Posted on August 31, 2018
UPDATED on September 3, 2018
Please join me this Wednesday, September 5th at 6:30 p.m. for the Manhattan Beach Unified School District (MBUSD) Board Meeting at 325 S. Peck Ave, Manhattan Beach, to discuss the recent 27 asbestos violation notices given to Mira Costa High School and two contractors after floor tiles in the library were disturbed while students, staff members, and parents, were present during school registration. Many of you may remember my late husband, Alan, who died from mesothelioma, and asbestos caused cancer. As a Manhattan Beach mom, I am deeply concerned and feel that the MBUSD should investigate all schools for asbestos contamination and follow the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) regulations.
Mira Costa students on campus in 2015. (Photo by Jesse Padveen)
It is outrageous and far too common to hear the news that another school exposed teachers, staff, students, and parents to asbestos. Yet this time, it was the Mira Costa High School here in Manhattan Beach, my own hometown, but there is a silver lining to this story. I spoke to Dr. Michael Matthews, Superintendent of Manhattan Beach School District, this morning. During our meeting, we discussed many aspects of managing asbestos in schools, his excellent communications to parents and some details about the incident. I have a high level of confidence in their next steps forward and know there is much we can learn that will help other schools in California and throughout the nation. History is a great teacher to those who listen.
Recently, the Daily Breeze reported, “The Manhattan Beach Unified School District along with two contractors were issued violation notices by the South Coast Air Quality Management District for 27 infractions related to floor tiles that were disturbed in a storage room to the library.” Worse yet, according to the complainant, the work took place while some students, parents, and staff were present for registration.
Asbestos is a known carcinogen that kills nearly 40,000 Americans every year. Although there is no safe levels of exposure, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) allows for hundreds of tons of asbestos imports and use annually.
As I remind Congress and the EPA, most Americans can’t identify asbestos or manage the risk. The recent incident at Mira Costa High School is another prime example of why we must have strict laws and enforcement for the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) and other regulations to prevent asbestos exposure.
Mira Costa High School Library Door After Violation Notices Were Given
Under AHERA, public and non-private schools are required to perform inspections, develop and maintain an asbestos-management plan, notify parents yearly, provide custodial workers with asbestos training and more. You have the right to know!
In 1984, the EPA said “most of the nation’s approximately 107,000 primary and secondary schools and 733,000 public and commercial buildings” have asbestos-containing materials. That was 34 years ago – and not much has improved. An investigation by U.S. Senators Ed Markey and Barbara Boxer found that more than two-thirds of state education agencies reported having schools that contain asbestos.
According to Senator Markey’s “Failing the Grade: Asbestos in America’s Schools” report, based on responses from 20 states, it “reveals that even basic information such as how many schools continue to contain asbestos-containing materials is often either unknown or unreported.”
Presently, the EPA is excluding asbestos in homes, schools, workplaces in their risk evaluation. ADAO calls on the EPA to widen their risk evaluation to include legacy and to investigate the effectiveness of the AHERA. As a mesothelioma widow and Mustang mom, I know the cost of inaction — I buried my husband and continue to console my daughter. I’m looking forward to working with our community to learn from this incident and make certain the EPA includes asbestos legacy to their risk evaluation, or EPA will fail to ban asbestos, again.
I’ve learned many things during the past fifteen years, but most importantly to empower yourself with knowledge. You have the right to know where asbestos is in your schools and understand how AHERA can keep you and your students safe.
On a personal note, I’d like to thank David Rosenfeld who has done a excellent job reporting both our personal story and the news Manhattan Beach residents need to know.
Linda Reinstein
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2005 Easy Reader Death by Breath, Part I by David Rosenfeld http://bit.ly/2Lp6lkc
2005 Easy Reader Death by Breath, Part II by David Rosenfeld http://bit.ly/2zwvGIe
2018 Daily Breeze: Mira Costa High School in Manhattan Beach reopens formerly asbestos-tainted area by David Rosenfeld http://bit.ly/2LAGaHs
2018 Daily Breeze: Contractors accused of disturbing asbestos at Mira Costa High School in Manhattan Beach by David Rosenfeld http://bit.ly/2NcVs6V