Iowa Asbestos : What you need to know

• Rules. Iowa's asbestos practices are generally governed by federal law. The state adopted federal OSHA worker protection standards and the asbestos NESHAP requirements. The state has additional rules governing asbestos abatement activities, permitting, licensing, and recordkeeping.

• Administration and enforcement. Iowa Workforce Development's LSD administers and enforces the Iowa Occupational Safety and Health requirements and the state requirements concerning permitting and licensing. DNR is responsible for overseeing NESHAP and waste disposal requirements.

Business permits. Iowa requires businesses that engage in asbestos projects to hold a state abatement permit. The permit is valid for 1 year and must be renewed annually thereafter for a fee of $500. Businesses that use their own employees to remove or encapsulate asbestos at one of their own facilities are exempt from permitting requirements, provided adequate training has been provided.

To apply for a permit, a business must submit a completed form provided by LSD, which is available here.

Application. All persons seeking an asbestos license must submit the following to LSD:

• A completed LSD application form
• The appropriate fee
• A certificate documenting that the applicant has received the proper training
• Two photographs, 1 inch by 1 inch, clearly showing the applicant's face

Only applicants for a worker license or a supervisor/contractor license must complete the second and third pages of the application that require the following:

• A certificate and declaration from a physician that an examination, following the federal OSHA guidelines, was ...