Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act

In 1986, the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (commonly referred to as AHERA) was signed into law. AHERA requires public and private non-profit primary and secondary schools to inspect their buildings for asbestos-containing building materials. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has published regulations that require schools subject to AHERA to:

Perform an original inspection and periodic re-inspections every 3 years for asbestos containing material

Develop, maintain, and update an asbestos management plan and keep a copy at the school

Provide yearly notification to parent, teacher, and employee organizations regarding the availability of the school's asbestos management plan and any asbestos abatement actions taken or planned in the school

Designate a contact person to ensure the responsibilities of the local education agency are properly implemented

Perform periodic surveillance of known or suspected asbestos containing building material

Provide custodial staff with asbestos awareness training

It is EPA's goal to provide schools with the technical assistance they need to meet the requirements set forth by Congress. Schools that fail to meet the AHERA requirements are subject to civil enforcement action by the EPA or designated state environmental agency.

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	Did You Know?
	Asbestos is a widely used, mineral-based material Asbestos is resistant to heat and corrosive chemicals. Depending on the chemical composition, fibers may range in texture from coarse to silky. The properties that make asbestos fibers so valuable to industry are its high-tensile strength, flexibility, heat and chemical resistance, and good frictional properties.