Asbestos National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP)
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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
Asbestos Contamination of the Air in Public Buildings (pdf)(2.5 MB)
Airborne Asbestos Health Assessment Update (pdf)(6.3 MB)
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 July 2025)
| 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 | Christine Convery Phone: (215) 814-2249 convery.christine@epa.gov |
| EPA Region 4 61 Forsyth Street, S.W. Atlanta, GA 30303-8960 | Pam Storm Phone: 404-562-9197 FAX: 404-562-8973 storm.pamela@epa.gov |
| EPA Region 5 77 West Jackson Blvd. Chicago, IL 60604 | Robert Berkowitz berkowitz.robert@epa.gov |
| EPA Region 6 1445 Ross Avenue Dallas, TX 75202-2733 | Angela Hays Phone: 214-665-2285 Mail Code: ECADST hays.angela@epa.gov |
| EPA Region 7 11201 Renner Blvd., Lenexa, KS 66219 | Hunter Strom Phone: 913-551-7153 strom.hunter@epa.gov |
| EPA Region 8 1595 Wynkoop Street Denver, CO 80202-1129 | Kristin Jendrek Mail Code: 8ENF-AT Phone: 303-312-6126 jendrek.kristin@epa.gov |
| EPA Region 9 75 Hawthorne Street San Francisco, CA 94105 | Trevor McAuliffe and Ethan Hessl Phone: 213-244-1861 McAuliffe.Trevor@epa.gov hessl.ethan@epa.gov |
| EPA Region 10 1200 Sixth Ave., Suite 155 Seattle, WA 98101 | Andrew Gregory Phone: 907-271-1273 Gregory.Andrew@epa.gov |
Compliance
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.