The agreement resolves the violations of federal asbestos regulations identified by EPA during its inspections.

Efforts to reduce airborne asbestos in buildings have set off a furious debate in New York City, which already has some of the toughest asbestos regulations in the country.

When the city enacted asbestos regulations, it created the subprofession of asbestos investigator, which is open to applicants of limited technical education and experience.

This Orwellian-sounding organization usually sticks to lobbying against asbestos regulation, like New York's proposed inspection law, that might encourage future damage suits against its member companies, all former manufacturers of asbestos products.

You can find out about asbestos regulations on the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) website - Opens in a new window.

NEW YORK CITY officials have long prided themselves on the city's asbestos regulations, acknowledged to be among the most stringent in the nation.

BEFORE New York City adopted its asbestos regulations, more casual habits prevailed.

But, the committees said, under pressure from Mr. Ginsburg's office, environmental officials suddenly withdrew the proposals in February 1985 and referred the question of asbestos regulation to two other Federal agencies.

Bob Knapp pleaded guilty to two charges in February 2011 for his role at the head of a conspiracy to ignore federal asbestos regulations during a three-year renovation project at the Equitable Building.

Parochial schools have been particularly hard hit by asbestos regulations since they can apply for Federal grants or interest-free loans, but have no other public sources of income.