Asbestos Management in City Schools
Asbestos is a mineral fiber that naturally occurs in rock and soil. Due to its durable and heat-resistant properties, it has been widely used in a variety of products including construction materials.
Asbestos is present in most buildings that were built before the 1970s. This includes hospitals, offices, apartments, homes, and schools. It is not used in new school construction or renovation.
When undisturbed, asbestos does not pose a health concern. Asbestos poses a health concern when it is damaged or disturbed and the released asbestos fibers are inhaled or swallowed.
At City Schools, we address asbestos-containing material in adherence to federal and state regulations.
Learn more about asbestos from the Environmental Protection Agency here.
AHERA: Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act of 1986
AHERA mandates all public and non-profit schools to:
Perform an original inspection to determine whether asbestos-containing materials are present and then re-inspect asbestos-containing material in each school every three years
Develop, maintain, and update an asbestos management plan and keep a copy at the school (which is available for review in every school’s main office)
Provide yearly notification to parent, teacher, and employee organizations on the availability of the school's asbestos management plan and any asbestos-related actions taken or planned in the school
Designate a contact person to ensure the responsibilities of the public school district or the non-profit school are properly implemented
Perform periodic surveillance of known or suspected asbestos-containing material
Ensure that trained and licensed professionals perform inspections and take response actions
Provide custodial staff with asbestos-awareness training
AHERA Annual Notification
Under the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act of 1986, comprehensive regulations were developed to address asbestos issues in schools. These regulations require schools to inspect for friable and non-friable asbestos, develop asbestos management plans that address asbestos hazards in school buildings, and respond in a timely manner. The regulations also require periodic surveillance of areas that may contain asbestos, which occurs every six months. This surveillance checks for changes in the building materials which may indicate a need for remediation.
City Schools’ program for fulfilling these responsibilities is outlined in the asbestos management plan for each school. These plans, located in each school’s administrative office, contain the inspection reports and the appropriate response actions, along with plans for periodic re-inspection and post-response activities.
Specific schools have a US Environmental Protection Agency Asbestos Exclusionary Letter. See below for a list of those schools.
A copy of each plan is also located at the City Schools district office and is available for public review during regular business hours. The plans may not be taken from the building. For additional information, contact City Schools at 200 E. North Avenue, Room 407, Baltimore, MD 21202.
This annual notification is distributed to families in the Family Guide. The following schools have US EPA Asbestos Exclusionary letters because they are newly constructed and do not have asbestos-containing materials in them:
Harford Heights/Sharp Leadenhall
Montebello Elementary School
Dorothy I Heights Elementary School
Katherine Johnson Global Academy
Fort Worthington Elementary-Middle School
Wildwood Elementary-Middle School
Bay-Brook Elementary-Middle School
Walter P Carter ES/Lois T Murray Elementary School
Robert W Coleman Elementary School
Billie Holiday Elementary School
Cherry Hill Elementary-Middle School
Arundel Elementary School
Mary E Rodman Elementary School
Govans Elementary School
Pimlico Elementary School
John Ruhrah Elementary-Middle School
Holabird Academy
Arlington Elementary School
Highlandtown Elementary-Middle School
Graceland Park- O’Donnell Heights Elementary-Middle School
Northwood Elementary-Middle School
Cross Country Elementary-Middle School (Pending)
Medfield Heights Elementary School
Calvin M Rodwell Elementary-Middle School
Frederick Elementary School
The Reach! Partnership School (Lake Clifton Park building)
Patterson High School/Claremont School
Forest Park High School
Academy for College and Career Exploration (Robert Poole building)
This list is subject to change as additional school renovations and replacements are completed.
NESHAP: National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants
NESHAP mandates how asbestos must be removed from all buildings, including schools, during renovation or other construction work. Asbestos must be remediated if it will be disturbed during work.
During asbestos removal, air quality tests are performed by a certified industrial hygienist. The test results are reviewed and provided to the school principal for posting in the main office. If the air quality does not meet the required safety standards, the impacted space remains closed to the school community and is remediated. Air quality testing occurs during the entire abatement process to ensure that the space is safe for occupants.
Asbestos removal in Baltimore City Public Schools is performed by specially licensed contractors.
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