EPA Reminders About the Management of Asbestos in Schools

In April 2009, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a reminder to school districts in the New England region with regard to federal asbestos management requirements.

The EPA reported that in 2008, it had cited two dozen school districts in New Hampshire and Vermont for violations of the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) and the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) regarding inspections and reporting.

One of the most common AHREA violations public and private schools and school districts pertains to failures to follow federal guidelines with regard to inspections. All schools are required to:

• Conduct periodic inspections of all buildings for potential asbestos hazards;
• Maintain complete asbestos management plans, and to have those plans available for review by teachers, parents, and all organizations using the school;
• Train all school maintenance and custodial personnel about asbestos hazards.

Exposure to asbestos is known to cause serious diseases such as mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer and asbestosis.

Weitz & Luxenberg is a leading plaintiffs' law firm that has represented people affected by mesothelioma for over 20 years. Men and women diagnosed with mesothelioma caused by asbestos exposure may be entitled to compensation from the companies responsible for their disease.

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