Search Frequent Questions

Displaying 1 - 15 of 78 results

• If an Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) accredited-training course is taught by someone other than instructors certified by the state or the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), can an approved contractor/instructor sign certificates?

  No. An EPA Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) accredited training course must be taught by EPA/state approved instructors and only those approved instructors may issue AHERA approved training course certificates. Other Frequent Questions about Asbestos Learn About Asbestos Asbestos and School Buildings Information for Owners and Managers of Buildings…

  • Last published: May 1, 2024

• Is there a formal requirement that an Asbestos Model Accreditation Plan (MAP) asbestos training course must have a training manual?

  Accredited trainers are not required to have a formal training manual, per se. According to the Asbestos Model Accreditation Plan (MAP), at Unit III, (A)(3), (A)(4)(d) and (A)(5) of appendix C to 40 CFR part 763, subpart E, a trainer’s application for course approval must include the course curriculum, a…

  • Last published: May 14, 2024

• What are the requirements under the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) for refresher training for a person who wants to "step down" his/her certification from contractor/supervisor status to worker status?

  If such a person takes contractor/supervisor refresher courses on an annual basis, that person may perform in both the contractor/supervisor and worker roles. If, however, the person chooses only to take annual worker refresher courses, that person may continue to act in the role of an accredited worker but loses…

  • Last published: May 24, 2024

• What is the applicability of Federal asbestos inspector accreditation requirements under the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) to real estate appraisers?

  Real estate appraisers may not assess the suspected presence, location, or condition of asbestos in a school building or a public and commercial building during an appraisal unless they are accredited pursuant to the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and the Asbestos Model Accreditation Plan (MAP), as conducting an examination…

  • Last published: May 24, 2024

• Hot Work Definition and Requirements

  Facilities subject to the Program 3 Prevention Program requirements in 40 CFR Part 68 must include in their Risk Management Plan the date of the most recent review or revision of hot work permit procedures in Section 7.13. What is considered hot work and what are the requirements related to…

  • Last published: May 26, 2024

• Do I have to conduct incident investigations of releases resulting from theft?

  The incident investigation provisions of 40 CFR Part 68 (§§68.60 and 68.81) require facilities to investigate incidents that resulted in or could reasonably have resulted in a catastrophic release. Are covered facilities required to perform incident investigations of releases resulting from theft of covered substances, such as anhydrous ammonia? If…

  • Last published: May 26, 2024

• When would a conflict of interest exist among Asbestos Model Accreditation Plan (MAP)-accredited personnel?

  A conflict of interest with respect to Asbestos Model Accreditation Plan (MAP)-accredited personnel would exist if, for example, the management planner and abatement contractor worked for the same firm. The planner might recommend to the LEA more expensive response actions than are necessary in the management plan. Other Frequent Questions…

  • Last published: May 24, 2024

• Do Program 1 processes have to complete a process hazard analysis?

  Do owners or operators of Program 1 processes have to complete a process hazard analysis? No. The Program 1 requirements do not include a process hazard analysis (40 CFR §68.12(b)). Program 3 processes require completion of a process hazard analysis (40 CFR §68.12(d)(3)) while Program 2 processes must complete a…

  • Last published: May 29, 2024

• Is a hazard review synonymous with a process hazard analysis (PHA)?

  The prevention program requirements under 40 CFR Part 68, Subparts C and D, include hazard reviews and process hazard analyses. Is a hazard review synonymous with a process hazard analysis (PHA)? No. A hazard review is different from a PHA. A hazard review is part of the Program 2 prevention…

  • Last published: May 29, 2024

• How often must compliance audits be performed?

  How often must owners or operators of stationary sources subject to the risk management program regulations perform compliance audits? The regulations at 40 CFR §§68.58(a) and 68.79(a) state that owners or operators must certify that they have evaluated compliance with the applicable prevention program provisions at least once every three…

  • Last published: May 28, 2024

• The training requirements specified in 40 CFR part 763 appear to apply to projects (excluding small-scale, short-duration projects) involving interior building components. Specifically, is roofing work and other exterior work covered?

  Worker training requirements specified in 40 CFR part 763, including those for accreditation under the Asbestos Model Accreditation Plan (MAP), apply to interior building projects done in schools and public and commercial buildings. Additionally, the asbestos National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)…

  • Last published: May 30, 2024

• How does a company become a provider of Asbestos Model Accreditation Plan (MAP)-accredited asbestos training courses?

  Individuals or groups wishing to sponsor training courses for disciplines required to be accredited under section 206(b)(1)(A) of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) may apply for approval from states that have accreditation program requirements that are at least as stringent as the EPA Asbestos Model Accreditation Plan (MAP). For…

  • Last published: August 27, 2024

• Do settlement communications, such as past “agreements in principle,” impact the implementation of the final Consent Decrees?

  The parties are bound by the terms of the various final, publicly available consent decrees. These consent decrees were made available for public comment before they were finalized and entered by the Court. Past settlement communications and documents created in the course of settlement discussions have been incorporated (or not)…

  • Last published: February 25, 2025

• How does EPA ensure that the potentially responsible parties complete their work?

  All cleanup activities performed by the PRPs are subject to enforcement instruments (i.e., consent decrees or administrative orders) that provide for EPA approval of all deliverables and oversight of all work performed by the PRPs.

  • Last published: February 25, 2025

• What is the Confidentiality Order?

  The Confidentiality Order (Order) is a court order entered by the Federal District Court for the District of Montana (Court) on August 8, 2002, and amended by the Court on December 31, 2003, that applies to Superfund settlement negotiations in the Clark Fork River Basin, including the following sites: Silver…

  • Last published: February 25, 2025