Document Eq3D9pxDRR2R8p7qb2jzYozQ4
Court Htjects OSHA gtandai
EPA Fines N.H. Schools
For Asbestos Violation
By Csss Pstenoo
control asbestos in schoob and otbar public hilMlnp
Tbs Enrironasntal Protection Tbs target of tha agency's first
Agsncy, In a strategic show of bra penalty, meanwhile, Indignantly eon-
pint tbs nstioab school systems, ' tended yesterky that it was unfoirty
bra finsd a Nsw Hampshire school singbd out for punishment
district 934j000 far aOtndiy faBing "This matter could haws bean
to report asbestos in it* buildings.
taken can of by a phone caR* said
lit EPA, asmntiaOy conceding Goflstown Superintendent Antonio
that fta two-year aiproimant in vol Paradis, who noted that th* district
untary (iaarmpa ha* (sited, acramd already had spent IH000 to nnwm
tit* Gofbtown, NJL, district of fobs- aabaatoa lnltini from a damroom ly certifying bat June that it* 10 ceiling. *Ws undaratand they Just
buOdings *n free of friable, or flak intended to make in sample of ua*
ing, asbestos.
Rogionai EPA administrator Mi-
According to EPA aOIdab in Bos chad Deland acknosvbdged that the ton, a subsequent impaction bund intent was "to put ail other school
flaking asbestos insulation around systems in Now England on notice."
pips* in a high ichool and two sb- *Wa'v imuad numaroua noticaaof
aaaataiy schools.
aoncompliince. Now waVt looking
Msanwhib, tit* government lost at those school districts to so* which
ground an another front in th* battle have not taken step* to comply,' he
against th* fibrous mineral, which said. *We would hop* that tha action
has been (Irmly linked to lung cancer at Gofbtown would speed up com and otbar aflinenta in hurnam. A pliance by th* others.*
fsdaral district court in Now Orbaas
Paradis, who said tha district
bat wsak throw out an Occupational would appeal, insisted that offidab Safoty and Health Administration warn not required to tell parents
amargancy standard that was intend- about asbestos in tbs Gofbtown
od to reduce worfcar exposure to asbsstos incnodbtaly.
Tbs ruling b likely to foroo addi tional dolays in OSHA'i sfTort to com* up with a tougher permanent standard.
The Now Hampshire penalty
maria tho first tuna th* EPA has ussd ks onforcamsnt powers undo? a 1982 rub that required school dis tricts to inspect their buildings and report any asbestos to parents and
schoob becaum tha suhatenos b 'in tact* and therefor* not dangerous.
Hs mid, *We have conflicting in formation as to what b friable, what b not friable, what is dangerous and what boot*
Deland said tha district's interpre tation of tha rubs *b incorrect' But he acknowledged that tha EPA has no power to fore* Gofbtown to re move or seal Its ssbeetoe, even if the fine sticks.
school employes. Hm EPA didn't mala removal of tha eahatftn man datory, assuming that pressure from teachers and parent* would be suf ficient to fore* action.
To th* EPAb chagrin, the volun tary approach has prowl to be a dud. Recant agancy surveys hive found that two-third* of tho school
*Ws would hope that responsible parents and educators would recog nize that this is a health hazard and would taka steps,* ha said.
A slightly disgruntled Paradis mid yesterday, *1 would think that a local agency and a federal one could aattb
this face to face. Now we have all these parent* calling.*
districts oithar did not conduct in
spections or did not report or keep
records on tha asbestos they found
A* a result, EPA Administrator
Wilbara D. Ruchobhauo b conaid-
aring toughar, mandatory nils* to
i /< /mt
THE WASHINGTON POST
STO!
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Court Rajegtt OSIIA Standard
EPA Fines N.H. Schools
For Asbestos Violation
By CMPyw <
Tte fcitoHl Agency, h etmtagfo ehow of fora
the rotint school system* ad o No* Ihwfhfrs school : tKOOO for elatedly faffing to report mbebaa hi its buddings. no BPA, ementialy cemndfag that Ms too-yanr sepeewneet hi solvImt dHMpi hn fjNtedL ioeund the Gaabtooa,K!L, dbtriet of fobefar fortifying lost June that its 10 bofidlngs ware free f friable, or flak-
Aoeordiag to EPA officials in Ba ton. a cuhecqumt inspection found nwH iihmtm haulstlon around pipas h a high ahool and two oto-
MiiiitVi. the gosernment tost pound on another front in tha bottla ntet tha flheous amoral, which ha boon Andy Snhsd to lung oncer and othar etimentr in humane. A fodaral district court h Now Orieane last wash throw out an Occupational Safety mi Health Adadnistntioo rai|.w)i atadaod that wm intendad to reduce worker tqwrore to as-
Thandh* b Bkaijr to fona addi tional delays in OSHA's affoct to
i op with a
Tha Now Hampshire penalty tha fla:tt-i-m--e---t-h--a---B--PA has
___l ih eoforaoMnt pomea under a IMS nth that required school dis tricts to hoped their buildings and
Eangr asbestos to parents and employes. The BPA didst I of tha aabaaCoa manE that praauia from __________ ,_____ i would ha suf ficient to fora'actfoa.
To tha SPA'S chagrin, tha yohmtary approach has prosed to be a
fouad that two-thirds of tha school either dM not conduct ini or dfo not report or hsap
____ > on tha adbaatas they found. Aa a rtaafe, BPA Adariiriatratar
Wllam D. Rachabhaua b consid ering tougher, mandatory tuba to
pefofie briWvTha target of tha
fleet
toaS] yeatarday that it eoa unfoidy
mb
could haro
of fay a
Potadb. oho anted that tha dbtriet
riraody had epoet MiflOO to i
laoubticn from a
oeifing. *We aadastand tfany Jmt
kmm to maka an aaampb of us.*
Rogfoqal BPA adndabtntor Mi-
dMii Dated
tfegt
fat--t was *to put all other school
systems in New England on noticed *WsVe ineuod oumoroua notices-of
nonoompUanca. Now we're looking st thorn school districts to see which
have not takro stapa to comply,* ho
mid. "We would hope that the action
at GcAtown would apoad op com-
piisnos by the others.*
Pmdb, who said tha dbtriet
would appeal Insisted that nfflrieis
won not required to toll parents
about aobsetai la the Gotbtown
acboob became the euktanca b "in
tact" and therefore not dangmoua.
He said. "We turn conflicting in
formation m to whot b friable, what
b not friable, what h dangerous and
whot b not-* Dsbmd mid tha dbtafoth intarota-
tation of tha robs " mcorract* But
ha acfawwbdped that tha BPA has
a power to fora Goflbtowa to to-
tao* or asel Ua arindoa, aura if the
flnedbka. "We would bops that rmponrihb
parents and adumtom would racog-
nba that thb b a haakfa beard and
would taka stops," he said.
mgmA as a .1 _ s
I-J
--->
A UDUNN llliUVn
yaatseday. *1 would think that a local
agency ind bdni cot could aottis
thb fom to fra Now wo hose oil
thorn peeenia coifing.*
THE WASHINGTON POST
sto i 7^ a ; 6
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