EPA Announces Three Guides for Handling Debris That May Contain PCBs, Asbestos or Mercury
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has made available three guides and related materials on the handling and disposal of waste that may contain polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB), asbestos or mercury (specifically fluorescent lamps).
The first two guides focus on managing the debris caused by spills or natural disasters, specifically during the emergency response and recovery efforts. The first guide, “Planning for Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB)-Containing Disaster Debris,” includes the regulations that apply to damaged PCB-containing equipment (such as transformers and capacitors) and offers approaches to assess, clean up, and dispose of materials contaminated with PCBs that have been spilled or otherwise been released. This guide supplements a prior EPA Guide “Planning for Natural Disaster Debris Guidance.” The second guide, “Guidelines for Catastrophic Emergency Situations Involving Asbestos,” provides need-to-know information for emergency responders and addresses the cleanup and disposal of debris that may be contaminated with asbestos as well as the demolition and renovation of buildings during recovery efforts. This version of the guide replaces the 1992 version of the same title.
Environment
MBI members would agree that compliance with environmental regulations can be very costly, while falling out of compliance can be even more expensive. Therefore, MBI works to educate members on environmental regulatory issues and continues to advocate at the state and local levels for common-sense environmental laws and ordinances.
MBI works to reach common ground in which environmental regulations and business can co-exist. The construction industry agrees that over-burdensome regulatory authority stymies growth opportunities and hinders the development of creative measures that will foster sustainable construction.
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