EPA News Release (Region 3): West Virginia School District Settles Asbestos Management Violation at Elementary School

 

Contact: Donna Heron 215-814-5113 / heron.donna@epa.gov

 

West Virginia School District Settles Asbestos Management Violation at Elementary School

 

PHILADELPHIA (January 27, 2010) -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has reached a settlement with Clay County Schools in Clay, W. Va. for one violation of the Asbestos Hazards Emergency Response Act (AHERA) at the Lizemore School, an elementary school in Lizemore, W.Va.

 

AHERA is the federal law requiring schools to inspect and manage asbestos-containing materials. Lizemore School is located at 100 Lizemore Lions Road, Lizemore, W.Va.

 

According to EPA, an inspection conducted in 2007 by the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources resulted in one violation: failure to reinspect all areas containing asbestos in each school building at least once every three years. A reinspection helps prevent exposure to asbestos by ensuring that any maintenance or other routine school activities will not disturb asbestos.

 

Lizemore School was assessed a civil penalty of $5,525. Since the school spent $600 to come into compliance with AHERA, the civil penalty has been reduced to $4,925. 

 

Asbestos was once widely used in building materials due to its insulation and fire retardant properties. Damaged or disturbed asbestos may release fibers which, if inhaled, create a risk of asbestosis, lung cancer, and other respiratory illnesses. However, intact, undisturbed asbestos materials generally do not pose a health risk, if managed in accordance with AHERA safeguards.

 

For general information about asbestos and its regulation, visit www.epa.gov/asbestos. Information on asbestos in schools is available at www.epa.gov/asbestos/pubs/asbestos_in_schools.html

 

Note: If a link above doesn't work, please copy and paste the URL into a browser.

 

 

View all Region 3 News Releases

 

 

---

You can view or update your subscriptions or e-mail address at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page. All you will need is your e-mail address. If you have any questions or problems e-mail support@govdelivery.com for assistance.   This service is provided to you at no charge by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Sent by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency · 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW · Washington DC 20460 · 202-564-4355