---
kind: "section"
citation: "20 U.S.C. § 3606"
title: "20"
title_heading: "Education"
number: "3606"
heading: "Standards and safety procedures"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/20/3606"
units:
  - "Chapter 49 — Asbestos School Hazard Detection and Control"
---

# §3606. Standards and safety procedures

- (a) **Establishment and distribution to designated State agency or unit; establishment of criteria for loan program eligibility—**
  - (1) Within 120 days after the first meeting of the Task Force, and after consultation with the Task Force, the [Secretary](/usc/20/3610.md?p=7) shall establish and distribute to the [State](/usc/20/3610.md?p=8) agency or unit designated under [section 3603(a)(4) of this title](/usc/20/3603.md?p=a-4)—
    - (A) procedures for testing the level of [asbestos](/usc/20/3610.md?p=1) fibers in schools, including safety measures to be followed in conducting such tests;
    - (B) standards for evaluating (on the basis of such tests) the likelihood of the leakage of [asbestos](/usc/20/3610.md?p=1) fibers into the school environment; and
    - (C) standards for determining which contractors are qualified to carry out the testing and evaluation described in this paragraph.
  - (2) After consulting with the Task Force, the [Secretary](/usc/20/3610.md?p=7) shall establish criteria to be used for determining eligibility for loans under [section 3605 of this title](/usc/20/3605.md). The criteria shall be based on the assessment of the extent of the health hazards posed by the presence of [asbestos](/usc/20/3610.md?p=1) fibers in schools, as determined in accordance with standards under paragraph (1)(B) of this subsection.
- (b) **Establishment of regulations—** After reviewing recommendations submitted to the [Secretary](/usc/20/3610.md?p=7) by the Task Force under [section 3602(e)(5) of this title](/usc/20/3602.md?p=e-5), the [Secretary](/usc/20/3610.md?p=7), with the concurrence of the Task Force, shall by regulation establish—
  - (1) procedures to be used by [local educational agencies](/usc/20/3610.md?p=4), in programs for which loans are made under [section 3605 of this title](/usc/20/3605.md), for—
    - (A) containing and removing [asbestos](/usc/20/3610.md?p=1) materials in [school buildings](/usc/20/3610.md?p=6);
    - (B) replacing the [asbestos](/usc/20/3610.md?p=1) materials removed from [school buildings](/usc/20/3610.md?p=6) with other appropriate building materials; and
    - (C) restoring such [school buildings](/usc/20/3610.md?p=6) to conditions comparable to those existing before [asbestos](/usc/20/3610.md?p=1) containment or removal activities were undertaken; and
  - (2) standards for determining which contractors are qualified to carry out the activities referred to in [paragraph (1)](#b-1).
- (c) **Avoidance of duplication of similar activities of Environmental Protection Agency—** In carrying out his duties under this section, the [Secretary](/usc/20/3610.md?p=7) shall avoid, to the maximum extent practicable, duplicating similar activities undertaken by the Environmental Protection Agency.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 96–270, § 7, June 14, 1980, 94 Stat. 494.)