EPA School Programs Region III Office of Enforcement, RGCjIOH III Compliance and Environmental Justice July 2010 Asbestos Program The Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) requires schools to inspect for asbestos and submit publicly- available management plans to states. Contact: Stephen Forostiak215-814-2136 Website (Region 3): www.epa.gov/reg3wcmd/asbestos.htm Website (National): www.epa.gov/asbestos/pubs/asbestos_in_schools.html Asthma Program The Asthma Program raises awareness about asthma and environmental factors that trigger asthma attacks, works to reduce children's exposure to indoor asthma triggers in homes, schools and day care centers, and promotes environmental management as a component of medical and health care asthma management practices. Contact: Janice Lewis 215-814-2185 Website: www.epa.gov/asthma Asthma Online Network: www.asthmacommunitynetwork.org/ Clean School Bus USA Program that emphasizes three ways to reduce public school bus emissions through anti-idling strategies, engine retrofit and clean fuels as well as bus replacement. The goal of Clean School Bus USA is to reduce both children's exposure to diesel exhaust and the amount of air pollution created by diesel school buses. Contact: Bill Jones 215-814-2023 and Michelle Moyer 21 5-81 4-2098 Website (Region 3): www.epa.gov/reg3artd/vehicletran/vehicles/schoolbus.htm Website (National): www.epa.gov/cleanschoolbus/ Children's Health Program Coordinator: Prentiss Ward 215-814-2318 Drinking Water in Schools: 3Ts Guidance and Tool Kit Voluntary lead in drinking water reduction program designed to strengthen, update and clarify existing requirements on water utilities. A 3T's toolkit was created for this program and provides supplemental materials to assist schools and child care facilities in developing programs and policies to lower lead levels in drinking water. Website: www.epa.gov/safewater/schools/ Toolkit: www.epa.gov/OGWDW/schools/guidance.htmW3ts ENERGY STARŪ ENERGY STAR is a joint program of EPA and the U.S. Department of Energy designed to help us all save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices. ENERGY STAR has resources for the facility manager, students, teachers and homeowners. Contact: Megan Goold 215-814-2027 and Andrew Keider 21 5-81 4-3301 Website: www.energystar.gov/schools Green Buildings The practice of creating and using healthier and more resource-efficient models of construction, renovation, operation, maintenance and demolition. EPA has no certification programs for green buildings, but many EPA programs (Energy Star, WaterSense, Wastewise, Greenscaping, among others) are used in green buildings. Contact: Lorna Rosenberg 215-814-5389 Website: www.epa.gov/greenbuilding HealthySEAT Software developed by EPA allows school systems to establish and manage voluntary, comprehensive, environmental management systems for all their school facility environmental health and safety issues. Contact: Prentiss Ward 215-814-2813 Website: www.epa.gov/schools/healthyseat/ ------- Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Tools for Schools Resource to help schools maintain a healthy environment in school buildings by identifying, correcting, and preventing IAQ problems. There is also a great tool called the "IAG TfS Action Kit" which provides information to on schools how to carry out a practical plan to improve indoor air problems at little- or no-cost using straightforward activities and in-house staff. Contact: : Cristina Schulingkamp 215-814-2086 and Michelle Moyer 215-814-2098 Website: www.epa.gov/iaq/schools/ Toolkit: www.epa.gov/iaq/schools/actionkit.html Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in Schools Common sense strategy to reduce sources of food, water and shelter for pests. IPM programs take advantage of all pest management strategies, including careful use of pesticides when necessary. One tool that is available for IPM programs in schools in the "IPM for Schools: A How-to-Manual" which contains basic information about IPM in schools, details on developing an IPM Program, and IPM strategies for managing common pests in schools. Contact: John Butler 215-814-2127 Website: www.epa.gov/pesticides/ipm Manual: www.epa.gov/pesticides/ipm/schoolipm Lead Mitigation and Management Lead is a toxic metal that was used for many years in various products, including paints. Lead also can be emitted into the air from motor vehicles and industrial sources, and lead can enter drinking water from plumbing materials. Lead may cause a range of health effects, from behavioral problems and learning disabilities, to seizures and death. Children six years old and under are most at risk. Contact: Demian Ellis 215-814-2088 Website: www.epa.gov/lead/index.html Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings (booklet) This document presents guidelines for the remediation/cleanup of mold and moisture problems in schools and commercial buildings. These measures designed to protect the health of building occupants and remediators. Contact: Cristina Schulingkamp 215-814-2086 and Michelle Moyer 215-814-2098 Website: www.epa.gov/mold/mold_remediation.html Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB) Programs In recent years, EPA has learned that caulk containing potentially harmful polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) was used in many buildings, including schools, in the 1950s through the 1970s. On September 25, 2009, EPA announced new guidance for school administrators and building managers with important information about managing PCBs in caulk and tools to help minimize possible exposure. Website: www.epa.gov/pcbsincaulk/ Radon Program Promotes radon awareness, testing, mitigation and prevention via many activities. The Region program and some state programs also provide technical assistance in project development, design of surveys, testing and mitigation of schools, radon mapping issues, and promotion of a variety of coalitions. It is also highly recommended you visit the IAQ Tools for School website for more radon information. Contact: Cristina Schulingkamp 215-814-2086 and Michelle Moyer 215-814-2098 Website: www.epa.gov/radon School Chemical Clean-out (SC3) Program Focuses on the removal of outdated and unknown potentially harmful chemicals from schools. It also promotes preventive mechanisms such as proper education and training involving chemical management, green and micro-scale chemistry, and raising national awareness of these problems. Contact: Sharon D. Perez-Suarez215-814-3417 Website: http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/partnerships/sc3/index.htm ONE STOP Healthy School Website Resource: On-line resources to help facility managers, school administrators, architects, design engineers, school nurses, parents, teachers and staff address environmental health issues in schools. Website: www.epa.gov/schools ------- |