Noah Webster Basic School Settles with Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act - Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Regulations, Asbestos Management Plan

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- Automotive industry uses asbestos in vehicle brakeshoes and clutch pads.
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(January 30th, 2010)

This image is of a New York public school that had its asbestos insulation exposed in the ceiling of the hallway. Pressure from the parents forced the school to be closed down, it is located in Harlem, Manhattan, New York. San Francisco, Arizona - Noah Webster Basic School of Mesa, Arizona has settled with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) after it was alleged to violate terms of the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act. An investigation conducted in the environment and physical structure of the school in April 2007 determined that the school had not performed tests to determine if asbestos-containing materials were present in the buildings and structures of the school and had not made an Asbestos Management Plan (AMP). After receiving notice from the EPA, the school has now undergone inspections performed by accredited Asbestos Abatement workers. An Asbestos management plan was developed by the school's officials in conjunction with asbestos abatement professionals, as well no hazards of environmental exposure from Asbestos was found in the school's buildings. Katherine Taylor, associated Director at Communities and Ecosystems Division of the EPA quotes, "Asbestos can potentially endanger the health of students, teachers, and maintenance workers at schools. We are pleased that Noah Webster has now conducted inspections and has put an asbestos management plan into place."

The image on the right is of a New York public school that had its asbestos insulation exposed in the ceiling of the hallway. Pressure from the parents forced the school to be closed down, it is located in Harlem, Manhattan, New York.

Federal law requires all public schools to undergo tests to determine if Asbestos containing materials are present in the school's buildings and environment, to minimize the number of students and teachers who are exposed to Asbestos during normal school hours. This is especially true for schools that were built prior to the 1980s. One of the best traits of Asbestos was its ability for being fire proof. Between World War II and the 1980s, fireproofing was used for fireproofing buildings, homes, public schools and government offices. This is why public schools built before the 1980s are at greater danger for environmental asbestos exposure. If asbestos-containing materials are found in the school's premises, the school must design an Asbestos management plan with the help of qualified professionals. Samples of the asbestos management plan include the person in charge of the operation, the team leader's official statement about the health of school buildings, and details of the building's inspections and its findings sent to school teachers, parents and children through an informational newsletter.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also ruled that the school must appoint an Asbestos leader who will make sure the school's buildings comply with regulations set out by the EPA, document all inspections conducted on the buildings and properly train the maintenance & custodial staff to protect themselves from Asbestos exposure through proactive prevention measures.