The mission of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is to protect human health and the environment. NDA members will find demolition specific resources and guidance from the EPA below.
Asbestos
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral fiber that has been used commonly in building construction materials for insulation and as a fire-retardant. EPA and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission have banned several asbestos products. Manufacturers have also voluntarily limited uses of asbestos. Asbestos is most commonly found in older homes, in pipe and furnace insulation materials, asbestos shingles, millboard, textured paints and other coating materials, and floor tiles. When asbestos-containing materials are damaged or disturbed by repair, remodeling or demolition activities, microscopic fibers become airborne and can be inhaled into the lungs, where they can cause significant health problems.
Land, Waste, and Cleanup
Learn what the EPA does to regulate and reduce wastes under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), and to help clean up when wastes or harmful substances pollute the land.
Additional EPA Guidance on Demolition Activity
EPA Brownfields and Superfund Programs
The EPA’s Brownfields Program provides grants and technical assistance to communities, states, tribes and others to assess, safely clean up and sustainably reuse contaminated properties. The Superfund program is responsible for cleaning up some of the nation’s most contaminated land and responding to environmental emergencies, oil spills and natural disasters.
Compliance Assistance Tools for Demolition
Other Resources
- US EPA Mapping Tool for Managing Debris: The "Disaster Debris Recovery Tool" can assist the demolition industry and emergency planners to identify facilities to recycle, compost, or dispose of disaster debris. Managing disaster debris is critical for communities due to the uncommonly large volumes or many types of debris after a hurricane, flood, or other disaster.
- Deconstruction Rapid Assessment Tool: The Deconstruction Rapid Assessment Tool enables organizations to triage blighted buildings as candidates for deconstruction and salvage operations. A simple checklist allows rapid data collection to make informed decisions on which structures to pursue for deconstruction and salvage.
- EPA PFAS Analytic Tool: The United State Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released a tool that provides analytics and information on pre- and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) substances. The interactive webpage, called the “PFAS Analytic Tools,” provides information to help the public, researchers and other stakeholders better understand potential PFAS sources in their communities.
- EPA Demolition Resources by State
- State Regulation Resource Locators