| September 8, 2009
AQMD
Temporarily
Waives Notification Fees
and Waiting Period for Fire Victims
To aid residents who need debris removed or structures demolished due to the
region’s wildfires, the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD)
has temporarily waived its notification fees and a waiting period for all
asbestos-related cleanups from the fires.
Buildings constructed prior to 1984, and
even some built after that time, may have asbestos-containing materials in
areas such as roofs, floor tiles, acoustic ceilings, insulation,
sound-proofing, heating ducts, cement pipes and pipe coverings.
AQMD Executive Officer Barry Wallerstein has
suspended until Sept. 11 the asbestos notification fee in AQMD’s Rule 301
and the requirement for an advance 10-day notice for demolition or
renovation activities in AQMD’s Rule 1403. The agency also suspended certain
requirements for mobile refueling units and portable engines used by
firefighters. AQMD has the authority to extend such actions for 10 days at a
time and will likely do so until the governor lifts his declared State of
Emergency due to the wildfires.
”Breathing asbestos fibers can cause
significant health problems,” Wallerstein said. “This temporary suspension
of requirements will allow for expeditious cleanup after the fires while
still protecting public health and safety.”
AQMD offers the following tips to help
homeowners and business owners protect themselves from potential asbestos
exposure:
• Contractors, owners, or operators are responsible for notifying the AQMD
at (909) 396-2336 prior to proceeding with asbestos removal and/or
demolition. This action must be followed with written notification to AQMD
within 48 hours;
• Hire a licensed asbestos abatement contractor if asbestos is suspected or
known to be present. Debris should be stabilized by wetting and covering
with plastic sheeting until removed;
• When wetting suspected or known asbestos-containing material, use a fine,
low-pressure spray of water and avoid generating runoff; and
• To reduce the amount of material disposed of as asbestos – and the cost of
disposal – homeowners and business owners can hire a certified asbestos
consultant to test and identify asbestos so that it can be separated from
non-asbestos debris.
For more information:
• Call AQMD’s asbestos hotline at (909) 396-2336;
• See AQMD’s asbestos removal and demolition requirements and emergency
Executive Orders at
http://www.aqmd.gov/comply/asbestos/asbestos.html
• Read Cal/EPA’s tips for cleaning up fire ash at
http://www.calepa.ca.gov/Disaster/Fire2003/FireAsh.pdf; and
• See US EPA’s website at
http://www.epa.gov/asbestos/pubs/ashome.html.
AQMD is the air pollution control agency for
Orange County and major portions of Los Angeles, San Bernardino and
Riverside counties.
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