What is the asbestos notification process and when is it submitted?

A notification is a written notice of the intent to renovate or demolish. Some contractors are not aware that every demolition project at a facility requires an asbestos notification, regardless of whether asbestos is involved.

The notification requirement is different for facility renovation activities and is dependent upon the amount of regulated asbestos-containing material (RACM) at the site. For renovations, a notification must be submitted if the amount of RACM disturbed exceeds 260 linear feet on pipes, 160 square feet on other facility components or 35 cubic feet off facility components.

Ohio EPA has developed one notification form that is used for either demolition or renovation activities. The form must contain information such as the project's scheduled start and end date, the site location, the names of operators or asbestos removal contractors, methods of removal and the amount of asbestos.

The notification must be sent by mail (postmarked) or hand-delivered at least 10 working days (Monday-Friday excluding weekends) before operations begin. The notification form goes to either the Ohio EPA district office or local air pollution control office in your area. Phone and fax notifications are not acceptable for original notification.

If information in the initial notification changes, you may be required to inform the local office of these changes by phone or fax and send in an amended written notification. The amended notification must be sent no later than one working day following discovery of the change. Examples of changes requiring amended written notification are:

when the amount of regulated asbestos-containing material affected by the demolition or renovation operations changes by at least 20 percent;

any deviation in the methods to be used for asbestos removal or disposal; any change in the owner or operator;

any change in the name and location of the selected waste disposal site; and any change in dates of asbestos stripping or removal operation or demolition operation.

For an emergency demolition or renovation project, notification must be made as soon as possible but no later than the following day.

Emergency demolition means any demolition operation conducted under a written order issued by a state or local governmental agency because a facility is structurally unsound and in danger of imminent collapse. Emergency renovation means a renovation operation that was not planned but results from a sudden, unexpected event that, if not immediately attended to, presents a safety or public health hazard, is necessary to protect equipment from damage, or is necessary to avoid imposing an unreasonable financial burden.