Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA)

The federal Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) was signed into law in 1986. It requires public schools to inspect all buildings that are leased, owned, or otherwise used as school buildings for the presence of asbestos-containing building materials. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published regulations and enforces AHERA. These requirements include, but are not limited to:

• Perform an original inspection and periodic re-inspections every three years for asbestos containing material.
• Develop, maintain, and update an asbestos management plan. A copy must be kept in the school building, as well as in the district’s administrative office.
• Provide an annual written notification to parent, teacher, and employee organizations regarding the availability of the school's asbestos management plan for review and any asbestos abatement actions taken or planned in the school.
• Designate a contact person (also known as the asbestos designee) to ensure the responsibilities of the local education agency are properly implemented. 
• Perform a periodic visual surveillance every six months of all known or suspected asbestos containing building material.
• Provide custodial staff with asbestos awareness training.

The presence of asbestos does not mean that it must be removed. The asbestos management plan must include response actions to manage the asbestos. These include establishing an operations and maintenance plan; encapsulation; enclosure, repair; or removal. Work on asbestos (including an asbestos inspection and the development of an asbestos management plan) must be performed in accordance with NYS Department of Labor Code Rule 56 and only by persons licensed in an appropriate asbestos discipline.
 
Any questions regarding asbestos removal projects or any asbestos related issues should be addressed to Webster CSD Asbestos LEA Designee Blaine Cunningham, manager of buildings and grounds, at (585) 265-6585.

AHERA Notification 2024-2025 School Year

The U.S. EPA AHERA requires that each year, Greece Central School District workers and building occupants receive notification of asbestos removal or abatement activities such as a response action or inspection (EPA 40 CFR § 763 Subpart E). This communication serves to inform all parents, legal guardians, teachers, administrators, and all other employees that the six-month periodic surveillance of asbestos at all buildings as required by AHERA was performed in June 2024. The three-year reinspection, also required by law, was performed in June 2022 by a fully accredited Asbestos Inspector from the Genesee Valley Educational Partnership Health, Safety, Risk Management Office. All asbestos-containing materials that remain are in good condition and are located primarily in inaccessible areas. The next three-year reinspection will be due in June of 2025. Updated asbestos management plans for each school building are available for review in the buildings and grounds office and the main office of each building.
 
Each building will continue to have a six-month periodic surveillance and a three-year reinspect as required by AHERA. All abatement projects have been and will continue to be performed by New York State approved asbestos abatement contractors. 
 
Any questions regarding asbestos removal projects or any asbestos related issues should be addressed to Mr. Kurt Keller, Facilities Director, kurt.keller@greececsd.org, (585) 966-2743.