Asbestos Before Demolition in Pima County: Inspection and NESHAP Notification

Many Tucson buildings from the mid-twentieth century onward were built when asbestos-containing materials were common in flooring, roofing, texture coatings, pipe wrap and mastics. Federal rules under the asbestos NESHAP (National Emission Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants) govern how demolition and renovation projects handle it. Locally, Pima County Department of Environmental Quality (PDEQ) administers this program. The details below are general, so check current requirements with PDEQ for your project.

The inspection comes first

Before a building is demolished, a certified asbestos inspector, commonly trained under AHERA, surveys it and samples suspect materials. The resulting report tells you what is present, where, and in what quantity. It also drives your notification and your abatement plan if any regulated material is found.

Notification to PDEQ

Federal NESHAP generally requires written notification before demolition, and the common planning assumption is at least ten working days beforehand. Whether and how it applies depends on the structure, the scope and the amount of material involved, so confirm the current rules and forms with PDEQ rather than relying on this summary.

If asbestos is found

• Abatement before demolition: Regulated materials are typically removed by licensed abatement contractors before machines touch the structure.
• Controlled handling and disposal: Removed material is kept wet, contained and sent to a facility permitted to accept it, with paperwork retained.
• Schedule and cost impact: Abatement can add time and cost, which is why the survey belongs at the start of the project.

Dust rules are separate

Apart from asbestos, PDEQ also has dust-control requirements that can apply to demolition and earthmoving. In dry, windy conditions this matters on nearly every Tucson site. See our guide on heat, monsoon and dust control.

Tucson Demolition Co helps owners sequence inspection, notification and abatement ahead of the demolition itself. Call (714) 333-0178 to talk through your property.