AQ 05: Asbestos Blanket Notification Approval

Next steps for AQ 05: Asbestos Blanket Notification Approval

1. What to Know

   An Asbestos Blanket Notification Approval provides flexibility for immediate abatement, long-term (up to 12 months) or large-scale removal work, or incidental maintenance where significant amounts of asbestos are present.

   MassDEP approves two types of Asbestos Blanket Notifications on a case-by-case basis:

   • Incidental Maintenance Blanket Notification Approval: For facilities that contain significant amount of asbestos-containing material and routinely encounter situations where asbestos needs to be abated immediately, without observing the required ten (10) working day waiting period.
   • Large Scale Asbestos Abatement Project Approval: For planned abatement projects that involve the removal of significant quantities of asbestos-containing materials over an extended period of time. This Blanket Approval allows more flexibility in the scheduling and sequencing of work. 

   Both types of Asbestos Blanket Notification Approvals are facility-specific, issued for periods of up to 12 months, and may be renewed by submitting a new application.

   Please note that even with a Blanket Approval, you will still need to file an AQ 04 (ANF-001): Asbestos Removal Notification for each job to be performed. You will not need to observe the ten (10) working day waiting period before beginning work, however.

2. Review the Instructions

   Guidance on how to prepare and submit your application.

   Open PDF file, 127.18 KB,  Instructions: AQ 05 (English, PDF 127.18 KB)

3. Complete Your Application

   You may fill out and save the Microsoft Word form on your computer. The PDF version has to be printed out and completed by hand.

   Open DOCX file, 41.31 KB,  Form: AQ 05 (English, DOCX 41.31 KB)

   Open PDF file, 89.05 KB,  Form: AQ 05 (English, PDF 89.05 KB)

4. Submit Your Application & Fee Payment

   Please note that with most MassDEP staff currently teleworking due to the current COVID-19 emergency, some additional steps will be required. Pay special attention to c. below.

   a. Send your original application form to the appropriate MassDEP Regional Office, Attn: Asbestos Program. Follow the link below for a listing of regional offices by community.

   b. Send a copy of your application form and payment ($200 check payable to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts) to:

   MassDEP
   P.O. Box 4062
   Boston, MA 02211

   Note: If your submittal is incomplete, MassDEP will return it to you.

   c. Email scanned copies of your (1) original completed and signed application form, (2) any relevant supplemental information, and (3) check for fee payment to the appropriate regional asbestos contact.

   • Central Region: gregory.levins@mass.gov
   • Northeast Region: john.macauley@mass.gov
   • Southeast Region: cynthia.baran@mass.gov
   • Western Region: david.slowick@mass.gov

   MassDEP Regional Offices by Community 

5. Wait for MassDEP Approval

   MassDEP will issue an approval or denial within 20 working days of receiving your application and finding it administratively and technically complete.

   If MassDEP finds your application incomplete, the agency will request additional information and give you 30 calendar days to respond.

   After you submit the requested information, MassDEP will have ten (10) working days to issue an approval or denial. 

6. Submit Notifications & Start Work

   Once you have obtained a Blanket Approval from MassDEP, you will need to file an AQ 04 (ANF-001): Asbestos Removal Notification that references your Blanket Approval for each job to be performed under it. You will not need to observe the ten (10) working day waiting period before beginning the job, however.

   File an AQ 04 (ANF-001): Asbestos Removal Notification