Regulations, Statutes, and Regulator Contacts
Domain 5: Regulations, Statutes, and Regulator Contacts
This domain tests the legal map: which Nebraska statute and rule govern abatement, which federal rules still apply, and which agency answers which question. The exam rewards precise agency names and penalizes citations to the wrong regulator.
Nebraska authorities
The Nebraska Asbestos Control Act, Neb. Rev. Stat. §54-1401 et seq., authorizes the state asbestos program. The implementing rule is Title 178 NAC 22, administered by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Division of Public Health, Asbestos Program. DHHS issues firm licenses, individual accreditations, course-provider approvals, notifications, waivers, and enforcement actions. The Act and rule should be read with the current forms.
Federal overlays
The federal NESHAP for asbestos, 40 CFR Part 61, Subpart M, sets work-practice and notification standards for demolition and renovation. OSHA's asbestos standards, including 29 CFR 1926.1101 for construction, protect workers. AHERA, 40 CFR Part 763, sets accreditation and school-building inspection requirements. These do not replace Nebraska's license and notification rules.
Other contacts
The Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE) regulates solid waste disposal, including asbestos waste packaging, transport, and landfill acceptance. Local air-quality or health departments may have additional requirements. For worker-safety questions, use OSHA; for licensure, notification, waivers, or course approval, use the DHHS Asbestos Program. Verify current addresses, phone numbers, and form versions on the DHHS asbestos page before filing.
Worked example
A contractor asks where to send a pre-abatement notification, where to confirm a landfill will accept wrapped asbestos waste, and whom to call about a worker's respirator program. The notification goes to DHHS; the landfill acceptance question goes to NDEE or the permitted landfill; the respirator program question goes to OSHA. Sending all three to DHHS delays the project and misstates the regulatory roles.
Traps that cost marks
Do not cite only federal EPA rules and ignore Nebraska's statute and Title 178 NAC 22. Do not confuse DHHS's asbestos program with NDEE's waste program. Do not assume a local permit substitutes for a state notification.