Source: https://texreg.sos.state.tx.us/public/readtac$ext.TacPage?sl=T&app=9&p_dir=P&p_rloc=118545&p_tloc=14978&p_ploc=1&pg=2&p_tac=&ti=25&pt=1&ch=295&rl=32
Timestamp: 2020-08-10 11:47:18
Document Index: 753890901

Matched Legal Cases: ['§295', '§295', '§295', '§295', '§295', '§295']

RULE §295.31 General Provisions
(a) Problem. In more than 25 years of research into the relationship between airborne asbestos fibers and the diseases such exposure can cause, the bodily mechanism by which inhaled asbestos fibers initiate cancer or asbestosis is still not understood, no effective treatment has been found, and the only means of preventing asbestos disease depends entirely on limiting the exposure of the individual to asbestos fibers.
(b) Purpose. The purpose of these sections is to establish the means of control and minimization of public exposure to airborne asbestos fibers, a known carcinogen and dangerous health hazard, by regulating asbestos related activities in public and commercial buildings and facilities as defined by these sections.
(1) For the purposes of licensure and procedures in public buildings:
(A) Rules application. These sections apply to all buildings which are subject to public occupancy, or to which the general public has access, and to all persons disturbing, removing, encapsulating, or enclosing any amount of asbestos within public buildings for any purpose, including repair, renovation, dismantling, demolition, installation, or maintenance operations, or any other activity that may involve the disturbance or removal of any amount of asbestos-containing building material (ACBM) whether intentional or unintentional. Also included in these rules are the qualifications for licensure of persons, requirements for compliance with these sections and all applicable standards of the United States Environmental Protection Agency as adopted in §295.33 of this title (relating to Adoption by Reference of Federal and Other Standards) and those of the United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration as adopted and referenced in these rules.
(B) Exclusions. Private residences and apartment buildings with no more than four dwelling units are excluded from coverage by these rules. Except as provided in subsection (c)(2) and (c)(3) of this section, industrial or manufacturing facilities, in which access is controlled and limited principally to employees therein because of processes or functions dangerous to human health and safety, federal buildings and military installations are excluded from coverage by these rules.
(2) For the purposes of Federal National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) enforcement only: §§295.32; 295.34(a), (b)(1)-(3), (c), and (f); 295.61; 295.67-68; 295.70; and 295.71 of this title (relating to Texas Asbestos Health Protection) apply to all facilities. These sections shall apply to the extent necessary to allow the department to adopt and enforce the federal NESHAP. For facilities which are not otherwise subject to this title as public buildings, the department will apply and enforce these sections in a manner consistent with the NESHAP.
(3) For purposes of enforcing the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Asbestos Model Accreditation Plan (MAP) in commercial buildings, §§295.31, 295.32, 295.33, 295.34(c), (e) and (g), 295.57, 295.64 (except (f)-(h)), 295.66, 295.67, 295.68 and 295.70 of this title (relating to Texas Asbestos Health Protection) apply. For buildings which are not otherwise subject to this title as public buildings, the department will apply and enforce these sections in a manner consistent with the MAP.
(4) For the purposes of the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) of 1986, U.S.C. 2605, 2607(c), 2643, and 2646, enforcement only: §§295.32 and 295.63 of this title (relating to Definitions and Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) Compliance) apply to all LEAs. Sections 295.32 and 295.63 of this title shall apply to the extent necessary to allow the department to adopt and enforce the federal AHERA.
(d) Severability. Should any section or subsection in this chapter be found to be void for any reason, such finding shall not affect all other sections.
(e) License possession requirements. Anyone engaged in asbestos-related activities in a public building must provide proof of a current license to any inspecting official from the Texas Department of Health (department), to an employer, or to a prospective employer upon request. All licensed individuals must have the Identification Card issued by the department on the work site at all times while engaged in any asbestos-related activity. For individuals, this is the only proof of a valid license.
Source Note: The provisions of this §295.31 adopted to be effective October 20, 1992, 17 TexReg 6901; amended to be effective September 22, 1994, 19 TexReg 7098; amended to be effective December 13, 1998, 23 TexReg 12353; amended to be effective August 16, 2000, 25 TexReg 7715; amended to be effective March 27, 2003, 28 TexReg 2549