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SEVEN D.C. PRIVATE SCHOOLS CITED FOR VIOLATING ASBESTOS RULES

Release Date: 7/8/1999
Contact Information: David Sternberg (215) 814-5548

WASHINGTON, D.C. --- Seven private and parochial schools in Washington, D.C. have been cited for violating regulations on the inspection and management of asbestos in schools, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today.

EPA’s mid-Atlantic office in Philadelphia has issued violation notices and administrative complaints against Aiden Montessori School, 2700 27th Street, NW; Gonzaga College High School, 19 Eye St., NW; National Cathedral School For Girls, Mt. St. Alban, NW; The Oakcrest School, 4101 Yuma Street, NW; Parkmount School, 4842 16th St., NW; St. Anselm's Abbey and School, 4501 S. Dakota Ave., NE; and St. John’s College High School, 2607 Military Rd., NW.

According to EPA, the schools violated the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act ("AHERA"), the federal law that applies to schools with asbestos-containing building materials (such as insulation, wall paneling, floor tiles) that may release asbestos fibers.

"The purpose of the asbestos-in-schools rule is to ensure schools that have asbestos-containing materials in their buildings take appropriate steps to manage and inspect the asbestos in order to protect students and teachers from exposure," said EPA regional administrator W. Michael McCabe. McCabe noted that his office is reviewing the AHERA compliance of the D.C. public schools, as well as other public, private and parochial schools throughout the mid-Atlantic region.

The violations alleged in the actions announced today involve regulations requiring inspections, reporting, and asbestos management plans. EPA does not allege that there have been actual releases of asbestos fibers in these buildings.

Today’s actions are based on a review of the schools’ compliance with AHERA’s record keeping and management plans requirements. The schools themselves are required to implement the measures (including inspections) described in their plans These violations were discovered during December 1998 inspections of D.C.-area schools.

The statute requires schools to develop a "management plan" for asbestos-containing materials, detailing procedures to prevent asbestos releases during any activity that may disturb these materials. The management plan must be available to faculty, staff, parents, or other parties interested in the school’s efforts to minimize asbestos hazards. Schools must designate a person trained in asbestos regulations to be responsible for implementing the management plan and ensuring regulatory compliance. The law also requires schools to conduct surveys of asbestos-containing materials in their schools, conduct follow up inspections every three years and conduct twice-yearly surveillance of these materials. The schools must also notify parents, teachers and employees every school year about the availability of AHERA management plans.

The administrative complaints announced today allege the following violations. These alleged violations are based on the schools’ AHERA compliance status at the time of the EPA inspections.

Aiden Montessori School, inspected on December 7, 1998, allegedly failed to conduct a three year re-inspection in 1998, and failed to provide annual notice of its AHERA management plan to parents, teachers and employees.

Gonzaga College High School, inspected on December 15, 1998, allegedly failed to conduct the required three year re-inspections since 1990, and failed to provide annual notice of its AHERA management plan to parents, teachers and employees.

National Cathedral School For Girls, inspected on December 15, 1998, allegedly failed to conduct the three year re-inspections in 1995 and 1998 and failed to provide annual notification of its AHERA management plan to parents, teachers and employees.

The Oakcrest School, inspected on December 16, 1998, allegedly failed to conduct the three year re-inspections in 1991, 1994 and 1997, and failed to provide annual notification of its AHERA management plan to parents, teachers and employees.

The Parkmount School, inspected on January 11, 1999, allegedly failed to conduct three year re-inspections since 1991, failed to produce a copy of the school’s management plan at the time of the inspection, and failed to provide annual notification of its AHERA management plan to parents, teachers and employees.

St. Anselm's Abbey & School, inspected on December 15, 1998, allegedly failed to conduct the required three year re-inspections since 1988, failed to provide annual notification of its AHERA management plan to parents, teachers and employees.

St. John’s College High School, inspected on December 16, 1998, allegedly failed to conduct the required three year re-inspections since 1988 or to provide annual notification of its AHERA management plans to parents, teachers and employees.

EPA proposes a $5,500 penalty against each of these schools. Schools may offset penalty assessments under AHERA with the costs of bringing their facilities into compliance with the law. Asbestos is a hazardous air pollutant that was once heavily used in insulation and other building materials. Prolonged exposure and inhalation of asbestos fibers can cause cancer and asbestosis, a serious respiratory disease. For more information on EPA’s asbestos programs, check out www.epa.gov/asbestos.

The schools have the right to a hearing to contest the alleged violations and proposed penalties.