ASBESTOS HAZARD EMERGENCY RESPONSE ACT (AHERA COMPLIANCE)
In October 1986, the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) was signed into law. Included in this Act are provisions directing the EPA to establish rules and regulations addressing asbestos-containing materials in schools. Specifically, EPA was directed to address the issues of: 1) identifying, 2) evaluating, and 3) controlling ACM in schools.
These AHERA regulations apply to all public and private schools in the U.S. and its territories and American schools on military bases in foreign countries.
The school’s responsibilities under the rule are:
- To designate a person to ensure that AHERA requirements are properly implemented
- To inspect and identify friable and non-friable Asbestos Containing Materials (ACM)
- To monitor and periodically re-inspect ACM
- To develop and update management plans concerning asbestos
- To determine and implement response actions
- To develop and implement operations and maintenance programs
- To notify parents, building occupants and outside contractors of ACM identified in the school
- To ensure that accredited persons perform these required activities under AHERA
- Under AHERA, schools had to be inspected prior to Oct 12, 1988. Re-inspections must be conducted every 3 years, with periodic surveillance conducted every 6 months.
Astex Environmental Services can handle all of the school’s responsibilities including:
1. Maintain all AHERA Management Plans
- 3 year Re-Inspections (Report, Testing, Assessment Sheets, and Drawings)
- 6 month Required Surveillances
- Maintain all records of disturbances (Emergencies, and Scheduled Remediation, large and small scaled)
- Provide a CD Rom of all management plans, in addition to a hard copy in a three ring binder, for each campus
- Provide a 2 Hour Asbestos Awareness Course for Custodial and Maintenance Staff
2. Handle any Emergencies that occur with asbestos containing materials
- Notifying the state regulatory offices as necessary
- Schedule the remediation necessary to accomplish to compliance with TDSHS, EPA and OSHA regulations
- Provide any necessary testing (i.e. air monitoring) to assure faculty and student body were not affected by any disturbance of asbestos material
3. Assist in State Regulatory Audits
- Annually or Randomly
4. Manage Operations and Maintenance on any asbestos containing materials
- Assist the School District with the setting up a program to correct any small scale emergencies or maintenance on any asbestos containing material
- Provide our services to assist with the training of personnel
- Provide necessary air monitoring required during the small scale emergencies and maintenance
5. Work with Architects and Construction Departments in the planning of any upcoming renovations
- Attend any pre construction meetings regarding the possible disturbance of any asbestos containing material
- Assist with Scheduling with Architects and General Contractors
- Handle all Bidding Processes, including: Work plans, Pre Bid Meeting, and Bidding Documents
6. Oversight of Asbestos Abatement Project
- On site project management provided as required by the TDSHS
- Air monitoring prior to the abatement, air monitoring during the abatement process and Clearance sampling
- Clearance Letter assuring the abatement process was preformed in accordance with EPA, TDSHS, and OSHA
Astex Environmental Services is currently managing AHERA for the following school districts:
- South San Antonio Independent School District
- San Antonio Independent School District
- The parochial schools of the San Antonio Archdiocese
- La Vernia Independent School District
- Laredo Independent School District
