General Questions

1. Which government agencies regulate asbestos in Virginia?
   The Virginia Department of Labor and Industry (DOLI) regulates asbestos through enforcement of the Virginia Occupational Safety and Health (VOSH) regulations, enforcement of the Environmental Protection Agency's National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAPS), and enforcement of the Asbestos Notification regulations found in the Labor Laws of Virginia (§40.1-51.20). Agency locations and regulations can be found on the agency Web site http://www.doli.virginia.gov.

   The Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) is responsible for all company and individual licensure in Virginia. Licensure and regulatory information can be found on DPOR's Web site http://www.state.va.us/dpor/

   The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality is responsible for the regulation of landfills in Virginia. Information on the disposal of asbestos in Virginia landfills can be obtained from the DEQ Web site http://www.deq.state.va.us/

2. When is an asbestos notification required?
   Under Virginia regulations, a notification is required for any asbestos abatement project greater than ten linear or ten square feet. Notifications are also required for essentially all demolition projects, regardless of whether asbestos containing materials are not present in the structure.



3. When is a notification not required?
   A notification is not required for nonfriable asbestos containing roofing, flooring and siding materials which when installed, encapsulated or removed do not become friable. If the material is in good shape and removed using OSHA's compliant work practices, then notification is not generally required. If the material is not in good shape, the matrix binding the asbestos fibers has deteriorated, or mechanical means are used to remove the material, resulting in more than incidental breakage, then notification is required. Activities such as grinding, mechanical chipping, sawing or drilling can make the asbestos containing material friable and would require notification.

   Demolition of residential structures which do not meet the NESHAPS definition of facility does not require notification.