[Code of Federal Regulations]

[Title 40, Volume 27]

[Revised as of July 1, 2001]

From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access

[CITE: 40CFR763]



[Page 754-755]

 

                   TITLE 40--PROTECTION OF ENVIRONMENT

 

         CHAPTER I--ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED)

 

PART 763--ASBESTOS--Table of Contents

 

Subpart G--Asbestos Worker Protection



    Source: 65 FR 69216, Nov. 15, 2000, unless otherwise noted.



Sec. 763.120  What is the purpose of this subpart?



    This subpart protects certain State and local government employees 

who are not protected by the Asbestos Standards of the Occupational 

Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). This subpart applies the OSHA 

Asbestos Standards in 29 CFR 1910.1001 and 29 CFR 1926.1101 to these 

employees.



Sec. 763.121  Does this subpart apply to me?



    If you are a State or local government employer and you are not 

subject to a State asbestos standard that OSHA has approved under 

section 18 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act or a State asbestos 

plan that EPA has exempted from the requirements of this subpart under 

Sec. 763.123, you must follow the requirements of this subpart to 

protect your employees from occupational exposure to asbestos.



Sec. 763.122  What does this subpart require me to do?



    If you are a State or local government employer whose employees 

perform:

    (a) Construction activities identified in 29 CFR 1926.1101(a), you 

must:

    (1) Comply with the OSHA standards in 29 CFR 1926.1101.

    (2) Submit notifications required for alternative control methods to 

the Director, National Program Chemicals Division (7404), Office of 

Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 

Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460.

    (b) Custodial activities not associated with the construction 

activities identified in 29 CFR 1926.1101(a), you must comply with the 

OSHA standards in 29 CFR 1910.1001.

    (c) Repair, cleaning, or replacement of asbestos-containing clutch 

plates and brake pads, shoes, and linings, or removal of asbestos-

containing residue from brake drums or clutch housings, you must comply 

with the OSHA standards in 29 CFR 1910.1001.



Sec. 763.123  May a State implement its own asbestos worker protection 

          plan?



    This section describes the process under which a State may be 

exempted from the requirements of this subpart.

    (a) States seeking an exemption. If your State wishes to implement 

its own asbestos worker protection plan, rather than complying with the 

requirements of this subpart, your State must apply for and receive an 

exemption from EPA.

    (1) What must my State do to apply for an exemption? To apply for an 

exemption from the requirements of this subpart, your State must send to 

the Director of EPA's Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT) a 

copy of its asbestos worker protection regulations and a detailed 

explanation of how your State's asbestos worker protection plan meets 

the requirements of TSCA section 18 (15 U.S.C. 2617).



[[Page 755]]



    (2) What action will EPA take on my State's application for an 

exemption? EPA will review your State's application and make a 

preliminary determination whether your State's asbestos worker 

protection plan meets the requirements of TSCA section 18.

    (i) If EPA's preliminary determination is that your State's plan 

does meet the requirements of TSCA section 18, EPA will initiate a 

rulemaking, including an opportunity for public comment, to exempt your 

State from the requirements of this subpart. After considering any 

comments, EPA will issue a final rule granting or denying the exemption.

    (ii) If EPA's preliminary determination is that the State plan does 

not meet the requirements of TSCA section 18, EPA will notify your State 

in writing and will give your State a reasonable opportunity to respond 

to that determination.

    (iii) If EPA does not grant your State an exemption, then the State 

and local government employers in your State are subject to the 

requirements of this subpart.

    (b) States that have been granted an exemption. If EPA has exempted 

your State from the requirements of this subpart, your State must update 

its asbestos worker protection regulations as necessary to implement 

changes to meet the requirements of this subpart, and must apply to EPA 

for an amendment to its exemption.

    (1) What must my State do to apply for an amendment to its 

exemption? To apply for an amendment to its exemption, your State must 

send to the Director of OPPT a copy of its updated asbestos worker 

protection regulations and a detailed explanation of how your State's 

updated asbestos worker protection plan meets the requirements of TSCA 

section 18. Your State must submit its application for an amendment 

within 6 months of the effective date of any changes to the requirements 

of this subpart, or within a reasonable time agreed upon by your State 

and OPPT.

    (2) What action will EPA take on my State's application for an 

amendment? EPA will review your State's application for an amendment and 

make a preliminary determination whether your State's updated asbestos 

worker protection plan meets the requirements of TSCA section 18.

    (i) If EPA determines that the updated State plan does meet the 

requirements of TSCA section 18, EPA will issue your State an amended 

exemption.

    (ii) If EPA determines that the updated State plan does not meet the 

requirements of TSCA section 18, EPA will notify your State in writing 

and will give your State a reasonable opportunity to respond to that 

determination.

    (iii) If EPA does not grant your State an amended exemption, or if 

your State does not submit a timely request for amended exemption, then 

the State and local government employers in your State are subject to 

the requirements of this subpart.



Subpart H  [Reserved]