Addressing Wildfire Debris
January 2025 Update
South Coast AQMD Rule 1403 – Asbestos Emissions from Demolition/Renovation Activities requires specific work practices to limit asbestos emissions from jobsites. For those who opt out of the no-cost-to-residents debris cleanup conducted by the United States Army Corps of Engineers (i.e., Phase 2), the following steps must be taken to comply with the rule when addressing any debris or damaged structures on their property.
- Hire a Certified Asbestos Consultant (CAC) to perform an asbestos survey to determine if the debris or remaining structures to be removed contain asbestos. An official list of CACs maintained by Cal/OSHA can be found here: Cal/OSHA Certified Asbestos Consultants
- If the CAC finds that asbestos is present in any of the debris or damaged structures to be removed, then:
- A cleanup plan prepared by a CAC must be completed;
- A registered asbestos abatement contractor must be hired to clean up the asbestos materials, and a.list of abatement contractors registered with Cal/OSHA can be found at Cal/OSHA Registered Asbestos Abatement Contractors; and
- The abatement contractor will submit a notification for asbestos removal to South Coast AQMD electronically using the Rule 1403 Notification Web Application.
- If no asbestos is found by the CAC, then site cleanup may proceed without an asbestos cleanup plan or notification. There may be additional county or city requirements, however, for debris removal. Please consult your local municipalities for details.
For any other questions relating to the removal of debris or damaged structures, please send an email with your question to Rule1403Notifications@agmd.gov.
Rule 1403 Compliance Advisory
The South Coast Air Quality Management District has been made aware that there is some confusion regarding the current requirements of Rule 1403 as it is currently adopted and amended by the South Coast AQMD Governing Board.
The Rule 1403 Compliance Advisory summarizes some of the requirements of the current rule, specifically:
- Surveys,
- Notifications, and
- Abatement and Cleanup Procedures
Please refer to the Compliance Advisory (Rule 1403 Compliance Advisory) for more information.
Rule 1403 Notifications Web Application
Registration for the Rule 1403 Notifications Web Application is now open. Please go to https://xappprod.aqmd.gov/cromsp/ or Registration to start the registration process.
To learn about the Rule 1403 Notifications Web Application, please go to our Rule 1403 Notifications Web Application page.
What is Asbestos?
Asbestos is a group of six naturally-occurring silicate minerals, including serpentine (or chrysotile), riebeckite (crocidolite), cummingtonite-gunerite (amosite), anthophyllite, actinolite or tremolite. These minerals have been actively mined for their physical properties such as their resistance to heat, electrical and chemical damage, sound absorption and tensile strength; thereby making their applicability widespread throughout various industries such as manufacturing and primarily in building construction for its flame retardant and insulating properties.
Health Hazards
The inhalation of asbestos fibers can cause serious illnesses that are strongly associated with exposure to asbestos. Airborne asbestos fibers are a significant health threat because asbestos fibers are microscopic and invisible to the unaided eye. In addition, they have the physical characteristics to bypass the ability of the human lung to filter air contaminants. As a result, exposure to asbestos allow the fibers to reach deep within the lungs, and may irritate and scar lung tissues. Long-term chronic and acute exposure to asbestos fibers may cause respiratory diseases such as lung cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma.
Asbestos containing materials become a health hazard once they are disturbed. Intact, asbestos fibers imbedded within construction materials and components are inert and do not pose a health hazard; however, once they are disturbed, through physical contact or building renovation and demolition activities, asbestos fibers may be rendered airborne.
South Coast AQMD Rule 1403
South Coast AQMD Rule 1403 (PDF), adopted by the South Coast AQMD on October 6, 1989, establishes Survey Requirements (PDF, 30kb), notification (PDF, 809kb) and work practice requirements to prevent asbestos emissions from emanating during building renovation and demolition activities.
Asbestos is a carcinogen and is categorized as a hazardous air pollutant by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). As such, South Coast AQMD Rule 1403 incorporates the requirements of the federal asbestos requirements found in National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP)
found in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Title 40, Part 61, Subpart M.
The EPA delegated to South Coast AQMD the authority to enforce the federal asbestos NESHAP and the South Coast AQMD is the local enforcement authority for asbestos.
Regulations:
Useful Links:
Asbestos Program,
Toxics & Waste Management,
South Coast AQMD
Rule1403Notifications@aqmd.gov
(909) 396-2336.