ASBESTOS MANAGEMENT

In compliance with federal regulations, Sacred Heart School is required to inform all parents and teachers of the result of our Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act Management Plan for asbestos inspection and abatement. The management plan provides the location of asbestos containing materials and describes the course of action to take with regard to managing this material.

The AHERA Management Plan for the high school and the elementary is available for review by parents. Sacred Heart is inspected by school staff every six months and inspected again every three years by a certified management planner. Stephen D. Gossen, President of Environmental Management Technologies, reassessed the positive asbestos homogeneous areas of the school on September 16, 2003. Sacred Heart received his report on November 17, 2003. Mr. Gossen is certified by the Louisiana Department of Environment Quality as a certified asbestos inspector.

Sacred Heart’s AHERA Management Plan was approved without any exceptions. Since the last inspection by a certified inspector, the pipe insulation on elbows in the high school boiler room was abated in 2001. Also, some of the suspended lay-in panels were replaced following Hurricane Lily. There is no friable asbestos in the elementary school. Non-friable asbestos was found in the floor tiles in the portable classrooms. This material is in good condition, and it is inspected on a regular basis. Non-friable asbestos is presumed to be contained in the heater gaskets in the dining area of the cafeteria. None of these situations pose any health hazard to students, faculty and staff.

Non-friable asbestos boards are found in the classrooms of the high school department. These non-friable panels are painted and are in good condition and maintained properly. Friable asbestos was found in insulation on pipe elbows and in suspended acoustical lay-in panels. The report concludes that the asbestos containing material was in good condition and undamaged. Again, none of these situations pose any health hazard to students, faculty and staff.

Inspections are conducted by a trained inspector to insure that the asbestos remains non-friable and encapsulated. A report is submitted to the Diocesan office twice a year, and a copy of the report is kept in the school plan.