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THERE IS NO, I REPEAT, NO HEALTH HAZARD FROM ASBESTOS @ CHALLENGE CHARTER SCHOOL

Many of you have seen or heard the recent news release from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that listed Challenge Charter School (CCS) as one of many Valley charter schools who had previously been “Out of Compliance” with Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) because we (CCS) hadn’t submitted an Architects’ letter and developed a AHERS response plan as required of all Local Educational Agencies (LEA) per federal law passed in the late 1970’s.

 Our school was built in 1996, long after asbestos was eliminated in all construction products, and built asbestos free!! As you know, not only was our school built asbestos free; it was built according to our unique Environmental Health Policy with the requirements we set above the current building codes.  Our architect/contractor was unaware, as were we, of the Federal requirement to have a letter submitted to EPA, and to have a compliance plan in place for a hazard that DOES NOT exist.  This situation came to light in April of 2007, a year and a half ago, when an EPA inspector came by the school and asked to see our “architect’s letter” and our AHERA plan, which we did not have.  It has taken a year & a half and over a thousand dollars to come into compliance and “agree” to a consent agreement where CCS agrees that we didn’t have a letter on file and a plan in place to deal with asbestos that we do not have. This has been a real life experience in why our government does not work; so much effort, tax funded man hours, and unfounded concern over an issue that doesn’t exist! The EPA did indicate that they planned to “make an example” out of charter schools because our sponsors had not made us aware of the Federal requirement. Hence the “public announcement”.

 I hope this clears this situation up for all of you.  -  Greg Miller, CEO, Challenge School, Inc.     

THERE IS NO ASBESTOS HEALTH HAZZARD HERE @ CHALLENGE CHARTER SCHOOL!!