1. U.S. Code
  2. title 15
  3. chapter 53
  4. subchapter II
  5. § 2645

Collapse to view only § 2645. Submission to State Governor

§ 2641. Congressional findings and purpose
(a) Findings
The Congress finds the following:
(1) The Environmental Protection Agency’s rule on local educational agency inspection for, and notification of, the presence of friable asbestos-containing material in school buildings includes neither standards for the proper identification of asbestos-containing material and appropriate response actions with respect to friable asbestos-containing material, nor a requirement that response actions with respect to friable asbestos-containing material be carried out in a safe and complete manner once actions are found to be necessary. As a result of the lack of regulatory guidance from the Environmental Protection Agency, some schools have not undertaken response action while many others have undertaken expensive projects without knowing if their action is necessary, adequate, or safe. Thus, the danger of exposure to asbestos continues to exist in schools, and some exposure actually may have increased due to the lack of Federal standards and improper response action.
(2) There is no uniform program for accrediting persons involved in asbestos identification and abatement, nor are local educational agencies required to use accredited contractors for asbestos work.
(3) The guidance provided by the Environmental Protection Agency in its “Guidance for Controlling Asbestos-Containing Material in Buildings” is insufficient in detail to ensure adequate responses. Such guidance is intended to be used only until the regulations required by this subchapter become effective.
(4) Because there are no Federal standards whatsoever regulating daily exposure to asbestos in other public and commercial buildings, persons in addition to those comprising the Nation’s school population may be exposed daily to asbestos.
(b) Purpose
The purpose of this subchapter is—
(1) to provide for the establishment of Federal regulations which require inspection for asbestos-containing material and implementation of appropriate response actions with respect to asbestos-containing material in the Nation’s schools in a safe and complete manner;
(2) to mandate safe and complete periodic reinspection of school buildings following response actions, where appropriate; and
(3) to require the Administrator to conduct a study to find out the extent of the danger to human health posed by asbestos in public and commercial buildings and the means to respond to any such danger.
(Pub. L. 94–469, title II, § 201, as added Pub. L. 99–519, § 2, Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2970.)

CITE AS: 15 USC 2641

§ 2642. Definitions
For purposes of this subchapter—
(1) Accredited asbestos contractor
(2) Administrator
(3) Asbestos
The term “asbestos” means asbestiform varieties of—
(A) chrysotile (serpentine),
(B) crocidolite (riebeckite),
(C) amosite (cummingtonite-grunerite),
(D) anthophyllite,
(E) tremolite, or
(F) actinolite.
(4) Asbestos-containing material
(5) EPA guidance document
(6) Friable asbestos-containing material
(7) Local educational agency
The term “local educational agency” means—
(A) any local educational agency as defined in section 7801 of title 20,
(B) the owner of any private, nonprofit elementary or secondary school building, and
(C) the governing authority of any school operated under the defense dependents’ education system provided for under the Defense Dependents’ Education Act of 1978 (20 U.S.C. 921 et seq.).
(8) Most current guidance document
(9) Non-profit elementary or secondary school
(10) Public and commercial building
(11) Response action
(12) School
(13) School building
The term “school building” means—
(A) any structure suitable for use as a classroom, including a school facility such as a laboratory, library, school eating facility, or facility used for the preparation of food,
(B) any gymnasium or other facility which is specially designed for athletic or recreational activities for an academic course in physical education,
(C) any other facility used for the instruction of students or for the administration of educational or research programs, and
(D) any maintenance, storage, or utility facility, including any hallway, essential to the operation of any facility described in subparagraphs (A), (B), or (C).
(14) State
(Pub. L. 94–469, title II, § 202, as added Pub. L. 99–519, § 2, Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2971; amended Pub. L. 103–382, title III, § 391(c)(1)–(3), Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 4022; Pub. L. 107–110, title X, § 1076(f)(1), Jan. 8, 2002, 115 Stat. 2091; Pub. L. 114–95, title IX, § 9215(xxx)(1), Dec. 10, 2015, 129 Stat. 2191.)

CITE AS: 15 USC 2642

§ 2643. EPA regulations
(a) In general
(span) Inspection
(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
(B) Significant damage
(C) Potential damageCircumstances 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 damageCircumstances 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
(2) Response action for damaged asbestos
(3) Response action for significantly damaged asbestos
(4) Response action for potentially damaged asbestos
(5) Response action for potentially significantly damaged asbestos
(6) “Preventive measures” defined
(7) EPA information or advisoryThe Administrator shall, not later than 30 days after November 28, 1990, 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) ImplementationThe 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) Response Action.2
2 So in original. Probably should not be capitalized.
(3) Post-response action, including any periodic reinspection of asbestos-containing material and long-term surveillance activity.
(f) Operations and maintenance
(g)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
(i) Management plans
(1) In generalThe 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 October 22, 1986, 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 October 22, 1986.
(B) A description of the results of the inspection conducted pursuant to regulations under subsection (span), 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) If the State has adopted a contractor accreditation plan under section 2646(span) of this title, a statement that the person (or persons) is accredited under such plan.
(ii) 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 section 2646(span) of this title or is accredited pursuant to an Administrator-approved course under section 2646(c) of this title.
(G) 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 section 2646(d) of this title.
(H) With respect to each consultant who contributed to the management plan, the name of the consultant and one of the following statements:
(i) If the State has adopted a contractor accreditation plan under section 2646(span) of this title, a statement that the consultant is accredited under such plan.
(ii) A statement that the contractor is accredited by another State which has adopted a contractor accreditation plan under section 2646(span) of this title or is accredited pursuant to an Administrator-approved course under section 2646(c) of this title.
(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
(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) The warning label shall read, in print which is readily visible because of large size or bright color, as follows: “CAUTION: ASBESTOS. HAZARDOUS. DO NOT DISTURB WITHOUT PROPER TRAINING AND EQUIPMENT.”
(4) Plan may be submitted in stages
(5) Public availability
(6) Submission to State Governor
(j) Changes in regulations
(k) Changes in guidance document
(l) Treatment of Department of Defense schools
(1) Secretary to act in lieu of Governor
(2) Regulations
(m) Waiver
(Puspan. L. 94–469, title II, § 203, as added Puspan. L. 99–519, § 2, Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2972; amended Puspan. L. 101–637, § 13, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 4593.)

CITE AS: 15 USC 2643

§ 2644. Requirements if EPA fails to promulgate regulations
(a) In general
(1) Failure to promulgateIf the Administrator fails to promulgate within the prescribed period—
(A) regulations described in section 2643(b) of this title (relating to inspection);
(B) regulations described in section 2643(c), (d), (e), (f), (g), and (i) of this title (relating to responding to asbestos); or
(C) regulations described in section 2643(h) of this title (relating to transportation and disposal);
each local educational agency shall carry out the requirements described in this section in subsection (b); subsections (c), (d), and (e); or subsection (f); respectively, in accordance with the Environmental Protection Agency’s most current guidance document.
(2) Stay by court
(3) Effective period
(b) Inspection
(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the local educational agency, within 540 days after October 22, 1986, shall conduct an inspection for asbestos-containing material, using personnel accredited under section 2646(b) or (c) of this title and laboratories accredited under section 2646(d) of this title, in each school building under its authority.
(2) The local educational agency may exclude from the inspection requirement in paragraph (1) any school building, or portion of a school building, if (A) an inspection of such school building (or portion) was completed before the date on which this section goes into effect, and (B) the inspection meets the inspection requirements of this section.
(c) Operation and maintenance
(d) Management plan
(1) In generalThe local educational agency shall—
(A) develop a management plan for responding to asbestos-containing material in each school building under its authority and submit such plan to the Governor under section 2645 of this title within 810 days after October 22, 1986,
(B) begin implementation of such plan within 990 days after October 22, 1986, and
(C) complete implementation of such plan in a timely fashion.
(2) Plan requirementsThe management plan shall—
(A) include the elements listed in section 2643(i)(1) of this title, including an inspection statement as described in paragraph (3) of this section,1
1 So in original. Probably should be “subsection,”.
(B) provide for the attachment of warning labels as described in section 2643(i)(3) of this title,
(C) be prepared in accordance with the most current guidance document,
(D) meet the standard described in paragraph (4) for actions described in that paragraph, and
(E) be submitted to the State Governor under section 2645 of this title.
(3) Inspection statementThe local educational agency shall complete an inspection statement, covering activities carried out before October 22, 1986, which meets the following requirements:
(A) The statement shall include the following information:
(i) The dates of inspection.
(ii) The name, address, and qualifications of each inspector.
(iii) A description of the specific areas inspected.
(iv) A list of the laboratories that analyzed any bulk samples of asbestos-containing material or air samples of asbestos found in any school building and a statement describing the qualifications of each laboratory.
(v) The results of the inspection.
(B) The statement shall state whether any actions were taken with respect to any asbestos-containing material found to be present, including a specific reference to whether any actions were taken in the boiler room of the building. If any such action was taken, the following items of information shall be included in the statement:
(i) The location or locations at which the action was taken.
(ii) A description of the method of action.
(iii) The qualifications of the persons who conducted the action.
(4) StandardThe ambient interior concentration of asbestos after the completion of actions described in the most current guidance document, other than the type of action described in sections 2643(f) of this title and subsection (c) of this section, shall not exceed the ambient exterior concentration, discounting any contribution from any local stationary source. Either a scanning electron microscope or a transmission electron microscope shall be used to determine the ambient interior concentration. In the absence of reliable measurements, the ambient exterior concentration shall be deemed to be—
(A) less than 0.003 fibers per cubic centimeter if a scanning electron microscope is used, and
(B) less than 0.005 fibers per cubic centimeter if a transmission electron microscope is used.
(5) Public availability
(e) Building occupant protection
(f) Transportation and disposal
(Pub. L. 94–469, title II, § 204, as added Pub. L. 99–519, § 2, Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2977.)

CITE AS: 15 USC 2644

§ 2645. Submission to State Governor
(a) Submission
(b) Governor requirementsWithin 360 days after October 22, 1986, the Governor of each State—
(1) shall notify local educational agencies in the State of where to submit their management plans under this section, and
(2) may establish administrative procedures for reviewing management plans submitted under this section.
If the Governor establishes procedures under paragraph (2), the Governor shall designate to carry out the reviews those State officials who are responsible for implementing environmental protection or other public health programs, or with authority over asbestos programs, in the State.
(c) Management plan review
(1) Review of planThe Governor may disapprove a management plan within 90 days after the date of receipt of the plan if the plan—
(A) does not conform with the regulations under section 2643(i) of this title (or with section 2644(d) of this title if there are no regulations),
(B) does not assure that contractors who are accredited pursuant to this subchapter will be used to carry out the plan, or
(C) does not contain a response action schedule which is reasonable and timely, taking into account circumstances relevant to the speed at which the friable asbestos-containing material in the school buildings under the local educational agency’s authority should be responded to, including human exposure to the asbestos while the friable asbestos-containing material remains in the school building, and the ability of the local educational agency to continue to provide educational services to the community.
(2) Revision of plan
(d) Deferral of submission
(1) Request for deferralA local educational agency may request a deferral, to May 9, 1989, of the deadline under subsection (a). Upon approval of such a request, the deadline under subsection (a) is deferred until May 9, 1989, for the local educational agency which submitted the request. Such a request may cover one or more schools under the authority of the agency and shall include a list of all the schools covered by the request. A local educational agency shall file any such request with the State Governor by October 12, 1988, and shall include with the request either of the following statements:
(A) A statement—
(i) that the State in which the agency is located has requested from the Administrator, before June 1, 1988, a waiver under section 2643(m) of this title; and
(ii) that gives assurance that the local educational agency has carried out the notification and, in the case of a public school, public meeting required by paragraph (2).
(B) A statement, the accuracy of which is sworn to by a responsible official of the agency (by notarization or other means of certification), that includes the following with respect to each school for which a deferral is sought in the request:
(i) A statement that, in spite of the fact that the local educational agency has made a good faith effort to meet the deadline for submission of a management plan under subsection (a), the agency will not be able to meet the deadline. The statement shall include a brief explanation of the reasons why the deadline cannot be met.
(ii) A statement giving assurance that the local educational agency has made available for inspection by the public, at each school for which a deferral is sought in the request, at least one of the following documents:(I) A solicitation by the local educational agency to contract with an accredited asbestos contractor for inspection or management plan development.(II) A letter attesting to the enrollment of school district personnel in an Environmental Protection Agency-accredited training course for inspection and management plan development.(III) Documentation showing that an analysis of suspected asbestos-containing material from the school is pending at an accredited laboratory.(IV) Documentation showing that an inspection or management plan has been completed in at least one other school under the local educational agency’s authority.
(iii) A statement giving assurance that the local educational agency has carried out the notification and, in the case of a public school, public meeting required by paragraph (2).
(iv) A proposed schedule outlining all significant activities leading up to submission of a management plan by May 9, 1989, including inspection of the school (if not completed at the time of the request) with a deadline of no later than December 22, 1988, for entering into a signed contract with an accredited asbestos contractor for inspection (unless such inspections are to be performed by school personnel), laboratory analysis of material from the school suspected of containing asbestos, and development of the management plan.
(2) Notification and public meeting
(3) Response by Governor
(A) Not later than 30 days after the date on which a Governor receives a deferral request under paragraph (1) from a local educational agency, the Governor shall respond to the local educational agency in writing by acknowledging whether the request is complete or incomplete. If the request is incomplete, the Governor shall identify in the response the items that are missing from the request.
(B) A local educational agency may correct any deficiencies in an incomplete deferral request and refile the request with the Governor. In any case in which the local educational agency decides to refile the request, the agency shall refile the request, and the Governor shall respond to such refiled request in the manner described in subparagraph (A), no later than 15 days after the local educational agency has received a response from the Governor under subparagraph (A).
(C) Approval of a deferral request under this subsection occurs only upon the receipt by a local educational agency of a written acknowledgment from the Governor that the agency’s deferral request is complete.
(4) Submission and review of plan
(5) Implementation of plan
(6) EPA notice
(A) Not later than 15 days after July 18, 1988, the Administrator shall publish in the Federal Register the following:
(i) A notice describing the opportunity to file a request for deferral under this subsection.
(ii) A list of the State offices (including officials (if available) in each State as designated under subsection (b)) with which deferral requests should be filed.
(B) As soon as practicable, but in no event later than 30 days, after July 18, 1988, the Administrator shall mail a notice describing the opportunity to file a request for deferral under this subsection to each local educational agency and to each State office in the list published under subparagraph (A).
(e) Status reports
(1) Not later than December 31, 1988, the Governor of each State shall submit to the Administrator a written statement on the status of management plan submissions and deferral requests by local educational agencies in the State. The statement shall be made available to local educational agencies in the State and shall contain the following:
(A) A list containing each local educational agency that submitted a management plan by October 12, 1988.
(B) A list containing each local educational agency whose deferral request was approved.
(C) A list containing each local educational agency that failed to submit a management plan by October 12, 1988, and whose deferral request was disapproved.
(D) A list containing each local educational agency that failed to submit a management plan by October 12, 1988, and did not submit a deferral request.
(2) Not later than December 31, 1989, the Governor of each State shall submit to the Administrator an updated version of the written statement submitted under paragraph (1). The statement shall be made available to local educational agencies in the State and shall contain the following:
(A) A list containing each local educational agency whose management plan was submitted and not disapproved as of October 9, 1989.
(B) A list containing each local educational agency whose management plan was submitted and disapproved, and which remains disapproved, as of October 9, 1989.
(C) A list containing each local educational agency that submitted a management plan after May 9, 1989, and before October 10, 1989.
(D) A list containing each local educational agency that failed to submit a management plan as of October 9, 1989.
(Pub. L. 94–469, title II, § 205, as added Pub. L. 99–519, § 2, Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2979; amended Pub. L. 100–368, §§ 1(a), 2, July 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 829, 831.)

CITE AS: 15 USC 2645

§ 2646. Contractor and laboratory accreditation
(a) Contractor accreditationA person may not—
(1) inspect for asbestos-containing material in a school building under the authority of a local educational agency or in a public or commercial building,
(2) prepare a management plan for such a school, or
(3) design or conduct response actions, other than the type of action described in sections 2643(f) and 2644(c) of this title, with respect to friable asbestos-containing material in such a school or in a public or commercial building,
unless such person is accredited by a State under subsection (b) or is accredited pursuant to an Administrator-approved course under subsection (c).
(b) Accreditation by State
(1) Model plan
(A) Persons to be accreditedWithin 180 days after October 22, 1986, the Administrator, in consultation with affected organizations, shall develop a model contractor accreditation plan for States to give accreditation to persons in the following categories:
(i) Persons who inspect for asbestos-containing material in school buildings under the authority of a local educational agency or in public or commercial buildings.
(ii) Persons who prepare management plans for such schools.
(iii) Persons who design or carry out response actions, other than the type of action described in sections 2643(f) and 2644(c) of this title, with respect to friable asbestos-containing material in such schools or in public or commercial buildings.
(B) Plan requirementsThe plan shall include a requirement that any person in a category listed in paragraph (1) 1
1 So in original. Probably should be “subparagraph (A)”.
achieve a passing grade on an examination and participate in continuing education to stay informed about current asbestos inspection and response action technology. The examination shall demonstrate the knowledge of the person in areas that the Administrator prescribes as necessary and appropriate in each of the categories. Such examinations may include requirements for knowledge in the following areas:
(i) Recognition of asbestos-containing material and its physical characteristics.
(ii) Health hazards of asbestos and the relationship between asbestos exposure and disease.
(iii) Assessing the risk of asbestos exposure through a knowledge of percentage weight of asbestos-containing material, friability, age, deterioration, location and accessibility of materials, and advantages and disadvantages of dry and wet response action methods.
(iv) Respirators and their use, care, selection, degree of protection afforded, fitting, testing, and maintenance and cleaning procedures.
(v) Appropriate work practices and control methods, including the use of high efficiency particle absolute vacuums, the use of amended water, and principles of negative air pressure equipment use and procedures.
(vi) Preparing a work area for response action work, including isolating work areas to prevent bystander or public exposure to asbestos, decontamination procedures, and procedures for dismantling work areas after completion of work.
(vii) Establishing emergency procedures to respond to sudden releases.
(viii) Air monitoring requirements and procedures.
(ix) Medical surveillance program requirements.
(x) Proper asbestos waste transportation and disposal procedures.
(xi) Housekeeping and personal hygiene practices, including the necessity of showers, and procedures to prevent asbestos exposure to an employee’s family.
(2) State adoption of plan
(c) Accreditation by Administrator-approved course
(1) Course approval
(2) Treatment of persons with previous EPA asbestos trainingA person who—
(A) completed an Environmental Protection Agency-approved asbestos training course before October 22, 1986, and
(B) passed (or passes) an asbestos test either before or after October 22, 1986,
may be accredited under paragraph (1) if the Administrator determines that the course and test are equivalent to the requirements of the model plan developed under subsection (b). If the Administrator so determines, the person shall be considered accredited for the purposes of this subchapter until a date that is one year after the date on which the State in which such person is employed establishes an accreditation program pursuant to subsection (b).
(3) Lists of coursesThe Administrator, in consultation with affected organizations, shall publish (and revise as necessary)—
(A) a list of asbestos courses and tests in effect before October 22, 1986, which qualify for equivalency treatment under paragraph (2), and
(B) a list of asbestos courses and tests which the Administrator determines under paragraph (1) are consistent with the model plan and which will qualify a contractor for accreditation under such paragraph.
(d) Laboratory accreditation
(1) The Administrator shall provide for the development of an accreditation program for laboratories by the National Institute of Standards and Technology in accordance with paragraph (2). The Administrator shall transfer such funds as are necessary to the National Institute of Standards and Technology to carry out such program.
(2) The National Institute of Standards and Technology, upon request by the Administrator, shall, in consultation with affected organizations—
(A) within 360 days after October 22, 1986, develop an accreditation program for laboratories which conduct qualitative and semi-quantitative analyses of bulk samples of asbestos-containing material, and
(B) within 720 days after October 22, 1986, develop an accreditation program for laboratories which conduct analyses of air samples of asbestos from school buildings under the authority of a local educational agency.
(3) A laboratory which plans to carry out any such analysis shall comply with the requirements of the accreditation program.
(e) Financial assistance contingent on use of accredited persons
(1) A school which is an applicant for financial assistance under section 505 of the Asbestos School Hazard Abatement Act of 1984 [20 U.S.C. 4014] is not eligible for such assistance unless the school, in carrying out the requirements of this subchapter—
(A) uses a person (or persons)—
(i) who is accredited by a State which has adopted an accreditation plan based on the model plan developed under subsection (b), or
(ii) who is accredited pursuant to an Administrator-approved course under subsection (c), and
(B) uses a laboratory (or laboratories) which is accredited under the program developed under subsection (d).
(2) This subsection shall apply to any financial assistance provided under the Asbestos School Hazard Abatement Act of 1984 [20 U.S.C. 4011 et seq.] for activities performed after the following dates:
(A) In the case of activities performed by persons, after the date which is one year after October 22, 1986.
(B) In the case of activities performed by laboratories, after the date which is 180 days after the date on which a laboratory accreditation program is completed under subsection (d).
(f) List of EPA-approved courses
(Pub. L. 94–469, title II, § 206, as added Pub. L. 99–519, § 2, Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2980; amended Pub. L. 100–368, § 3, July 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 832; Pub. L. 100–418, title V, § 5115(c), Aug. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 1433; Pub. L. 101–637, § 15(a)(1), (2), Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 4596.)

CITE AS: 15 USC 2646

§ 2647. Enforcement
(a) PenaltiesAny local educational agency—
(1) which fails to conduct an inspection pursuant to regulations under section 2643(b) of this title or under section 2644(b) of this title,
(2) which knowingly submits false information to the Governor regarding any inspection pursuant to regulations under section 2643(i) of this title or knowingly includes false information in any inspection statement under section 2644(d)(3) of this title,
(3) which fails to develop a management plan pursuant to regulations under section 2643(i) of this title or under section 2644(d) of this title,
(4) which carries out any activity prohibited by section 2655 of this title, or
(5) which knowingly submits false information to the Governor regarding a deferral request under section 2645(d) of this title.1
1 So in original. The period probably should be a comma.
is liable for a civil penalty of not more than $5,000 for each day during which the violation continues. Any civil penalty under this subsection shall be assessed and collected in the same manner, and subject to the same provisions, as in the case of civil penalties assessed and collected under section 2615 of this title. For purposes of this subsection, a “violation” means a failure to comply with respect to a single school building. The court shall order that any civil penalty collected under this subsection be used by the local educational agency for purposes of complying with this subchapter. Any portion of a civil penalty remaining unspent after compliance by a local educational agency is completed shall be deposited into the Asbestos Trust Fund established by section 4022 of title 20.
(b) Relationship to subchapter I of this chapter
(c) Enforcement considerations
(1) In determining the amount of a civil penalty to be assessed under subsection (a) against a local educational agency, the Administrator shall consider—
(A) the significance of the violation;
(B) the culpability of the violator, including any history of previous violations under this chapter;
(C) the ability of the violator to pay the penalty; and
(D) the ability of the violator to continue to provide educational services to the community.
(2) Any action ordered by a court in fashioning relief under section 2619 of this title shall be consistent with regulations promulgated under section 2643 of this title (or with the requirements of section 2644 of this title if there are no regulations).
(d) Citizen complaints
(e) Citizen petitions
(1) Any person may petition the Administrator to initiate a proceeding for the issuance, amendment, or repeal of a regulation or order under this subchapter.
(2) Such petition shall be filed in the principal office of the Administrator and shall set forth the facts which it is claimed establish that it is necessary to issue, amend, or repeal a regulation or order under this subchapter.
(3) The Administrator may hold a public hearing or may conduct such investigation or proceeding as the Administrator deems appropriate in order to determine whether or not such petition should be granted.
(4) Within 90 days after filing of a petition described in paragraph (1), the Administrator shall either grant or deny the petition. If the Administrator grants such petition, the Administrator shall promptly commence an appropriate proceeding in accordance with this subchapter. If the Administrator denies such petition, the Administrator shall publish in the Federal Register the Administrator’s reasons for such denial. The granting or denial of a petition under this subsection shall not affect any deadline or other requirement of this subchapter.
(f) Citizen civil actions with respect to EPA regulations
(1) Any person may commence a civil action without prior notice against the Administrator to compel the Administrator to meet the deadlines in section 2643 of this title for issuing advanced notices of proposed rulemaking, proposing regulations, and promulgating regulations. Any such action shall be brought in the district court of the United States for the District of Columbia.
(2) In any action brought under paragraph (1) in which the court finds the Administrator to be in violation of any deadline in section 2643 of this title, the court shall set forth a schedule for promulgating the regulations required by section 2643 of this title and shall order the Administrator to comply with such schedule. The court may extend any deadline (which has not already occurred) in section 2644(b), (c), or (d) of this title for a period of not more than 6 months, if the court-ordered schedule will result in final promulgation of the pertinent regulations within the extended period. Such deadline extensions may not be granted by the court beginning 720 days after October 22, 1986.
(3)Section 2619 of this title shall apply to civil actions described in this subsection, except to the extent inconsistent with this subsection.
(g) Failure to attain accreditation; penaltyAny contractor who—
(1) inspects for asbestos-containing material in a school, public or commercial building;
(2) designs or conducts response actions with respect to friable asbestos-containing material in a school, public or commercial building; or
(3) employs individuals to conduct response actions with respect to friable asbestos-containing material in a school, public or commercial building;
and who fails to obtain the accreditation under section 2646 of this title, or in the case of employees to require or provide for the accreditation required, is liable for a civil penalty of not more than $5,000 for each day during which the violation continues, unless such contractor is a direct employee of the Federal Government.
(Pub. L. 94–469, title II, § 207, as added Pub. L. 99–519, § 2, Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2983; amended Pub. L. 100–368, § 5, July 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 833; Pub. L. 101–637, § 15(a)(4), Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 4596.)

CITE AS: 15 USC 2647

§ 2648. Emergency authority
(a) Emergency action
(1) Authority
Whenever—
(A) the presence of airborne asbestos or the condition of friable asbestos-containing material in a school building governed by a local educational agency poses an imminent and substantial endangerment to human health or the environment, and
(B) the local educational agency is not taking sufficient action (as determined by the Administrator or the Governor) to respond to the airborne asbestos or friable asbestos-containing material,
the Administrator or the Governor of a State is authorized to act to protect human health or the environment.
(2) Limitations on Governor action
(3) Notification
The following notification shall be provided before an emergency action is taken under this subsection:
(A) In the case of a Governor taking the action, the Governor shall notify the local educational agency concerned.
(B) In the case of the Administrator taking the action, the Administrator shall notify both the local educational agency concerned and the Governor of the State in which such agency is located.
(4) Cost recovery
(b) Injunctive relief
Upon receipt of evidence that the presence of airborne asbestos or the condition of friable asbestos-containing material in a school building governed by a local educational agency poses an imminent and substantial endangerment to human health or the environment—
(1) the Administrator may request the Attorney General to bring suit, or
(2) the Governor of a State may bring suit,
to secure such relief as may be necessary to respond to the hazard. The district court of the United States in the district in which the response will be carried out shall have jurisdiction to grant such relief, including injunctive relief.
(Pub. L. 94–469, title II, § 208, as added Pub. L. 99–519, § 2, Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2985.)

CITE AS: 15 USC 2648

§ 2649. State and Federal law
(a) No preemption
(b) Cost and damage awards
(c) State may establish more requirements
(d) No Federal cause of action
(e) Intent of Congress
(Pub. L. 94–469, title II, § 209, as added Pub. L. 99–519, § 2, Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2986.)

CITE AS: 15 USC 2649

§ 2650. Asbestos contractors and local educational agencies
(a) Study
(1) General requirement
The Administrator shall conduct a study on the availability of liability insurance and other forms of assurance against financial loss which are available to local educational agencies and asbestos contractors with respect to actions required under this subchapter. Such study shall examine the following:
(A) The extent to which liability insurance and other forms of assurance against financial loss are available to local educational agencies and asbestos contractors.
(B) The extent to which the cost of insurance or other forms of assurance against financial loss has increased and the extent to which coverage has become less complete.
(C) The extent to which any limitation in the availability of insurance or other forms of assurance against financial loss is the result of factors other than standards of liability in applicable law.
(D) The extent to which the existence of the regulations required by subsections (c) and (d) of section 2643 of this title and the accreditation of contractors under section 2646 of this title has affected the availability or cost of insurance or other forms of assurance against financial loss.
(E) The extent to which any limitation on the availability of insurance or other forms of assurance against financial loss is inhibiting inspections for asbestos-containing material or the development or implementation of management plans under this subchapter.
(F) Identification of any other impediments to the timely completion of inspections or the development and implementation of management plans under this subchapter.
(2) Interim report
(3) Final report
(b) State action
(Pub. L. 94–469, title II, § 210, as added Pub. L. 99–519, § 2, Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2986.)

CITE AS: 15 USC 2650

§ 2651. Public protection
(a) Public protection
(b) Labor Department review
(Pub. L. 94–469, title II, § 211, as added Pub. L. 99–519, § 2, Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2987.)

CITE AS: 15 USC 2651

§ 2652. Asbestos Ombudsman
(a) Appointment
(b) Duties
The duties of the Asbestos Ombudsman are—
(1) to receive complaints, grievances, and requests for information submitted by any person with respect to any aspect of this subchapter,
(2) to render assistance with respect to the complaints, grievances, and requests received, and
(3) to make such recommendations to the Administrator as the Ombudsman considers appropriate.
(Pub. L. 94–469, title II, § 212, as added Pub. L. 99–519, § 2, Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2987.)

CITE AS: 15 USC 2652

§ 2653. EPA study of asbestos-containing material in public buildings
Within 360 days after October 22, 1986, the Administrator shall conduct and submit to the Congress the results of a study which shall—
(1) assess the extent to which asbestos-containing materials are present in public and commercial buildings;
(2) assess the condition of asbestos-containing material in commercial buildings and the likelihood that persons occupying such buildings, including service and maintenance personnel, are, or may be, exposed to asbestos fibers;
(3) consider and report on whether public and commercial buildings should be subject to the same inspection and response action requirements that apply to school buildings;
(4) assess whether existing Federal regulations adequately protect the general public, particularly abatement personnel, from exposure to asbestos during renovation and demolition of such buildings; and
(5) include recommendations that explicitly address whether there is a need to establish standards for, and regulate asbestos exposure in, public and commercial buildings.
(Pub. L. 94–469, title II, § 213, as added Pub. L. 99–519, § 2, Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2987.)

CITE AS: 15 USC 2653

§ 2654. Transitional rules

Any regulation of the Environmental Protection Agency under subchapter I which is inconsistent with this subchapter shall not be in effect after October 22, 1986. Any advanced notice of proposed rulemaking, any proposed rule, and any regulation of the Environmental Protection Agency in effect before October 22, 1986, which is consistent with the regulations required under section 2643 of this title shall remain in effect and may be used to meet the requirements of section 2643 of this title, except that any such regulation shall be enforced under this chapter.

(Pub. L. 94–469, title II, § 214, as added Pub. L. 99–519, § 2, Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2988.)

CITE AS: 15 USC 2654

§ 2655. Worker protection
(a) Prohibition on certain activitiesUntil the local educational agency with authority over a school has submitted a management plan (for the school) which the State Governor has not disapproved as of the end of the period for review and revision of the plan under section 2645 of this title, the local educational agency may not do either of the following in the school:
(1) Perform, or direct an employee to perform, renovations or removal of building materials, except emergency repairs, in the school, unless—
(A) the school is carrying out work under a grant awarded under section 4014 of title 20; or
(B) an inspection that complies with the requirements of regulations promulgated under section 2643 of this title has been carried out in the school and the agency complies with the following sections of title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations:
(i) Paragraphs (g), (h), and (i) of section 763.90 (response actions).
(ii) Appendix D to subpart E of part 763 (transport and disposal of asbestos waste).
(2) Perform, or direct an employee to perform, operations and maintenance activities in the school, unless the agency complies with the following sections of title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations:
(A) Section 763.91 (operations and maintenance), including appendix B to subpart E of part 763.
(B) Paragraph (a)(2) of section 763.92 (training and periodic surveillance).
(b) Employee training and equipmentAny school employee who is directed to conduct emergency repairs involving any building material containing asbestos or suspected of containing asbestos, or to conduct operations and maintenance activities, in a school—
(1) shall be provided the proper training to safely conduct such work in order to prevent potential exposure to asbestos; and
(2) shall be provided the proper equipment and allowed to follow work practices that are necessary to safely conduct such work in order to prevent potential exposure to asbestos.
(c) “Emergency repair” definedFor purposes of this section, the term “emergency repair” means a repair in a school building that was not planned and was in response to a sudden, unexpected event that threatens either—
(1) the health or safety of building occupants; or
(2) the structural integrity of the building.
(Pub. L. 94–469, title II, § 215, as added Pub. L. 100–368, § 4(a), July 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 832.)

CITE AS: 15 USC 2655

§ 2656. Training grants
(a) Grants
(b) Authorization
(Pub. L. 94–469, title II, § 216, as added Pub. L. 101–637, § 16(a)(1)

CITE AS: 15 USC 2656