Licensing & Compliance

Federal Regulations

Federal regulations form the foundation of regulated asbestos work. These standards define the qualifications of the workforce, the exposure limits under which work must be performed, and the systems required to protect workers and building occupants.

AHERA (Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act)

The Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) establishes the training and certification requirements for asbestos workers and supervisors. Every member of our field staff holds active AHERA certification, and all projects are supervised by an AHERA-certified Supervisor who oversees containment integrity, safety meetings, and compliance documentation. AHERA requirements shape how we plan and execute removal, decontamination, and clearance.

OSHA Standards

Asbestos is regulated for a reason: it poses documented health risks when fibers become airborne and inhaled. Because of this, our first responsibility is protecting the people who work in and around the materials we remove. OSHA defines the exposure limits, worker protections, and safety controls that guide how we build our systems and execute our work.

These standards include:

• Permissible Exposure Limits (PEL) and Short-Term Exposure Limits (STEL)
• Respiratory protection programs and monthly fit-testing
• PPE requirements and protective clothing standards
• Medical surveillance and health monitoring
• Air monitoring during and after abatement

Our respiratory protection, negative-air systems, and decontamination procedures are designed around these OSHA rules and are documented as part of each project plan.

Oregon & Washington State Regulations

State agencies regulate asbestos abatement to ensure that hazardous materials are removed, transported, and disposed of in ways that reduce risk for workers, building occupants, and the surrounding community. 

Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)

Oregon DEQ regulations exist to prevent airborne release during removal and to protect the public during transportation and disposal. Requirements include:

• Contractor licensing
• Pre-abatement notifications
• Containment and engineering controls
• Packaging, transport, and labeling of asbestos waste
• Disposal at DEQ-approved landfills

DEQ also defines clearance criteria and documentation requirements that verify the work has been performed safely and correctly.

Washington State Labor & Industries (L&I)

Similarly, Washington L&I protects workers by regulating accreditation, job notifications, exposure assessments, and medical monitoring. These rules ensure that asbestos projects are led by qualified personnel and that the work environment is actively controlled to prevent exposure. Requirements include:

• Contractor licensing
• Worker and supervisor accreditation
• Job notifications and reporting
• Exposure-specific monitoring
• Medical surveillance programs

Local Requirements

Finally, local regulations govern how asbestos waste is packaged, transported, and accepted at disposal facilities. These rules are designed to reduce risk for landfill operators, transfer station personnel, and nearby communities. 

Each county has its own procedures for disposal appointments, packaging verification, and transport documentation. We follow their specific requirements to avoid rejection at disposal sites and maintain full compliance throughout the waste-handling process.

Although these are our primary service counties, we work across Oregon and Washington when the scope, building type, or project conditions warrant it. For specialized or large-scale projects, we coordinate directly with regional authorities to confirm county-specific rules before abatement begins.

Metro (Portland Region)

Metro is the regional solid waste authority for Multnomah, Washington, and Clackamas counties, and its asbestos disposal rules apply within these jurisdictions. Metro enforces strict acceptance standards designed to protect workers at transfer stations and prevent the release of asbestos fibers during transport and offloading. These requirements are mandatory for any asbestos waste entering Metro-managed facilities.

Metro requires:

• Verified double-bagging and 10-mil compliant packaging,
• Scheduled or pre-approved disposal appointments,
• On-site load inspection and verification of material type,
• Documentation that accurately matches the declared asbestos materials and quantities.

Our packaging, labeling, and transport procedures are built around these rules to prevent delays, rejected loads, or compliance issues at regional disposal facilities.