The New York State Department of Health (“DOH”) released a new guidance document to clarify questions and concerns about asbestos in vermiculate-containing materials (July 9, 2013 Guidance Letter”).  Previously, the DOH issued a list of FAQs concerning fiber analysis and asbestos-containing materials (“ACM”); FAQ #10, which discussed vermiculite-containing materials, was subsequently updated to address, among other things, testing protocols (“June 22, 2012 Guidance letter”).  This update, however, lacked sufficient clarity and simply led to greater confusion about standards and methods that may be used to properly test for asbestos in vermiculite-containing materials.  Consequently, the DOH released the July 9, 2013 Guidance Letter to alleviate previous concerns, and it now “supersedes and replaces FAQ #10, as well as the June 22, 2012 [G]uidance [L]etter.”
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