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West Virginia School District Settles Asbestos Management Violation at Elementary School

Release Date: 01/27/2010
Contact Information: Donna Heron 215-814-5113 / heron.donna@epa.gov

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