An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Marines


Asbestos Management/Abatement

Asbestos and Lead Program Manager

858-380-6786

The Asbestos Management Program consistently provide regulatory oversight for the management, maintenance, control, and abatement of materials containing asbestos, while sustain and promote an interactive environment with all MCAS Miramar departments and commands.  The program applies to disturbance activities and non-disturbance hazardous conditions associated with identified and suspect materials containing asbestos.  The objective of the program is to protect the public by minimizing the release of asbestos fibers and exposures. 

Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibrous mineral that is mined for use in a variety of manufactured products, including building materials.  Asbestos was widely used in the construction of buildings in the United States during the 20th centuries, due to its high resistance to heat and resistance to biological and chemical damages.  However, if inhaled by humans, asbestos fibers can cause health problems including asbestosis, mesothelioma, and other forms of lung cancer.  Although the phase-out of the asbestos use in products for most applications began in the United States in 1989, asbestos is still being used in building materials.  Imported building materials and products from other countries may also contain asbestos as well.  MCAS Miramar maintains a policy of using only asbestos-free materials for all new building construction and building renovation.  Unfortunately, the potential still exists due to the present and availability of these building materials within the market.

Building materials containing asbestos that are in good condition pose no health hazard risk.  Asbestos hazard condition exists when the asbestos material become damaged and friable (fibers become airborne).  To avoid any mishap or create any potential asbestos hazard condition, here are the following preventative measures:

  • DO NOT disturb (e.g. break, cut, grind, sand, or remove) suspect building materials (e.g. wall, flooring, ceiling, roofing, insulation materials, etc.) even when no asbestos had been previously identified.
  • DO NOT perform building component repairs, alterations, renovations, or demolitions work. 
  • REPORT damaged building component to your Building Manager, the installation Asbestos and Lead Program Manager (ALPM), or MCAS Miramar Public Works Department – Facilities Management Division (PWD-FMD)’s Zone Manager.

Please contact the installation ALPM if you have any question or concern pertaining to the Asbestos Management Program. 

 
The ALPM is charged with the day-to-day oversight of the program to assure that it is operating effectively to minimize potential fiber releases and exposures.  The ALPM is responsible to make the final decision on appropriate response actions (operations and maintenance, repair, encapsulation, enclosure, or removal) sufficient to protect human health and environment.  The specific ALPM duties are:
 
  1.  Update the O&M Plan and Asbestos Management Plan 
  • The O&M Plan will be updated, as needed, to reflect changes, such as material condition, regulations, improved methodology.
Contractors, vendors, and in-house (federal employees) will only perform tasks involving ACM/ ACCM after having obtained appropriate training, personal protective equipment, abatement equipment, meeting regulatory compliance and policies requirements, and obtained approval by the ALPM.
All planned renovation and demolition activities to be performed by the contractor or vendor, in which involves the possible disturbance of ACM/ ACCM, will be performed by a state certified, licensed, and registered Asbestos Abatement Contractors (AACs).
 
2 Review proposed asbestos related project documents
 
  • Review and/or provide comments to Site Approval Request from Public Works Department (PWD) – Assets Management Division (AMD)
  • Review and/or provide comments to proposed project’s scope of work (SOW) from PWD – Engineering Division (ED)
  • Review and/or provide comments to proposed project’s SOW from Facilities, Engineering & Acquisition Division (FEAD)
  • Attend project meeting that pertains to disturbing materials containing asbestos.
3. Review Asbestos Abatement/ Work Plan
 
  • Review, comment, and/or provide approval of Asbestos Abatement/ Work Plan submitted by Contractors to the installation
  • Ensure that the Asbestos Abatement/ Work Plan complies with the MCAS Miramar’s Asbestos and Lead Program Management – Pre & Post Work Submittal Documents
4. Enforce work procedures
 
  • Ensure that work performed by the General Contractor (GC), in which may potentially disturb asbestos materials is approved before commencing work. 
  • Monitor asbestos abatement/ disturbance activities at the installation.
5. Asbestos Related Work Approval Authority for Public Works Department
 
All work performed by the contractor, vendor, Station unit, installation's tenant, internal and external federal organizations/agencies, who may potentially disturb ACM/ACCM must obtain a written approval by PWD-FMD.
 
The ALPM shall confirm that the following requirements have been met:
 
  • A pre-construction survey identified potential asbestos disturbances (repair, alteration, renovation, modernization, etc.).
  • The contractor/ organization must involve the ALPM in the project kick-off meeting.
  • An Asbestos Abatement Plan must be certified by a California Asbestos Consultant (CAC) and submit to the ALPM for review and approval.  The Asbestos Abatement Plan must address all Pre-Package Submittal Requirements issued by the ALPM.
  • All ALPM comments must be appropriately addressed.  A revised Asbestos Abatement Plan may be required depending on the ALPM comments provided.
  • The ALPM approval of the Asbestos Abatement Plan permits the proposed asbestos activity.  A copy of the Asbestos Abatement Plan and Asbestos Assessment/ Survey Report must be available at the worksite at all time.
  • The contractor/ organization is responsible for submitting and managing all regulatory notifications and comply with all regulatory requirements.  A copy of the notification must be sent to the ALPM.
6.  Abatement Monitoring & Review
 
  • During Class I and Class II project monitoring, the responsible party must submit the air monitoring results on a timely basis.
  • Respond to elevated or irregular results with the responsible party.
  • Review Incident Reports.
  • Correct minor deficiencies with verbal or written communication to the responsible party.
  • Correct major deficiencies with written communication and discipline the responsible party, if appropriate.
  • Review bulk sampling results with the responsible party.
  • Review clearance or final project reports.
  • Respond to any comments regarding damaged ACM/ACCM with the responsible party.
PRACTICES
  1. Facility Demolition
    • An activity is defined as a facility demolition whenever there is removal of any load-bearing structure during the wrecking, removal or tearing down of a facility. Additionally, burning a facility is considered a demolition
  2. Facility Renovation
    • Renovation is any activity that does not meet the definition of demolition that involves the stripping or removal of asbestos from a facility.
ASPECTS
  1. Air Quality - To prevent exposure to humans, any demolition or renovation must be performed by C-22 Asbestos Abatement licensed contractors. During asbestos removal, techniques are enacted to ensure that asbestos does not become airborne outside of the construction area.
  2. Waste - Local landfills are able to accept non-friable wastes (waste that cannot be crumbled, pulverized, or reduced to powder by hand pressure). 
  3. Hazardous Waste - Friable asbestos wastes are considered to be hazardous waste. Local landfills such as Miramar Landfill are unable to accept any friable asbestos waste that contains greater than 1% asbestos. 
IMPACTS & RISKS
  1. If asbestos is not properly handled while removed, it can become airborne and create a safety and environmental hazard for those people working in the vicinity.
  2. Not meeting asbestos disposal requirements could potentially put the Station at risk for receiving a notice of violation and/or a monetary fine.
Marine Corps Air Station Miramar-EMS