US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

15 U.S.C. § 2643

EPA regulations

(a)

In general

Within 360 days after , the Administrator shall promulgate regulations as described in subsections (b) through (i). With respect to regulations described in subsections (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), and (i), the Administrator shall issue an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking within 60 days after , and shall propose regulations within 180 days after . Any regulation promulgated under this section must protect human health and the environment.

(b)

Inspection

section 2646(d) of this titleThe Administrator shall promulgate regulations which prescribe procedures, including the use of personnel accredited under section 2646(b) or (c) of this title and laboratories accredited under , for determining whether asbestos-containing material is present in a school building under the authority of a local educational agency. The regulations shall provide for the exclusion of any school building, or portion of a school building, if (1) an inspection of such school building (or portion) was completed before the effective date of the regulations, and (2) the inspection meets the procedures and other requirements of the regulations under this subchapter or of the “Guidance for Controlling Asbestos-Containing Materials in Buildings” (unless the Administrator determines that an inspection in accordance with the guidance document is inadequate). The regulations shall require inspection of any school building (or portion of a school building) that is not excluded by the preceding sentence.

(c)

Circumstances requiring response actions

(1)
The Administrator shall promulgate regulations which define the appropriate response action in a school building under the authority of a local educational agency in at least the following circumstances:
(A)

Damage

Circumstances in which friable asbestos-containing material or its covering is damaged, deteriorated, or delaminated.

(B)

Significant damage

Circumstances in which friable asbestos-containing material or its covering is significantly damaged, deteriorated, or delaminated.

(C)

Potential damage

Circumstances in which—
(i)
friable asbestos-containing material is in an area regularly used by building occupants, including maintenance personnel, in the course of their normal activities, and
(ii)
there is a reasonable likelihood that the material or its covering will become damaged, deteriorated, or delaminated.
(D)

Potential significant damage

Circumstances in which—
(i)
friable asbestos-containing material is in an area regularly used by building occupants, including maintenance personnel, in the course of their normal activities, and
(ii)
there is a reasonable likelihood that the material or its covering will become significantly damaged, deteriorated, or delaminated.
(2)
In promulgating such regulations, the Administrator shall consider and assess the value of various technologies intended to improve the decisionmaking process regarding response actions and the quality of any work that is deemed necessary, including air monitoring and chemical encapsulants.
(d)

Response actions

(1)

In general

The Administrator shall promulgate regulations describing a response action in a school building under the authority of a local educational agency, using the least burdensome methods which protect human health and the environment. In determining the least burdensome methods, the Administrator shall take into account local circumstances, including occupancy and use patterns within the school building and short- and long-term costs.

(2)

Response action for damaged asbestos

In the case of a response action for the circumstances described in subsection (c)(1)(A), methods for responding shall include methods identified in chapters 3 and 5 of the “Guidance for Controlling Asbestos-Containing Material in Buildings”.

(3)

Response action for significantly damaged asbestos

In the case of a response action for the circumstances described in subsection (c)(1)(B), methods for responding shall include methods identified in chapter 5 of the “Guidance for Controlling Asbestos-Containing Material in Buildings”.

(4)

Response action for potentially damaged asbestos

In the case of a response action for the circumstances described in subsection (c)(1)(C), methods for responding shall include methods identified in chapters 3 and 5 of the “Guidance for Controlling Asbestos-Containing Material in Buildings”, unless preventive measures will eliminate the reasonable likelihood that the asbestos-containing material will become damaged, deteriorated, or delaminated.

(5)

Response action for potentially significantly damaged asbestos

In the case of a response action for the circumstances described in subsection (c)(1)(D), methods for responding shall include methods identified in chapter 5 of the “Guidance for Controlling Asbestos-Containing Material in Buildings”, unless preventive measures will eliminate the reasonable likelihood that the asbestos-containing material will become significantly damaged, deteriorated, or delaminated.

(6)

“Preventive measures” defined

1

1 So in original. Probably should be followed by a comma.
For purposes of this section, the term “preventive measures” means actions which eliminate the reasonable likelihood of asbestos-containing material becoming damaged, deteriorated, or delaminated, or significantly damaged  deteriorated, or delaminated (as the case may be) or which protect human health and the environment.

(7)

EPA information or advisory

The Administrator shall, not later than 30 days after , publish and distribute to all local education agencies and State Governors information or an advisory to—
(A)
facilitate public understanding of the comparative risks associated with in-place management of asbestos-containing building materials and removals;
(B)
promote the least burdensome response actions necessary to protect human health, safety, and the environment; and
(C)
describe the circumstances in which asbestos removal is necessary to protect human health.
Such information or advisory shall be based on the best available scientific evidence and shall be revised, republished, and redistributed as appropriate, to reflect new scientific findings.
(e)

Implementation

The Administrator shall promulgate regulations requiring the implementation of response actions in school buildings under the authority of a local educational agency and, where appropriate, for the determination of when a response action is completed. Such regulations shall include standards for the education and protection of both workers and building occupants for the following phases of activity:
(1)
Inspection.
(2)
2
2 So in original. Probably should not be capitalized.
Response Action.
(3)
Post-response action, including any periodic reinspection of asbestos-containing material and long-term surveillance activity.
(f)

Operations and maintenance

The Administrator shall promulgate regulations to require implementation of an operations and maintenance and repair program as described in chapter 3 of the “Guidance for Controlling Asbestos-Containing Materials in Buildings” for all friable asbestos-containing material in a school building under the authority of a local educational agency.

(g)

Periodic surveillance

The Administrator shall promulgate regulations to require the following:
(1)
An identification of the location of friable and non-friable asbestos in a school building under the authority of a local educational agency.
(2)
Provisions for surveillance and periodic reinspection of such friable and non-friable asbestos.
(3)
Provisions for education of school employees, including school service and maintenance personnel, about the location of and safety procedures with respect to such friable and non-friable asbestos.
(h)

Transportation and disposal

The Administrator shall promulgate regulations which prescribe standards for transportation and disposal of asbestos-containing waste material to protect human health and the environment. Such regulations shall include such provisions related to the manner in which transportation vehicles are loaded and unloaded as will assure the physical integrity of containers of asbestos-containing waste material.

(i)

Management plans

(1)

In general

The Administrator shall promulgate regulations which require each local educational agency to develop an asbestos management plan for school buildings under its authority, to begin implementation of such plan within 990 days after , and to complete implementation of such plan in a timely fashion. The regulations shall require that each plan include the following elements, wherever relevant to the school building:
(A)
An inspection statement describing inspection and response action activities carried out before .
(B)
A description of the results of the inspection conducted pursuant to regulations under subsection (b), including a description of the specific areas inspected.
(C)
A detailed description of measures to be taken to respond to any friable asbestos-containing material pursuant to the regulations promulgated under subsections (c), (d), and (e), including the location or locations at which a response action will be taken, the method or methods of response action to be used, and a schedule for beginning and completing response actions.
(D)
A detailed description of any asbestos-containing material which remains in the school building once response actions are undertaken pursuant to the regulations promulgated under subsections (c), (d), and (e).
(E)
A plan for periodic reinspection and long-term surveillance activities developed pursuant to regulations promulgated under subsection (g), and a plan for operations and maintenance activities developed pursuant to regulations promulgated under subsection (f).
(F)
With respect to the person or persons who inspected for asbestos-containing material and who will design or carry out response actions with respect to the friable asbestos-containing material, one of the following statements:
(i)
section 2646(b) of this title If the State has adopted a contractor accreditation plan under , a statement that the person (or persons) is accredited under such plan.
(ii)
section 2646(b) of this titlesection 2646(c) of this title A statement that the local educational agency used (or will use) persons who have been accredited by another State which has adopted a contractor accreditation plan under or is accredited pursuant to an Administrator-approved course under .
(G)
section 2646(d) of this title A list of the laboratories that analyzed any bulk samples of asbestos-containing material found in the school building or air samples taken to detect asbestos in the school building and a statement that each laboratory has been accredited pursuant to the accreditation program under .
(H)
With respect to each consultant who contributed to the management plan, the name of the consultant and one of the following statements:
(i)
section 2646(b) of this title If the State has adopted a contractor accreditation plan under , a statement that the consultant is accredited under such plan.
(ii)
section 2646(b) of this titlesection 2646(c) of this title A statement that the contractor is accredited by another State which has adopted a contractor accreditation plan under or is accredited pursuant to an Administrator-approved course under .
(I)
An evaluation of resources needed to successfully complete response actions and carry out reinspection, surveillance, and operation and maintenance activities.
(2)

Statement by contractor

A local educational agency may require each management plan to contain a statement signed by an accredited asbestos contractor that such contractor has prepared or assisted in the preparation of such plan, or has reviewed such plan, and that such plan is in compliance with the applicable regulations and standards promulgated or adopted pursuant to this section and other applicable provisions of law. Such a statement may not be signed by a contractor who, in addition to preparing or assisting in preparing the management plan, also implements (or will implement) the management plan.

(3)

Warning labels

(A)
The regulations shall require that each local educational agency which has inspected for and discovered any asbestos-containing material with respect to a school building shall attach a warning label to any asbestos-containing material still in routine maintenance areas (such as boiler rooms) of the school building, including—
(i)
friable asbestos-containing material which was responded to by a means other than removal, and
(ii)
asbestos-containing material for which no response action was carried out.
(B)
“CAUTION: ASBESTOS. HAZARDOUS. DO NOT DISTURB WITHOUT PROPER TRAINING AND EQUIPMENT.” The warning label shall read, in print which is readily visible because of large size or bright color, as follows:
(4)

Plan may be submitted in stages

A local educational agency may submit a management plan in stages, with each submission of the agency covering only a portion of the school buildings under the agency’s authority, if the agency determines that such action would expedite the identification and abatement of hazardous asbestos-containing material in the school buildings under the authority of the agency.

(5)

Public availability

A copy of the management plan developed under the regulations shall be available in the administrative offices of the local educational agency for inspection by the public, including teachers, other school personnel, and parents. The local educational agency shall notify parent, teacher, and employee organizations of the availability of such plan.

(6)

Submission to State Governor

section 2645 of this titleEach plan developed under this subsection shall be submitted to the State Governor under .

(j)

Changes in regulations

section 553 of title 5Changes may be made in the regulations promulgated under this section only by rule in accordance with . Any such change must protect human health and the environment.

(k)

Changes in guidance document

section 553 of title 5Any change made in the “Guidance for Controlling Asbestos-Containing Material in Buildings” shall be made only by rule in accordance with , unless a regulation described in this section dealing with the same subject matter is in effect. Any such change must protect human health and the environment.

(l)

Treatment of Department of Defense schools

(1)

Secretary to act in lieu of Governor

20 U.S.C. 921In the administration of this subchapter, any function, duty, or other responsibility imposed on a Governor of a State shall be carried out by the Secretary of Defense with respect to any school operated under the defense dependents’ education system provided for under the Defense Dependents’ Education Act of 1978 ( et seq.).

(2)

Regulations

The Secretary of Defense, in cooperation with the Administrator, shall, to the extent feasible and consistent with the national security, take such action as may be necessary to provide for the identification, inspection, and management (including abatement) of asbestos in any building used by the Department of Defense as an overseas school for dependents of members of the Armed Forces. Such identification, inspection, and management (including abatement) shall, subject to the preceding sentence, be carried out in a manner comparable to the manner in which a local educational agency is required to carry out such activities with respect to a school building under this subchapter.

(m)

Waiver

section 2644 of this titlesection 2644 of this titleThe Administrator, upon request by a Governor and after notice and comment and opportunity for a public hearing in the affected State, may waive some or all of the requirements of this section and with respect to such State if it has established and is implementing a program of asbestos inspection and management that contains requirements that are at least as stringent as the requirements of this section and .

Pub. L. 94–469, title II, § 203Pub. L. 99–519, § 2100 Stat. 2972Pub. L. 101–637, § 13104 Stat. 4593(, as added , , ; amended , , .)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

lPub. L. 95–56192 Stat. 2365section 921 of Title 20The Defense Dependents’ Education Act of 1978, referred to in subsec. ()(1), is title XIV of , , , which is classified principally to chapter 25A (§ 921 et seq.) of Title 20, Education. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under and Tables.

Amendments

Pub. L. 101–6371990—Subsec. (d)(7). added par. (7).