38 M.R.S. §1271: Findings and purpose

The Legislature finds that the presence of friable and potentially friable asbestos in public and private buildings is a public health hazard; that State Government and local government agencies are conducting major abatement programs; that it is critical to the safe conduct of all asbestos abatement activities such as monitoring, design, analysis, training, identification, encapsulation, removal, handling and disposal activities that trained and qualified personnel from the public and private sectors be employed; and that work practice standards for asbestos abatement activities must be established and enforced to ensure protection of the public health.

The purpose of this chapter is to provide a flexible means by which the State, acting through the Department of Environmental Protection, may ensure that those engaged in the management and abatement of friable asbestos-containing materials are properly trained, supervised and directed to protect the public health.