EPA fines Pennsylvania schools-federal asbestos violations!

June 12, 2009
4:48 am

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EPA fines Pennsylvania schools-federal asbestos violations!

2 Holland schools violate federal EPA asbestos safety guidelines.

Philadelphia, PA (MesotheliomaCancerNews.com)—The United States Environmental Agency (EPA) http://www.epa.gov/ and the Council Rock School District settled federal law violations regarding management of asbestos materials at two Holland area schools. Council Rock South High School, 2002 Rock Way, Holland, PA, and Rolling Hills Elementary School, 340 Middle Holland Road, Holland, PA, are the two named schools who violated asbestos regulations according to the mid-Atlantic office of the U.S. EPA.

Education agencies such as the Council Rock School District are required, under the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA), to develop management plans for asbestos-containing materials including procedures to prevent release of asbestos within any building that is used as a school dwelling. An April 2008 inspection revealed Council Rock South High School and Rolling Hills Elementary School did not have asbestos management plans as required by federal law. Under AHERA, management plans must be available at each school, with annual notification to parents, teachers, and employee organizations of the guidelines including any asbestos abatement activities. The civil penalty, calculated by the EPA, is $16,483 for federal asbestos violations. Since Council Rock School District has spent $216,528 to come into compliance, a zero penalty amount was assessed.

These federal and state asbestos requirements help to prevent exposure of asbestos to teachers, students, parents, and school workers through maintenance projects or other routine school activities. Management plans also ensure no disturbance of asbestos containing products, and require certified workers to handle asbestos related materials as required by federal and state laws. Asbestos is a known carcinogen and is a toxic material to humans. Primary and secondary exposure to asbestos and asbestos containing materials can cause life-long debilitating respiratory illnesses and fatal diseases like mesothelioma lung cancer.

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