Recently there has been an increasing awareness of the significance of environmental factors in causing illness. The fibrous minerals known as asbestos, used in many different kinds of products and applications, have entered the environment in both occupational and nonoccupational settings. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is concerned with the disease-causing potential of intermittent, low-level exposures that can occur in some school buildings from certain asbestos-containing materials. EPA has established a guidance program to inform States and local school officials of the possible health hazards associated with asbestos. EPA's guidance package contains two parts. This manual, which is Part 1 of the package, is written for school officials. Part 1 outlines steps that schools can take to conduct an asbestos control program.