AHERA Asbestos Compliance Services for Texas Schools
Every K-12 school in Texas — public, private, and nonprofit charter — is required by federal law to identify, manage, and document asbestos-containing building materials (ACBM) in school buildings. The Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA), codified under 40 CFR Part 763, establishes that obligation. In Texas, the Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS) enforces AHERA compliance and conducts routine inspections to verify that schools are meeting their legal responsibilities.
Champion Environmental Consulting, provides the full scope of AHERA-required asbestos consulting services for K-12 schools throughout Central Texas. Our consultants are licensed by TDSHS and perform school asbestos work in accordance with the requirements of 40 CFR Part 763 Subpart E.
What AHERA Requires of Texas Schools
AHERA places a continuing compliance obligation on every Local Education Agency (LEA) — which includes the governing body of any public, private nonprofit, or charter school. Meeting that obligation requires active, ongoing attention to inspections, documentation, training, and notification each school year.
Core AHERA requirements include:
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Original Inspection and Management Plan Every school building must have been inspected for ACBM by a licensed inspector, and a written Asbestos Management Plan must have been developed by a licensed Management Planner. That plan must be kept on file at the school and made available for public review. For buildings constructed or acquired after October 12, 1988, an inspection is still required before occupancy.
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Three-Year Reinspections At least once every three years, a TDSHS-licensed asbestos inspector must physically re-inspect all areas of each school building, assess the condition of any known or assumed ACBM, and update the Management Plan with findings.
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Six-Month Periodic Surveillance Every six months, a trained individual must conduct a visual inspection of all areas where ACBM is known or assumed to be present, documenting any changes in condition. These surveillance records must be kept in the Management Plan.
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Designated Person Each TEA must designate a person within the school district responsible for ensuring AHERA compliance. That person must receive adequate training and maintain documentation of their responsibilities.
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Custodial and Maintenance Staff Training All custodial and maintenance employees who work in buildings containing ACBM must receive asbestos awareness training. Staff whose work may disturb ACBM require additional training. Records of all training must be maintained in the Management Plan.
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Annual Notification Schools must notify parents, teachers, and employee organizations in writing each year that the Asbestos Management Plan is available for review.
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Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Program Where ACBM is present and will remain in place, schools must implement an O&M program to manage those materials and prevent disturbance or fiber release.
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Short-Term Worker Notification Any contractor, vendor, or short-term worker entering a building with known or assumed ACBM must be informed of the location of those materials before beginning work.
What Happens When TDSHS Conducts a Compliance Inspection
The Texas Department of State Health Services conducts routine AHERA compliance inspections of Texas schools as part of a scheduled inspection program, authorized under the Texas Asbestos Health Protection Rules (TAHPR §296.4(b) and §296.271).
When TDSHS schedules a compliance inspection, the school's Designated Person will typically be asked to produce documentation covering every major element of the AHERA program — the current Management Plan, all reinspection and surveillance records, training documentation, annual notification letters, O&M records, and building maps. A complete, well-organized record set allows the school to respond efficiently and demonstrate that the program is functioning as required.
If your school has questions about where its program stands ahead of a scheduled inspection, Champion Environmental can review your existing documentation and help you understand what the inspector will expect to see.
AHERA Services Champion Environmental Provides
Champion Environmental provides the complete scope of licensed asbestos consulting services required to establish and maintain AHERA compliance for Texas K-12 schools.
Building Survey and Initial Inspection For schools that have never been formally inspected, or for new buildings added to a campus, Champion conducts a comprehensive asbestos survey in accordance with AHERA sampling protocols (40 CFR §§763.86 and 763.88). Our TDSHS-licensed inspectors collect bulk samples of suspect ACBM, submit samples to an NVLAP-accredited laboratory, document findings by homogeneous area and functional space, and assign hazard classifications based on EPA AHERA categories and decision tree methodology.
School Asbestos Management Plan Development Following an initial inspection, Champion develops a complete AHERA-compliant School Asbestos Management Plan. The plan documents all inspection findings, ACBM locations and conditions, hazard rankings, recommended response actions, and the framework for ongoing O&M, reinspection, and surveillance. The plan includes all required attachments — Designated Person assurances, training record forms, sample annual notification letters, and letter of designation documentation.
Three-Year Reinspections Champion performs the required three-year reinspections for schools with existing Management Plans. Our licensed inspectors reassess all previously identified ACBM, document any changes in condition, update hazard classifications, and deliver a reinspection report for inclusion in the Management Plan within the required 30-day timeframe.
Periodic Surveillance Support Champion can provide guidance on establishing your six-month periodic surveillance program and train school personnel on proper documentation procedures.
Management Plan Review and Gap Analysis If your school has an existing Management Plan and you would like to verify that it meets current requirements, Champion can review the plan and identify any areas that may need attention — missing reinspections, incomplete records, or outdated documentation — before a TDSHS compliance inspection occurs.
O&M Program Consultation For schools where non-friable ACBM is present and being managed in place, Champion can assist in establishing or reviewing your Operations and Maintenance program to ensure it aligns with AHERA requirements.
When to Contact Champion Environmental
Contact Champion if any of the following apply:
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Your school has never had a formal AHERA asbestos inspection or has no Management Plan on file
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Your Management Plan is more than three years old and no reinspection has been performed
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Your school has received notice of a scheduled TDSHS AHERA compliance inspection
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Renovation or demolition work is planned that may disturb building materials
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A maintenance or custodial incident has potentially disturbed suspect ACBM
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You have acquired a new building or portable classroom and needs to be surveyed
It's also worth reaching out if:
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You are not certain whether your Management Plan is current and complete
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You cannot locate training records, annual notification letters, or surveillance documentation
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Your Designated Person has changed and the new person needs to understand their obligations
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You would like to review your program ahead of your three-year reinspection deadline
Why Schools in Central Texas Work With Champion
Champion Environmental has served K-12 schools throughout Central Texas for decades. Our principals and field consultants hold the individual TDSHS licenses required to perform school asbestos work in Texas, and our firm holds the required TDSHS Asbestos Consultant Agency license.
We understand that school administrators and facility managers are managing complex operations with limited time and resources. Champion approaches school asbestos work with clear communication, thorough documentation, and a straightforward process — from initial inspection through Management Plan delivery and ongoing compliance support.
All laboratory analysis is performed by NVLAP-accredited, TDSHS-licensed asbestos bulk laboratories using Polarized Light Microscopy (PLM) in accordance with EPA methods.
Is Your School's Asbestos Program Current and Compliant?
Champion Environmental provides AHERA-required asbestos inspections, School Management Plans, three-year reinspections, and compliance support for K-12 schools throughout Central Texas.
Our TDSHS-licensed consultants are ready to help you understand your obligations and maintain a compliant program.
Contact Champion Environmental to schedule an inspection or Management Plan review.
