S.C. Code Regs. § § 61-86.1.VII

Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 10, October 25, 2024

Section 61-86.1.VII - STANDARDS FOR AIR SAMPLERS

A. Applicability.

This Section shall apply to each owner, owner's representative and/or air sampler engaged in an asbestos project where air sampling is required.

B. General Requirements.

1. Area air sampling shall be performed by a licensed air sampler.

2. Abatement air sampling data collected by a licensed air sampler under contract with or employed by the asbestos contractor performing the abatement will not be acceptable to the Department.

3. Air sampling shall be conducted using collection media, procedures, and analytical methods in accordance with NIOSH Method 7400 when Phase Contrast Microscopy (PCM) is used, and with Electron Microscope Measurement of Airborne Asbestos Concentrations [EPA Report 600/2-77-178 (1978) and EPA Contract No. 68-02-3266 (1984)] when Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) is used.

4. Any alternative procedure for clearance sampling shall require prior written approval from the Department. The written request must provide a detailed description of the alternative procedure and an explanation of how it will provide an equivalent level of protection to facility occupants.

5. The air sampler shall:

a. Ensure that all air sampling pumps are accurately calibrated prior to operation by utilizing a rotometer that has been calibrated within the past six months using a primary standard, such as a bubble burette or a dry calibrator. Calibration data shall be maintained at the project site for the duration of abatement.

b. Ensure that all air sampling pumps are operating properly and that the filtered sampling cassettes are securely attached to the pumps for the duration of sampling.

c. Maintain current background, daily, and clearance air monitoring data at the project site, and make the data available for review by Department personnel and other authorized visitors upon request.

d. Ensure that there are always at least four sampling pumps operating properly for the duration of any asbestos project requiring daily area air monitoring.

e. Collect area air samples for a minimum of two and one half hours for each four-hour work period during preparation, removal, and clean-up activities at NESHAP projects.

f. Maintain a log for the duration of an asbestos project describing daily activities.

g. Follow the procedures specified in NIOSH 7400 or an equivalent method acceptable to the Department when conducting clearance air monitoring.

h. Submit a written copy of the sampling procedures and clearance air monitoring results to the facility owner within five working days following the completion of the project and to the Department upon request.

C. Background Monitoring.

1. The air sampler shall collect a minimum of five air samples at a NESHAP abatement project prior to the start of abatement activities in order to obtain an index of background airborne fiber concentrations.

2. Samples shall be taken both inside and outside the work area to establish existing ambient air levels under normal activity conditions.

3. The air sampler shall document any variations and justifications for the variations, and shall maintain a written copy of the sampling variation(s) at the project site for the duration of the abatement, and shall provide the information to the Department upon request.

4. No background air sampling is required at small, minor, and O&M abatement projects.

5. Background sampling, when required, may be analyzed using PCM methods.

D. Daily Monitoring.

1. Once abatement activities begin at a NESHAP abatement project, the air sampler shall conduct representative daily area sampling in the following areas:

a. In the equipment room of the decontamination enclosure systems;

b. At the entrance to the clean room of each decontamination enclosure system;

c. Outside the work area in uncontaminated areas of the facility;

d. Where the negative pressure differential equipment exhausts, at a distance no greater than five to eight feet from the air flow when feasible. When multiple machines are in operation, the air sampler may rotate the sampling; however, all exhausts must be monitored daily; and

e. The total volume of air collected for daily area air sampling shall be in accordance with 40 CFR Part 763 and/or NIOSH 7400 and any subsequent revisions for analytical methodology.

2. The air sampler shall document any variations and justifications for the variations, and shall maintain a written copy of the sampling variation at the project site for the duration of the abatement and provide the information to the Department upon request.

3. Daily air sampling, when required, may be analyzed using PCM methods.

E. Clearance Monitoring.

1. Where clearance air monitoring is required by this regulation, the clearance standard for any NESHAP abatement project shall be: by Phase Contrast Microscopy less than or equal to 0.01 f/cc; or by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). The clearance standard is less than or equal to 70 s/mm² using the Mandatory TEM Method described in 40 CFR 763, Appendix A of Subpart E, as amended, and any subsequent amendments and editions. The Z test with a value of Z less than or equal to 1.65 for a Z test carried out as described in 40 CFR 763, Appendix A of Subpart E, as amended, and any subsequent amendments and editions, shall be allowed for clearance purposes only with prior Department approval.

2. The total volume of air collected for clearance air sampling shall be in accordance with 40 CFR Part 763 and/or NIOSH 7400 and any subsequent revisions for analytical methodology.

3. A licensed air sampler shall conduct, at a minimum, PCM clearance air monitoring at the completion of each NESHAP project. Projects exceeding the project design threshold (3,000 sf, 1,500 Lf, and 656 cubic feet of RACM) will require TEM clearance air monitoring.

4. When conducting clearance air monitoring, the air sampler shall follow the procedures specified in Measuring Airborne Asbestos Following An Abatement Action, EPA Report 600/4-85-049 (1985), which is hereby incorporated by reference, or an equivalent method acceptable to the Department. Procedures shall be summarized and submitted to the facility owner. The air sampler shall report the clearance air monitoring results in writing to the facility owner within five working days following completion of the project and to the Department upon request.

5. Sampling shall not begin until wet cleaning has been completed and no visible pools of water or condensation remain. Sufficient time shall be allowed for all surfaces to dry. The sampling zone shall be representative of the building occupants' breathing zone.

6. Sampling shall not begin until the air sampler has performed a visual inspection and authorizes final clearance air monitoring.

7. Sampling shall be conducted only after all interior wall, ceiling, and floor polyethylene sheeting has been removed. Critical barriers and the five-stage decontamination enclosure system shall remain in place until the abated area has passed final clearance.

8. For projects subject to 40 CFR Part 763, AHERA, as amended, and any subsequent amendments or editions, conduct clearance air monitoring after abatement in areas to be reoccupied (including interior spaces, porticos, and covered exterior walkways) and abatement on exterior portions of mechanical systems used to condition interior spaces. For projects equal to or greater than 160 sf, 260 Lf or 35 cubic feet, TEM clearance air monitoring is required.

9. At least one licensed asbestos project supervisor shall remain at an asbestos project site for the duration of the final clearance visual inspection and clearance air sample collection process.

S.C. Code Regs. § 61-86.1.VII