The Herald-News - News Story

The Environmental Protection Agency is threatening to levy hefty fines against the Rhea County Board of Education for not properly handling asbestos in some school buildings.

Fines of up to $7,500 per day can be assessed to the Rhea County Department of Education if it doesn't correct the problems within 30 days, according to an EPA letter sent to the school system April 27.

The Rhea County School Board held an emergency meeting Wednesday to address four EPA violations related to asbestos in schools.

The violations include failure to notify parents, teachers and employee organizations of asbestos management plans, failing to conduct periodic asbestos surveys, failure to conduct inspections and failing to provide adequate awareness training to custodial and maintenance staff.

Most of the school system's asbestos issues are at the board of education headquarters on California Avenue. That is the only school system building with friable asbestos - the most brittle and dangerous type of the substance.

A smaller amount of asbestos is also at Rhea County High School, Frazier Elementary, the Evensville Center and Spring City Elementary. Asbestos is in the glue holding down the floor tile at those schools and is not considered a risk, according to Superintendent of Schools Dallas.

Asbestos is the name given to a number of naturally occurring, fibrous silicate minerals mined for their useful properties such as thermal insulation, chemical and thermal stability, and high tensile strength, according to the EPA. Asbestos fibers may become airborne and can "cause significant health problems" if inhaled, the EPA states on its Web site.

The school board has discussed paying to remove asbestos from the central office, but officials said that could cost up to $10,000.

The school board voted at its emergency meeting to put school system employee Charles Smith in charge of correcting the EPA violations. A company will also be hired to survey asbestos in the schools.

Some board members said, however, that it shouldn't be up to school system employees to work on the problem.

Superintendent of Schools Dallas Smith said the EPA violations started when Rhea County's centralized maintenance program began. He said the centralized maintenance concept could be efficient, but "it is not being used as wisely as it could be."

School Board Chairman Ron Masterson agreed, pointing to the asbestos violations as example.

"This is one of the things that's been let go and is out of control," he said.
School Board Member Chip Pendergrass said the county should bear the burden of any EPA fines brought on by the asbestos violations.

"We need to pass this fine on to them if we get it," Pendergrass said.

County Commission Chairman Ronnie Raper defended the county's maintenance system. He said the school system has known about asbestos in its buildings, particularly the central office, for years, and centralized maintenance did nothing wrong.

"I'm very strongly in favor of centralized maintenance," Raper said. "It's worked well for Rhea County."