ivey/gist:c7a693ba3347792f802c

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Bay Minette Elementary School Parents:

As you are likely aware, Amec Foster Wheeler, an environmental consulting firm, and the Environmental Protection Agency have been on-site at Bay Minette Elementary School conducting inspections of the facility and reviewing test results.

I am including a link to the review letter issued today by the environmental consulting firm and a link to the data upon which the review letter is based. According to Richard Brown, "The preliminary findings of the EPA inspection did not identify immediate health hazards relative to asbestos exposure at the school. Results of the air testing at the school for fibers such as asbestos did not indicate fibers above regulatory levels."  Please note that the testing and inspections have been conducted in consultation with the Board's consultant and the Environmental Protection Agency.  In the event of any differences in testing standards, the more rigorous standards have been used.

Along with the letter, the Board is complying with the following areas of guidance from the EPA:

– Information has been posted on the Board's website, for facilities system-wide, informing the public that asbestos exists in certain Baldwin County Public School System facilities. The Board will take additional steps to further disseminate the posted information. The EPA inspector also confirmed that asbestos in an undisturbed state does not present a health risk.

– An area in the library assumed to be asbestos has been identified for encapsulation. The area to be encapsulated was previously undisturbed and the air testing relied upon in Mr. Brown's review letter indicates that asbestos is not a health concern in the library. The encapsulation work will take place in the next few days and until it is complete the library will remain closed. Although additional testing is not required, the Board will conduct air testing in the library after the encapsulation is complete to confirm the safety of the library for occupancy.

– The Board will provide refresher training to school system maintenance and operation employees on the subject of asbestos and the do’s / don’ts when working in a facility where it exists. The training has been scheduled for the upcoming summer and will be performed by consultants with expertise in this area.

I informed those in attendance at last week’s school board meeting that I would provide the results of environmental testing as soon as they were available. We appreciate your patience while waiting for the reports from these tests. We will continue to update you as new information becomes available.

Here are the documents I referenced:

http://www.bcbe.org/bmeletter

http://www.bcbe.org/bmereport

Sincerely,
Robbie Owen
Superintendent
	Bay Minette Elementary School Parents:

	As you are likely aware, Amec Foster Wheeler, an environmental consulting firm, and the Environmental Protection Agency have been on-site at Bay Minette Elementary School conducting inspections of the facility and reviewing test results.

	I am including a link to the review letter issued today by the environmental consulting firm and a link to the data upon which the review letter is based. According to Richard Brown, "The preliminary findings of the EPA inspection did not identify immediate health hazards relative to asbestos exposure at the school. Results of the air testing at the school for fibers such as asbestos did not indicate fibers above regulatory levels." Please note that the testing and inspections have been conducted in consultation with the Board's consultant and the Environmental Protection Agency. In the event of any differences in testing standards, the more rigorous standards have been used.

	Along with the letter, the Board is complying with the following areas of guidance from the EPA:

	– Information has been posted on the Board's website, for facilities system-wide, informing the public that asbestos exists in certain Baldwin County Public School System facilities. The Board will take additional steps to further disseminate the posted information. The EPA inspector also confirmed that asbestos in an undisturbed state does not present a health risk.

	– An area in the library assumed to be asbestos has been identified for encapsulation. The area to be encapsulated was previously undisturbed and the air testing relied upon in Mr. Brown's review letter indicates that asbestos is not a health concern in the library. The encapsulation work will take place in the next few days and until it is complete the library will remain closed. Although additional testing is not required, the Board will conduct air testing in the library after the encapsulation is complete to confirm the safety of the library for occupancy.

	– The Board will provide refresher training to school system maintenance and operation employees on the subject of asbestos and the do’s / don’ts when working in a facility where it exists. The training has been scheduled for the upcoming summer and will be performed by consultants with expertise in this area.

	I informed those in attendance at last week’s school board meeting that I would provide the results of environmental testing as soon as they were available. We appreciate your patience while waiting for the reports from these tests. We will continue to update you as new information becomes available.

	Here are the documents I referenced:

	http://www.bcbe.org/bmeletter

	http://www.bcbe.org/bmereport

	Sincerely,
	Robbie Owen
	Superintendent