
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 2, 2001]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 2, 2001 and January 28, 2002]
[CITE: 15USC2641]

 
                      TITLE 15--COMMERCE AND TRADE
 
                  CHAPTER 53--TOXIC SUBSTANCES CONTROL
 
            SUBCHAPTER II--ASBESTOS HAZARD EMERGENCY RESPONSE
 
Sec. 2641. Congressional findings and purpose


(a) Findings

    The Congress finds the following:
        (1) The Environmental Protection Agency's rule on local 
    educational agency inspection for, and notification of, the presence 
    of friable asbestos-containing material in school buildings includes 
    neither standards for the proper identification of asbestos-
    containing material and appropriate response actions with respect to 
    friable asbestos-containing material, nor a requirement that 
    response actions with respect to friable asbestos-containing 
    material be carried out in a safe and complete manner once actions 
    are found to be necessary. As a result of the lack of regulatory 
    guidance from the Environmental Protection Agency, some schools have 
    not undertaken response action while many others have undertaken 
    expensive projects without knowing if their action is necessary, 
    adequate, or safe. Thus, the danger of exposure to asbestos 
    continues to exist in schools, and some exposure actually may have 
    increased due to the lack of Federal standards and improper response 
    action.
        (2) There is no uniform program for accrediting persons involved 
    in asbestos identification and abatement, nor are local educational 
    agencies required to use accredited contractors for asbestos work.
        (3) The guidance provided by the Environmental Protection Agency 
    in its ``Guidance for Controlling Asbestos-Containing Material in 
    Buildings'' is insufficient in detail to ensure adequate responses. 
    Such guidance is intended to be used only until the regulations 
    required by this subchapter become effective.
        (4) Because there are no Federal standards whatsoever regulating 
    daily exposure to asbestos in other public and commercial buildings, 
    persons in addition to those comprising the Nation's school 
    population may be exposed daily to asbestos.

(b) Purpose

    The purpose of this subchapter is--
        (1) to provide for the establishment of Federal regulations 
    which require inspection for asbestos-containing material and 
    implementation of appropriate response actions with respect to 
    asbestos-containing material in the Nation's schools in a safe and 
    complete manner;
        (2) to mandate safe and complete periodic reinspection of school 
    buildings following response actions, where appropriate; and
        (3) to require the Administrator to conduct a study to find out 
    the extent of the danger to human health posed by asbestos in public 
    and commercial buildings and the means to respond to any such 
    danger.

(Pub. L. 94-469, title II, Sec. 201, as added Pub. L. 99-519, Sec. 2, 
Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2970.)
