Glossary
Visible Emissions
Any airborne particulate from asbestos handling that is visible to the naked eye. NESHAP prohibits visible emissions to the outside air during regulated work and waste handling.
Visible emissions are any airborne particulate matter from asbestos work that can be seen with the unaided eye. The concept matters because it is an enforceable, on-the-spot standard: an inspector doesn’t need a fiber count to cite a contractor who is letting dust escape.
EPA NESHAP sets a no-visible-emissions standard for the collection, processing, packaging, transport, and disposal of asbestos-containing waste, and for regulated renovation and demolition activity. The wet methods and containment the rule requires are largely there to meet it.
A visible release of asbestos dust outside a containment is one of the clearer NESHAP violations a facility or contractor can commit.