Search Frequent Questions

Displaying 31 - 45 of 80 results

• Is someone who works as a Registered Environmental Assessor also required by the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) to be an accredited asbestos inspector in order to perform asbestos inspection work?

  Yes. If a person’s job entails inspecting schools and/or public or commercial buildings for asbestos containing building materials (ACBM), AHERA requires that said person acquire valid accreditation as an asbestos inspector by completing the necessary training course work before inspecting a school building or public or commercial building. Other Frequent…

  • Last published: May 30, 2024

• May an Asbestos Model Accreditation Plan (MAP) training provider combine students from different disciplines in order for these students to attend special training modules on selected topics, such as health effects?

  No. Each initial and refresher training course offered for accreditation must be specific to a single discipline and not combined with training for any other discipline. Also, a person seeking accreditation in any of the five accredited Asbestos Model Accreditation Plan (MAP) disciplines cannot attend two or more courses concurrently…

  • Last published: May 30, 2024

• Is it possible to complete in-house training for purposes of Asbestos Model Accreditation Plan (MAP) accreditation?

  Yes, as long as the training entity has approval for each of its accredited courses from either EPA or a state program at least as stringent as the MAP. These training programs, however, are subject to audit by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and/or the state in the same way…

  • Last published: May 30, 2024

• How does EPA verify accuracy and completeness of RMPs?

  What does EPA plan to do to verify the accuracy and completeness of submitted Risk Management Plans (RMPs)? All RMPs received by EPA go through an electronic verification process that checks the submission for its completeness. This completeness check determines whether information has been provided for all of the required…

  • Last published: January 14, 2025

• I use/used vermiculite to enhance my potting soil. Should I be concerned?

  EPA's investigation ( https://www.epa.gov/asbestos/protect-your-family-asbestos-contaminated-vermiculite-insulation ) into these products indicates that consumers face only a minimal health risk from using vermiculite products at home or in their gardens. To further reduce the risk associated with the occasional use of vermiculite products during gardening activities, EPA recommends that consumers: Use vermiculite outdoors…

  • Last published: March 6, 2024

• Does the Asbestos Model Accreditation Plan (MAP) require that a written design plan be prepared by an accredited project designer before a covered response action begins inside a school or public and commercial building?

  No, the MAP does not explicitly mandate written design plans for covered response actions in a school or public and commercial building. However, EPA strongly recommends preparation of a written design plan before undertaking a response action. Other Frequent Questions about Asbestos Learn About Asbestos Asbestos and School Buildings Information…

  • Last published: March 15, 2024

• Can an Asbestos Model Accreditation Plan (MAP)-accredited Contractor/Supervisor exchange that accreditation for Worker accreditation without further training?

  Yes. 40 CFR part 763, subpart E, Appendix C, Unit I.B.1. of the Asbestos Model Accreditation Plan permits accredited contractor/supervisors to “perform in the role of a worker without possessing separate accreditation as a worker.” Therefore, if a state wishes to permit its accredited contractor/supervisors to relinquish their certificates in…

  • Last published: April 23, 2024

• Does the Asbestos Model Accreditation Plan (MAP) require that a design plan be prepared by an accredited project designer before covered response actions begin inside a school or public and commercial building?

  The MAP stipulates that a person must be accredited as a project designer to design any of the following activities with respect to friable asbestos-containing building material (ACBM) in a school or public and commercial building: (1) a response action other than a SSSD maintenance activity, (2) a maintenance activity…

  • Last published: May 1, 2024

• Do accreditation requirements under the Asbestos Model Accreditation Plan (MAP) apply to persons removing nonfriable asbestos-containing material from schools?

  No, unless the nonfriable material becomes friable in the removal process. Generally, if a removal action involves nonfriable materials and the work methods used in removal of the nonfriable material will not cause it to become friable by the material crumbling, becoming pulverized or to be reduced to powder by…

  • Last published: May 1, 2024

• If I take an 8-hour refresher training course under the Asbestos Model Accreditation Plan (MAP) from an asbestos training provider who fraudulently claimed to be accredited to conduct such training, do I need to retake the 8-hour refresher training?

  Yes. You must retake the 8-hour refresher training course in order to have your accreditation status reinstated. Other Frequent Questions about Asbestos Learn About Asbestos Asbestos and School Buildings Information for Owners and Managers of Buildings that Contain Asbestos Protect Your Family from Exposures to Asbestos Asbestos Contaminated Vermiculite Insulation

  • Last published: May 1, 2024

• Are facilities required to use an Integrated Contingency Plan?

  A number of federal statutes and regulations require emergency response planning (e.g., risk management planning under the Clean Air Act Section 112(r), contingency planning under RCRA, and facility response planning under the Oil Pollution Act). On June 5, 1996, the National Response Team (NRT), published the Integrated Contingency Plan ("One…

  • Last published: May 26, 2024

• Will an Integrated Contingency Plan satisfy RMP requirements?

  The National Response Team's Integrated Contingency Plan guidance, or "One Plan," provides a format for consolidating multiple emergency response plans required under RCRA, OPA, SPCC, DOT, OSHA, and CAA §112(r). Will an Integrated Contingency Plan satisfy all of the risk management program requirements under 40 CFR Part 68? No. An…

  • Last published: May 26, 2024

• Inclusion of release scenarios in executive summary

  Do I have to include a description of my worst-case and alternative release scenario in my executive summary? I'm concerned that the description contains sensitive information, which if included in the executive summary will be available to the public without restriction. No, facilities are not required to include a description…

  • Last published: May 26, 2024

• Withdrawal of an erroneous RMP submission

  What should a facility do if it submitted a risk management plan (RMP) but later discovers that it was never subject to the risk management program requirements? If a facility discovers that it submitted an RMP in error and was never subject to the risk management program regulations, it should…

  • Last published: May 29, 2024

• Changes required for adding new reactor vessels for same substance

  What if I change a process by adding new reactor vessels, but do not change the substances? Because increasing the number of reactor vessels is usually a major change to your process, you will have six months to update your RMP to reflect changes in your prevention program elements and…

  • Last published: May 29, 2024