RCC Schools Chemical Cleanout Campaign (SC3): Goodbye, Methol Something! NAHMMA Annual Conference September 23, 2005

Transcription

1 RCC Schools Chemical Cleanout Campaign (SC3): Goodbye, Methol Something! NAHMMA Annual Conference September 23, 2005

2 Schools Are Different 120,000 K-12 schools 14,000 school districts 53 million kids 6 million staff Susceptible population Aging infrastructure Many environmental health issues Many competing priorities Few resources Longstanding concerns about unfunded mandates & EPA (e.g., asbestos) Class Size Financing Budgeting Teachers Title VI Attendance Students w/ Salaries Nutrition disabilities programs Test Scores Title 1 Curricula Athletics Economically Books Education disadvantaged Emergency Preparedness/ students Homeland Security School Facilities Health & Safety More seats Drugs Violence School siting PregnancyAsthma New construction Environment Repairs & renovation O&M Injuries HIV

3 How EPA Programs View Relationships with Schools PCBs Asbestos Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools Integrated Pest Management/Pesticides Schools School Schools Districts School Orgs. Mercury Chemical Cleanout Campaign

4 How Schools Often Think They Appear to EPA PCBs Chemicals (e.g., mercury) The NEXT Big Issue Mold Indoor air quality Energy Star CCA Pesticides Schools Integrated Pest Management Lead Wastewise Buy Clean Sunwise

5 EPA Healthy School Environments Initiative Develop an EPA-wide sector approach to K-12 schools to improve EPA service to the schools community Improve strategic planning and coordination across existing EPA programs Promote comprehensive, whole building environmental approaches (e.g., high performance/green buildings) Promote research to improve the health, performance and business case for environmental improvements in new and existing schools Develop integrated environmental assessment tools

6 Healthy School Environments Web Portal Current Topics: Chemical Management Design Construction and Renovation Energy Efficiency Environmental Education Indoor Environmental Quality Legislation and Regulation Outdoor Air Pollution Portable Classrooms Safety and Preparedness Waste Water

7 Healthy School Environments Assessment Tool Self-audit software tool Completely voluntary Fully customizable Intended for school district and state use Based on: LAUSD facility assessment tool EPA guidance and regulations Existing State and district checklists No reporting requirements Healthy School Environments Assessment Tool

8 Summary Curricula Salaries Books Teachers Athletics Class Size Attendance Test Scores School Facilities Financing Education More seats School siting New construction Repairs & renovation O&M Budgeting Title VI Students w/ disabilities Nutrition programs Environment Health & Safety Drugs Pregnancy Injuries EPA Programs Title 1 Economically disadvantaged students Violence Asthma HIV Goal: EPA/Federal School Programs that: Put environmental issues into context with other school issues and with each other Provide tools: guidance, training, technical support Are fully coordinated and integrated Support schools in their primary mission of educating children

9 Is this your Image of School Chemical Storage?

10 Yikes! This is the reality!

11 No Security: Easy Access to All

12 Note chemicals stored on chair.

13 Nitric acid, oxidizer and corrosive. Fumes ate through plastic cap then oxidized cardboard box. Extreme fire risk Six pounds of cyanide right above it Earthquake could mean gas chamber for 500 students

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15 Hydrofluoric Acid Anesthetic: acid doesn t burn on contact Deep tissue and bone disintegration Extreme pain, can cause gangrene, amputation Highly corrosive, dissolves glass Used in Art & Chem classes for glass etching

16 Highly explosive peroxide crystals. Crystals on acid bottle, no big deal. Crystals on solvent lid, assume explosive

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18 White phosphorus, pyrophoric if water level drops ½ inch spontaneously ignites Unlabeled Corroded Chlorine Gas

19 Hand-written word Nitro In middle school Tested and found nitroglycerine

20 Bottles as structural support for shelf above them Need disposal but can t move them

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23 Goals of SC3 Remove outdated, unknown, excessive, or unnecessarily hazardous chemicals from secondary schools; Prevent future stockpiles and reduce accidents by establishing prevention activities such as good purchasing and management practices; Raise national awareness of the problem.

24 Why is Such a Program Needed? Chemical emergencies in schools are continually occurring across the nation. Children and staff are at risk. Cleaning up chemical spills more costly than removing the chemicals from schools and implementing preventive measures.

25 Scope of Problem Poison Control Center data indicates 35,934 chemical exposures occurring at schools in Incidents involved both laboratory chemicals and facility maintenance chemicals, including pesticides and cleaning agents. ATSDR Hazardous Substances Emergency Events Surveillance reports that evacuations and injuries occur more often in schools than other facilities or settings.

26 Costs and Benefits of Such a Program Cleaning up after an incident is costly: Cleanup can cost over a million dollars, cause closure of schools, and relocation of students. Cleanout and prevention programs are good investments: Cleanout costs average $5,000 per school, but can be $30,000 or more if radioactive or explosive chemicals are involved. Prevention programs can eliminate potential incidents.

27 Case Study This case study illustrates how the clean up of one very minor mercury spill cost more than a planned cleanout of mercury at 81 sites. Proactive In Rehab the Lab program, 81 sites had either bulk mercury liquid, mercury thermometers, or more both. Total cost for packaging, transport and disposal of the mercury for all 81 sites was $24,300. Reactive Small amount of mercury spilled on a carpet. Costs bad publicity, virtual paralysis of the facilities maintenance program for a couple weeks Potential exposure One site cost over $30,000 for disposal

28 FY 2004/2005 Cleanout and Prevention Successes Many states have their own programs and we have worked through states and local governments. 10 regional pilot efforts were funded by EPA in 2004/2005 Measurable results are being reported on chemicals removed, prevention practices being implemented, and lessons learned. Over 75,000 pounds of chemicals were safely removed and properly disposed affecting 400,000 students. Teachers were trained in safe chemical management and best management practices have been put in place.

29 Regional Initiatives All funded programs involved a consortium of partners: State and Local Department of Environments School Districts - Administration Chemical and Waste Management firms Chemicals identified for removal ranged from laboratory to cleaning chemicals. Trained personnel essential for identification and handling of chemicals, and education of school personnel.

30 What s Happening in the Field Technical experts make site visits to schools to assess problems. Work closely with school personnel on solutions. Trained personnel remove identified chemicals. Prevention practices implemented (training, purchasing policies, green chemistry, etc.) Follow up.

31 State Programs have been funded in a number of ways. Funding for proper disposal is left to the school or school district. Supplemental Environmental Projects (for environmental violations) State solid waste tipping fees State regulatory agencies or state executive branch State tax on solid waste disposal Grants In kind services (primarily for prevention practices such as training) Partnership including a consortium of agencies interested in the issue Partnership with industry

32 FY 2006 Continuing Cross- Media Efforts Additional school cleanout and prevention programs. Results of an OSWER/OPPT project exploring a blended Chemical Management Services and Resource Management servicizing approach expected in November. Developing outreach materials to encourage participation in schools chemical cleanout and prevention programs.

33 Partnerships State and Local Government Officials Departments of Environment Departments of Health Departments of Education Schools Associations National Science Education Leadership Association National Science Teachers Association Council of State Science Supervisors Association of School Business Officials Industry General Motors Chemical Associations Pharmaceutical Companies Insurance Companies

34 Where Do We Go from Here? National Problem requiring local solutions. Integration of these activities with other ongoing Agency activities. Continuing spreading the word and sharing experiences.

35 School Chemicals: In the News Maine - schools have uncovered stockpiles of potentially dangerous chemicals, including agents used in Chemical Warfare that could cost millions to clean up. 10/18/04 Montana Science teachers across Montana are being surveyed about the chemicals in their classrooms stockpiles, some perhaps decades old. 8/31/04 NPR: Safety concerns of school chemistry labs. 1/22/04 EPA - Region 4 responds to Mercury release in school. 4/19/04 Des Moines, Iowa Experts hauled out and blew up several containers of unidentified chemicals found in school storage area. 2/27/04 Tokyo School officials failed to dispose of more than 1,000 bottles of radioactive waste. 8/24/04 Hawaii - Hazmat crews and police converge on Kalani High School, after students got into a container of sodium cyanide. 12/12/04

36 For More Information Schools Chemical Cleanout Campaign Kristina Meson (703)

37 For more information One-stop shopping for: Healthy School Environments Assessment Tool Links to all EPA programs, and many federal, state, and local web resources EPA CONTACTS: Bob Axelrad, Bill Jones,