Asbestos Removal in Salem, Oregon
If an asbestos survey or lab test found asbestos in a Salem-area home or building, and your project will disturb it, Oregon rules decide who may remove it and how. Here's what DEQ requires, what an abatement job involves, and how to vet a contractor. We don't do this work; we can connect you with an independent licensed professional who does.
Do you need to remove it at all?
Not always. EPA says asbestos material in good condition that won't be disturbed is usually best left alone. Removal, repair, or encapsulation (sealing it) by trained professionals makes sense when material is damaged or when a remodel, repair or demolition will disturb it. DEQ counts handling, removing, repairing, enclosing and encapsulating as "asbestos abatement" (DEQ fact sheet).
Friable vs nonfriable: who may do the work
| Type | Examples (per DEQ) | Who may remove it | DEQ notice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friable (easily crumbled) | Popcorn and textured ceilings, pipe, duct and boiler insulation, sheet vinyl flooring, fireproofing, soundproofing, ceiling panels | A DEQ-licensed abatement contractor; or an owner-occupant of a single-unit home, for interior work only | Contractors file an ASN-1 notice and fee 10 days before work |
| Nonfriable | Vinyl floor tile, black mastic, cement siding, roofing or paneling, cement water pipe | DEQ-licensed abatement contractors, CCB-licensed contractors, or property owners | ASN-6 notice and fee 5 days before work (owner-occupants doing their own work are exempt) |
Nonfriable material can become friable if it's sanded, ground, broken or crushed, per DEQ's materials list. Owner-occupants can't do friable abatement as part of a demolition (DEQ). DEQ's list also includes woodstove gaskets; if you're pulling an old stove before a sale, see Oregon woodstove removal.
What an abatement job generally involves
- A survey or lab results identifying what contains asbestos and how much.
- DEQ notification and fee before work, when required.
- Containment: isolating the work area and controlling dust. OSHA rules require employers to set up regulated areas, use engineering controls and protect workers.
- Wet removal and packaging: waste goes in at least two 6-mil plastic bags or equivalent leak-tight packaging with an asbestos warning label, plus a label naming the generator and the address the waste came from.
- Disposal at a DEQ-permitted facility with a completed ASN-4 waste shipment form. DEQ's facility list (updated 2020) includes Brown's Island Demolition Landfill in Salem and Coffin Butte Landfill in Benton County. The facility must be notified before disposal.
DIY removal: what DEQ says
Owner-occupants may legally remove asbestos inside their own single-unit home, but must follow Oregon's packaging and disposal rules. DEQ strongly recommends against doing it yourself and recommends hiring a DEQ-licensed contractor (DEQ). EPA likewise says removal and major repair should be done by people trained and qualified to handle asbestos.
How to vet an abatement contractor
- Confirm they're on DEQ's licensed asbestos abatement contractor list for friable work.
- Check their Construction Contractors Board license on the CCB license search. Oregon requires contractors to show their CCB number in their advertising (OAR 812-003-0120).
- Ask who did the survey. Oregon rules make the survey the owner's or operator's responsibility; a copy must be on site during the work.
- Get a written estimate that covers containment, removal, notification fees, disposal, and any clearance testing.
- Ask whether they'll file the DEQ notification and provide the ASN-4 disposal record.
See asbestos removal cost for published price ranges, or use the form below to be connected with one independent licensed professional.
Sources
- Oregon DEQ fact sheet: What homeowners need to know about asbestos (PDF)
- Oregon DEQ: Asbestos for Homeowners
- Oregon DEQ: Asbestos requirements for housing
- Oregon DEQ: Materials that may contain asbestos (PDF)
- Oregon DEQ: Landfills and transfer stations accepting asbestos waste (PDF, updated 2020)
- Oregon DEQ: Licensed Asbestos Abatement Contractors
- Oregon CCB license search
- OAR 812-003-0120: license number required in contractor advertising
- EPA: Protect Your Family from Exposures to Asbestos
- OSHA: Asbestos overview
Ask to be connected with a licensed asbestos pro
Referral service, not a contractor: We're an information and referral service, not a contractor. We connect you with independent asbestos professionals (DEQ-licensed abatement contractors and accredited inspectors) who serve the Salem area. We don't offer, bid on, schedule, supervise or perform any asbestos or construction work, and we hold no CCB or DEQ license because we don't do that work. The professional you hire does it under their own licenses.