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GREETINGS FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL INSTITUTE!
As with most professions, regulations serve as the cornerstone of our work in the asbestos detection and control industry. With this in mind, TEI held its 10th Annual Asbestos Regulatory Seminar/Asbestos Supervisor Refresher on September 23rd. This year’s seminar was quite successful, with over 60 attendees listening to presentations from three states and one federal regulatory agency.
The seminar began with William Spain and Mindy Crean providing a regulatory and enforcement update from the Georgia Environmental Protection Division. As many of you know, Georgia has recently returned some asbestos NESHAP authority back to USEPA. However, EPD has, in the last year, picked up a grant from USEPA to perform inspections and outreach for schools under the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA). Georgia also unveiled its new “Naturally Occurring Asbestos in Georgia” brochure.
The Georgia presentation was followed by Jackie Manuel with the Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation (TDEC). Tennessee’s asbestos accreditation requirements became effective on June 23rd of this year and applies to all persons and firms who perform asbestos activities in schools or public and commercial buildings. In addition to accrediting all of the asbestos disciplines we are used to (Supervisor, Worker, Inspector, Management Planner and Designer), Tennessee also requires accreditation of Project Monitors, which involves taking a stand-alone 5-day training class by an accredited training provider. While TDEC awaits training providers like The Environmental Institute to develop and submit their Project Monitor course for approval, they will accept individuals with one of the other asbestos disciplines who have also completed the 5-day NIOSH 582 class. TEI expects to have its project monitor class approved by TDEC before the end of the year.
South Carolina was next, with Robin Mack providing an overview of asbestos regulatory requirements under the state’s Department of Health & Environmental Control (DHEC). South Carolina has had substantial rule changes in the last year, and Robin did an excellent job reviewing those requirements. For more information, visit DHEC’s asbestos web page.
The seminar concluded with Curt Fehn with USEPA’s Region IV office in Atlanta providing an overview of the agency’s asbestos enforcement trends. USEPA is continuing to focus on training/accreditation fraud and AHERA compliance in schools.
Finally, TEI Introduced it’s new “Asbestos in Buildings: Electronic Reference Guide” to seminar participants. This CD is an html based reference tool that has over 375 documents comprising over 7000 pages of asbestos related information, including regulations, guidance documents and interpretation letters. Contact TEI for more information about this exciting tool.
I look forward to seeing you in the near future!
Dave Hogue
October 2009
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