Saturday, February 11, 2012

Preparing for asbestos abatement?

The Feb. 10 CM Update on Monday on Posti's Center Court Blog includes:

This week, the contractor began cut and fill work, demolished the tennis courts and developed the site layout of caissons and utilities.  Next week, we anticipate installing a separation wall in the Gold Gym, preparing for asbestos abatement in the wrestling room, mobilizing the demolition contractor and continuing placement of site fencing.  If you have questions and can't make our meetings, PLEASE contact High School Principal Brian McFeeley for answers. He is the primary point of contact for questions, rumors and concerns related to the project and is doing a great job communicating with parents, students, neighbors and the Municipality about the construction schedule and associated changes to parking and traffic.

The EPA requires schools to appoint an asbestos management coordinator, called the "AHERA designated person" to be responsible for a number of asbestos-related activities, including the implementation of the plan for managing asbestos-containing building materials (ACBM) in the school buildings and compliance with the federal asbestos regulations.

The School District is required to provide notification about asbestos activities to workers, students, parents, teachers, and short-term workers. To my knowledge, the District has not provided the required notice.  Our children are in class, folks. Or am I just being petty?

Update February 12, 2012 1:30 PM Here are a few more government links that have asbestos abatement information.
Asbestos in Schools
PA Department of Environmental Protection Asbestos Information

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Why was High School Principal Brian McFeeley not at the last Commission meeting answering Commission questions the other two seemingly could not ?

Bill Lewis

Lebo Citizens said...

You're right, Bill. Mr. McFeeley is the go to person for answers. The presentation should have been given by Dr. Tim (who was there already for the Centennial Celebration) and Mr. McFeeley. I bet the commissioners wondered the same thing.
Elaine

Pam Scott said...

The District seems capable of picking and choosing whether or not to adhere to regulations. They choose not to provide the required annual written notification to parents and staff about asbestos activities in their buildings. For a decade, I have been complaining to the District about them not providing annual written notification. Despite a 2004 letter from Solicitor Peterson to me (and copied to the Board, etc.) agreeing that such annual written notification is indeed required and that MTLSD will start doing it, the District cherry picks AHERA.

Anonymous said...

Apparently notification isn't required if they don't do it!
Andy Bradford

Anonymous said...

Apparently the District is banking on the same rationale for noncompliance with laws, regulations and policies the Muni uses when challenged by the public..."past practices" apparently absolves governments and governing bodies from obeying....in other words, they have been doing *it* for ages and have gotten away with it; therefore, it's permissable.

You may want to try that approach with the police when stopped for obvious speeding. Let me know how it works. Or, if you are a student, and are caught cheating on a test...although for plagiarism, for instance, who knows ?

Bill Lewis

Anonymous said...

And sending out PTA political oriented emails. It open season as long as there is no enforcement of the rules.

Andy Bradford