You are here:
Comparison of the Alternative Asbestos Control Method and the NESHAP Method for Demolition of Asbestos-Containing Buildings
In 2006 and 2007 the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) conducted three tests to examine the cost and environmental effectiveness of the Alternative Asbestos Control Method (AACM). Two tests were conducted in Fort Chafee, Arkansas and one was conducted in Fort Worth, Texas. The EPA discontinued testing the AACM due to technical deficiencies. The AACM remains unapproved and should not be used.
Citation:
WILMOTH, R. C., L. DREES, J. R. Kominsky, G. M. SHAUL, D. Cox, D. EPPLER, W. M. BARRETT, F. D. Hall, AND J. A. Wagner. Comparison of the Alternative Asbestos Control Method and the NESHAP Method for Demolition of Asbestos-Containing Buildings. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/600/R-08/094 (NTIS PB2009-102095), 2008.
Impact/Purpose:
To evaluate the performance of an alternative method of asbestos control during building demolition.
Description:
The Asbestos NESHAP (National Emission Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants) requires the removal of all Regulated Asbestos-Containing Material (RACM) prior to the demolition of the buildings that fall under the auspices of the NESHAP. This removal process can be a costly and time-consuming endeavor and contributes to the growing crises of abandoned buildings in this country. The Alternative Asbestos Control Method (AACM) allows certain asbestos-containing materials (ACM) to remain in the building during demolition. In addition to leaving most of the ACM in the building, the AACM process differs from the NESHAP process in that it requires pre-wetting of the interior of the building with amended water (water with a wetting agent added), continuous wetting with amended water during demolition of the building, containment of all runoff, removal of two or more inches of soil after demolition, disposal of all material as regulated asbestos-containing waste, and the use of respirators and protective garments throughout the entire demolition process. This research effort compared the use of the NESHAP process with the AACM process on two architecturally identical asbestos-containing buildings in a remote location at the Fort Chaffee Redevelopment Authority near Fort Smith, AR. The buildings contained significant quantities of asbestos-containing wall systems and vinyl asbestos floor tile. EPA does not endorse the AACM at this time as an approved method under the asbestos NESHAP for demolishing buildings containing RACM.