ANNOUNCING
Posted on June 25, 2019
DRAFT TEXAS ASBESTOS HEALTH PROTECTION RULES AVAILABLE FOR STAKEHOLDER COMMENT
Draft Texas Asbestos Health Protection Rules (TAHPR)
Draft TAHPR Table of Contents
Draft TAHPR Title Crosswalk
The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) is accepting informal comments on the draft asbestos rules from stakeholders through August 16, 2019. The rule has been amended to reflect the considered evaluation of comments submitted in response to the November 2016 proposed rules. DSHS will consider each comment received during the informal comment period but will be unable to provide an individual response to each commenter.
Please include the following items for each comment submitted.
- The specific citation and page number for the referenced draft rule section.
- Recommended alternative language.
- A description of how your recommendation will affect public health and the regulated community.
DSHS must adopt rules to administer and enforce the Texas Asbestos Health Protection Act (TAHPA) in a manner that is at least as protective of human health and safety as the minimum requirements of the TAHPA and the federal National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) and Asbestos Hazardous Emergency Response Act, Asbestos-Containing Materials in Schools (AHERA). DSHS may not adopt rules that conflict with or fail to carry out the requirements in applicable federal regulations or state statutes. Click on these links to access the current TAHPR, TAHPA, NESHAP, and AHERA regulations.
You may provide comments to DSHS by mail, or email, or at one of the upcoming public meetings.
Mailing address:
Texas Department of State Health Services
Attn: Environmental Hazards Group Rules Coordinator
PO Box 149347, MC 1987
Austin, TX 78714-9347
Email address:
EHGRulesCoordinator@dshs.state.tx.us
Please write “Informal Comments for TAHPR” in the subject line.
Public meetings: 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
July 23, 2019
Harlingen
601 West Sesame Drive, Rockport Room
Harlingen, TX 78550
July 24, 2019
El Paso
401 East Franklin, Room 179
El Paso, TX 79901
July 31, 2019
Lubbock
6302 Iola Avenue, Rooms 201, 202, 203
Lubbock, TX 79424
August 1, 2019
Houston
5425 Polk Street, Rooms 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E
Houston, TX 77023
August 13, 2019
Arlington
1301 South Bowen Road, Room 2210
Arlington, TX 76013
August 15, 2019
Austin
8407 Wall Street, Room N102
Austin, TX 78754
DSHS will provide further information regarding the draft rules and the informal comment meetings as it becomes available. If you have any questions regarding this message or the informal comment process, please send your questions via email to the EHG Rules Coordinator mailbox at EHGRulesCoordinator@dshs.texas.gov.
Thank you for your interest in the Texas Asbestos Health Protection Rules.
Asbestos Program
Division for Regulatory Services
WITHDRAWAL
NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULES
Posted on May 5, 2017
The Executive Commissioner of the Health and Human Services is
withdrawing the proposed asbestos rules for the Department of State Health
Services (department). The proposed
rules were originally published in the November 11, 2016, issue of the Texas
Register for a 60-day comment
period. The extended
60-day comment period resulted in numerous additional suggestions from
commenters for changes beyond those offered during pre-publication
opportunities for comment. Certain questions, concerns, and confusion
commonly expressed by numerous commenters reflected a need for further changes
and clarifications in the rule text. In addition, fiscal impacts were asserted that
warrant re-evaluation to ensure that any such potential fiscal impacts,
including to small and micro-businesses, are fully evaluated and that, where
available and still protective of public health, alternatives are given
appropriate consideration.
In light of these factors, additional time is
being taken to ensure that such changes and clarifications are clearly
communicated and explained, and reflect considered evaluation of the comments
submitted in response to the November 2016 publication of proposed rules. Those proposed rules will be withdrawn and revised
proposed rules will be republished, with another opportunity for public comment
and consideration of those comments, prior to adoption. Once it is filed, the withdrawal will
be available to be viewed by the public on the Secretary of State’s website at http://www.sos.state.tx.us/texreg/index.shtml, and will be subsequently published
in the Texas Register. The Department’s Asbestos Program anticipates that
this approach will help to ensure that the rule set
ultimately adopted is responsive to certain common stakeholder concerns,
improves clarity, and ensures that legal requirements related to the rulemaking
are met.
The department will provide
further information regarding the new proposed rule timeline and publication
date as it becomes available. If you
have any questions regarding this message or the new proposed rule time line,
please send your questions via email to the EHG Rules Coordinator mailbox at EHGRulesCoordinator@dshs.texas.gov.
Thank you for your interest in
the Texas Asbestos Health Protection Rules.
Asbestos Program
Division for Regulatory Services