Yes. In 1989, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) banned all new uses of asbestos; however, uses established prior to 1989 are still permitted. The EPA has also established regulations that require school systems to inspect for damaged asbestos, and to eliminate or reduce the exposure to occupants by removing the asbestos or having it encased.
The EPA regulations, coupled with widespread public concern about the hazards of asbestos, have resulted in a significant annual decline in the U.S. use of asbestos: domestic consumption of asbestos reached approximately 719,000 metric tons in 1973, but it declined to approximately 9,000 metric tons by 2002. The EPA also regulates the release of asbestos from factories during building, demolition, or renovation to monitor the level of asbestos fibers from damaged materials entering the environment.