New Buildings and Infrastructure
Compliance Resources

• Asbestos in Buildings
• Construction & Demolition
• Refrigeration / Air Conditioning
• Septic (Onsite Systems)

Asbestos in Buildings

• A number of building materials and products still in use today contain asbestos. EPA has developed information for building owners whose facilities may contain asbestos.

Top of page

Construction and Demolition

• Handling PCBs in Caulk During Renovation: a general overview of the practices your contractor should consider when conducting the renovation of a building that has polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)-containing caulk.(PCBs were not added to caulk after 1978).
• Stormwater: Generally, the Clean Water Act does not require permit coverage for runoff from impervious areas although the Act does provide the authority for EPA or the states to permit such types of discharges on a case-by-case or categorical basis where these discharges are determined to be causing or contributing to violations of water quality standards or are significant contributors of pollutants to waters of the United States.
  • Construction activities
  • State regulations and resources
  • Reporting: In states where EPA is the stormwater permitting authority, a construction Notice of Intent (NOI) must be received by the NOI Center before EPA will authorize coverage under the Construction General Permit (CGP). In states that have been authorized to implement the stormwater program, you must file an application with your state authorities to apply for an individual permit or for coverage under a statewide general permit.
    • Where you live
• Construction & Demolition Materials: Construction and demolition (C&D) materials consist of the debris generated during the construction, renovation, and demolition of buildings. C&D materials often contain bulky, heavy materials, such as concrete, wood, metals, glass, and salvaged building components. EPA provides comprehensive information on reducing and managing C&D materials. In most cases C&D debris is nonhazardous and is regulated by states and local governments rather than by EPA.
  • Caulk (PDF) (4 pp, 446K, About PDF): Containing potentially harmful polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) was used in many buildings constructed in the 1950s through the 1970s. On September 25, 2009, EPA announced new guidance for building managers with important information about managing PCBs in caulk and tools to help minimize possible exposure
  • State regulations and resources for construction and demolition materials
• Vermiculite Attic Insulation (PDF) (2 pp, 607K, About PDF): Removing or disturbing insulation may expose you or your workers to asbestos fibers.
• Refrigerants and air-conditioning equipment : Refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment that is typically dismantled on-site before disposal (e.g., retail food refrigeration, central residential air conditioning, chillers, and industrial process refrigeration) has to have the refrigerant recovered in accordance with EPA's requirements for servicing prior to their disposal.

Top of page

Refrigeration / Air Conditioning

• Air Conditioning and refrigerants regulations have been issued to minimize refrigerant emissions by maximizing the recovery and recycling of such substances during the service, repair, and disposal of refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment.
  • Acceptable and unacceptable refrigerants
  • Servicing and maintaining air conditioners or refrigeration equipment
  • Stationary refrigeration and air conditioning technician certification
  • Leak Detection and Repair
  • Refrigerant Reclamation and Recovery
  • Used oil
  • PCBs
  • Mercury Switches and Relays
  • Refrigerant recovery
• Reporting: Producers, importers, and exporters of ozone-depleting substances such as HCFCs must comply with reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
  • Leak repair notifications may be triggered when an owner or operator of an industrial process refrigeration system discovers that refrigerant is leaking at a rate that would exceed 35 percent of the total charge in a 12-month period.
  • Refrigerant Reclaimers must maintain records that include the quantity of material sent to them for reclamation, the mass of refrigerant reclaimed and related waste products. They must submit information to EPA annually within 30 days of the end of the calendar year.

Top of page

Septic (Onsite Systems)

• States, tribes and local governments are responsible for regulating individual septic (onsite) systems. EPA provides guidance and technical assistance to help develop and enhance septic (onsite) programs.
  • State contacts; links to state regulations and requirements