The Online Asbestos, Asbestos Cancer, & Mesothelioma Authority
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is a U.S. governmental agency whose stated mission it is "to protect human health and the environment." Among the EPA's responsibilities, they develop and enforce environmental laws passed by Congress; offer grants to assist states, non-profits and educational institutions to undertake environmentally-beneficial projects; perform environmental research; and inform the public on issues pertaining to the environment, such as how to minimize environmental and health risks (1).
It is the responsibility of the EPA to monitor and address certain environmental hazards, including asbestos. The EPA's responsibilities in regards to asbestos are based on two pieces of legislation: the first of which is the Clean Air Act. The Clean Air Act is overseen by the EPA's Office of Air and Radiation, and it addresses asbestos containment as it relates to the renovation and demolition of buildings, as these are the most common circumstances under which asbestos-exposure occurs. The Clean Air Act requires that both building owners and those in charge of demolition take specific actions to minimize the release of asbestos fibers. The Act dictates that individuals must contact state and local agencies before renovation or demolition activity begins on sites that contain materials that utilize asbestos, and it specifies the appropriate means by which asbestos-containing materials should be disposed (2).
The second piece of legislation which specifies the EPA's responsibilities towards asbestos hazards is the Toxic Substances Control Act. The Toxic Substances Control Act falls within the responsibility of the EPA's Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (2), and it helps to minimize the risk of asbestos exposure within public and private schools, as well as within public and commercial buildings. It mandates that asbestos inspections take place in these settings, guarantees that schools have a plan to respond to asbestos-related emergencies, and requires that individuals who engage in asbestos inspection be appropriately accredited (2).
The EPA commonly does inspections for compliance with the above legislation, and issues significant fines when their findings indicate that individuals or organizations are not engaging in proper asbestos management.
- "About EPA." From the EPA's website. Available: http://www.epa.gov/epahome/aboutepa.htm (Accessed July 26, 2007).
- "Federal Asbestos Regulations and Guidance." From the Washington State Department of Ecology website. Available: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/hwtr/demodebris/pages2/asbregsfed.html (Accessed July 26, 2007).