Oregon Changes Asbestos Rules

As reported in the May-June 2003 issue of C&D Recycler, changes to the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) asbestos rules have gone into effect as of June.

The rule changes include revisions to the pre-demolition and pre-renovation asbestos survey requirement; clarifications to definitions that classify asbestos-containing material as friable (which means that it easily releases fibers) or non-friable and other definitions; removal of specific nonfriable asbestos waste handling requirements; and error corrections.

The current rule making changes have removed some new requirements adopted in January 2002 that could be interpreted too broadly and could possibly have a greater than necessary economic impact on building owners, contractors or waste and recycling haulers and facility operators.

Beginning this fall 2003, DEQ will form an advisory committee representing all interested stakeholders to resolve implementation and enforcement concerns that DEQ intended to resolve in its January 2002 rulemaking.

DEQ regulates the removal and disposal of asbestos-containing materials from any public or private building involving demolition, renovation, repair, construction and maintenance activities with the intention of preventing human exposure to asbestos fibers.

For more information, the DEQ Web site can be accessed at www.deq.state.or.us/aq/asbestos.