos National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) Legacy Docket Indexes

Notice of Alternative Work Practice for Asbestos Cement Pipe Replacement

Implementation Information

EPA Regional NESHAP Asbestos Contacts

(As of November 2016)

EPA Region	NESHAP Coordinator
EPA Region 1 5 Post Office Square Suite 100 Boston, MA 02109-3912	Jordan Alves 617-918-1739 alves.jordan@epa.gov
EPA Region 2 Air Branch 290 Broadway, 21st Floor New York, NY 10007-1866	Victor Tu Phone: 212-637-3476 FAX: 212-637-3998 tu.victor@epa.gov
EPA Region 3 1650 Arch Street Philadelphia, PA 19103	Rich Ponak, Phone: (215) 814-2044 FAX: 215-814-3113 Ponak.Rich@epa.gov
EPA Region 4 61 Forsyth Street, S.W. Atlanta, GA 30303-8960	Pam McIlvaine Phone: 404-562-9197 FAX: 404-562-8973 mcIlvaine.pam@epa.gov
EPA Region 5 77 West Jackson Blvd. Chicago, IL 60604	Linda Rosen Phone: 312-886-6810 rosen.linda@epa.gov
EPA Region 6 1445 Ross Avenue Dallas, TX 75202-2733	Mark Berry Phone 214-665-3183 Fax 214-665-7264 Mail Code: 6PD berry.mark@epa.gov
EPA Region 7 11201 Renner Blvd., Lenexa, KS 66219	Charlotte Papp Phone: 913-551-7764 papp.charlottte@epa.gov
EPA Region 8 1595 Wynkoop Street Denver, CO 80202-1129	Kristin Jendrek Mail Code: 8ENF-AT Phone: 303-312-6126 FAX: 303-312-7202 jendrek.kristin@epa.gov
EPA Region 9 75 Hawthorne Street San Francisco, CA 94105	Kingsley Adeduro Mail Code: A-3-3 Phone: 415-947-4182 FAX: 415-744-3579 adeduro.kingsley@epa.gov
EPA Region 10 1200 Sixth Street Seattle, WA 98101	John Pavitt Mail Code: AOO/A Phone: 907-271-3688 Fax: 907-271-3424 pavitt.john@epa.gov

Compliance

Guideline Document: Requests for Approval of an Alternative Emissions Limitation for the Asbestos National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) 40 CFR Part 61 Subpart M

EPA's Notification of Rules and Regulations Regarding the Demolition of Asbestos-Containing Structures, and Related Questions and Answers

Applicability Determination Index (ADI). The ADI is maintained by EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA) and provides a data base of memoranda dealing with applicability issues. The database is searchable by Subpart.