Arizona education company fined for asbestos violations

Arizona - The Environmental Protection Agency has fined Portable Practical Education Preparation, Inc. for alleged violations of the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA). Portable Practical Education Preparation, Inc. holds charters for twelve charter schools in Arizona. In May 2006, the EPA inspected one of the twelve schools, the Celestino Fernandez Learning Center, and found that the school was unable to disclose its asbestos management plan. All schools that contain asbestos are required to create and maintain such a plan according to AHERA. Subsequently the EPA found that PPEP, Inc. had not carried out asbestos inspections or created asbestos management plans for some of its twelve schools. Another school in violation of AHERA was the Alice S. Paul School, which had an asbestos management plan but which had not been inspected within the time frame that federal law requires. Katherine Taylor, Associate Director for the Communities and Ecosystems Division in the EPA’s Pacific Southwest region, said “Organizations responsible for charter schools need to understand their facilities must meet all of the federal asbestos in schools requirements, as failure to do so can result in penalties.” “Asbestos can potentially endanger the health of students, teachers, and maintenance workers at schools, so we are pleased the PPEP charter schools have now conducted inspections and its asbestos management plans are in place.” In August 2006, accredited asbestos inspectors carried out inspections of PPEP, Inc.’s twelve schools, including “Lito” Pena Learning Center, Manuel Bojorquez Learning Center, Raul H. Castro Learning Center, Cesar Chavez Learning Center, Jose Yepez Learning Center, Celestino Fernandez Learning Center, John David Arnold Learning Center, Victor Soltero Learning Center, Eugene Lopez Learning Center, and Robles Junction Learning Center. The inspections discovered around 600 square feet of asbestos-containing materials at the Raul H. Castro Learning Center and the Celestino Fernandez Learning Center, and around 500 square feet of asbestos at the Manuel Bojorquez Learning Center. After the inspections asbestos management plans were created for each of the schools. Federal laws require that schools conduct initial inspections with accredited inspectors, to determine if asbestos is present on the premises. If asbestos is discovered, the school must then prepare a management plan to address the problem. Even if no asbestos is discovered, the school must develop a plan that includes building inspection results or an architect’s statement. Schools must also designate a trained person to oversee asbestos abatement in the school and ensure that the school remains safe and complies with federal requirements. In addition schools must make their plan available to staff and parents. The EPA fined Portable Practical Education Preparation, Inc. a total of $18,500 for its AHERA violations. (Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News)