Pennsylvania Asbestos : What you need to know

· Rules. Pennsylvania adopted the National Emissions Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for asbestos and has additional state rules that apply to disposal, storage, and transportation. See the national section ASBESTOS for more information. DEP does not regulate the removal of asbestos-containing material (ACM) from private residences unless the residence is an apartment with five or more units. Contact the applicable township or borough to find out if there are any local regulations.

In addition to the NESHAP asbestos emission control requirements, DOLI regulations make it unlawful for any person to engage in any asbestos occupation (worker, supervisor, project designer, inspector, management planner, or contractor), in any building, without proper certification from DOLI. The training and certification programs follow the federal standards. For more information on certification and training requirements, see the national section ASBESTOS and the state section TRAINING.

Persons engaging in certain asbestos projects in Allegheny County and Philadelphia also must comply with the asbestos requirements of the local regulatory agencies.

· Administration and enforcement. DEP regulates the removal, collection, transportation, and disposal of ACM. The Bureau of Air Quality of DEP's Office of Waste, Air, and Radiation Management enforces the NESHAP regulations. DOLI implements and enforces the state's asbestos certification and licensing rules.

The Allegheny County Health Department and the Philadelphia Department of Public Health administer and enforce the local asbestos requirements within their jurisdictions.