Minisink Valley Central School District > Departments > Buildings and Grounds > Asbestos Hazardous Emergency Response (AHERA) 2022-23 Notification

Asbestos Hazardous Emergency Response (AHERA) 2022-23 Notification

The Asbestos Hazardous Emergency Response Act (AHERA) requires public and private non-profit primary and secondary schools to inspect their buildings for asbestos-containing building materials.  This Act went into effect in 1986, and requires schools to:

  • Perform an original inspection and periodic re-inspections every 3 years for asbestos containing material; triennial inspections will be completed in 2025.
  • Develop, maintain, and update an asbestos management plan and keep a copy at the school; these plans are available for review during the school day.
  • Provide yearly notification to parent, teacher, and employee organizations regarding the availability of the school’s asbestos management plan and any asbestos abatement actions taken or planned in the school;
  • Designate a contact person to ensure the responsibilities of the local education agency are properly implemented;
  • Perform periodic 6 month surveillance of known or suspected asbestos containing building material.
  • Provide custodial and maintenance staff with yearly asbestos awareness training.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires a pro-active, in-place management program whenever Asbestos Containing Building Material is discovered and is not removed.

  • Asbestos that has been identified will pose little risk if it is well maintained under an operations and maintenance program.
  • Removal is often not a building owner’s best course of action to reduce asbestos exposure.  In fact, an improper removal can create a dangerous situation where none previously existed.
  • The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) only requires asbestos removal to prevent significant public exposure to airborne asbestos fibers during building demolition or renovation activities.

Post Notification:

  • During the 2022-2023 school year, an asbestos floor tile removal project was completed at the Elementary/Intermediate School on our Main Campus.
  • During the 2022-2023 school year, there have been no instances where asbestos was an imminent hazard to the health and well-being of our students or employees.

Complete details of the project are available for review at the Office of Buildings & Grounds.  The project details include the locations of the areas affected by the asbestos abatement, website notifications, OU-BOCES sampling and testing, contract documents, and air quality monitoring information.

The District’s management plans are available for review through the Office of Buildings and Grounds.

For further information, contact Nicholas Tranchina, Director of Facilities and Asbestos Designee for the Minisink Valley School District, at 845-355-5229.