NOTIFICATION to PARENTS, TEACHERS, and EMPLOYEES

Date: August, 2021

Dear Ottumwa School District Parent/Guardian:

Asbestos has been an issue of concern for many years.  The Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act of 1986 (refer to as AHERA) was recently enacted by Congress.  AHERA was designed to determine the extent of asbestos concerns in the schools and to act as a guide in formulating asbestos management policies for the schools.

Asbestos has been used as a building material for many years.  It is a naturally occurring mineral that is mined primarily in Canada and South Africa, and the C.I.S.  The properties of asbestos make it an ideal material for insulating, sound absorption, decorative plasters, fireproofing, and a variety of miscellaneous uses.  There have been over 3,000 different products manufactured using asbestos.  The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) began action to limit its uses in 1973.  Most of the asbestos products used as building materials were banned in 1978.

We recently had our facilities re-inspected by a certified asbestos inspector as required by AHERA.  The inspector located, sampled, and determined the condition and hazard potential of all material in our buildings suspected of containing asbestos.  The re-inspection and laboratory analysis records from the basis of the asbestos management plan.

A certified Management Planner has developed an Asbestos Management Plan for our buildings which includes:  notification letters, training for our employees, a set of procedures designed to minimize the disturbance of asbestos containing materials and plans for regular surveillance of the materials.

A copy of the Management Plan is available for your inspection in the Superintendent’s Office.  Please make an appointment during Office hours if you wish to review this plan.

We are complying with AHERA and related Federal and Iowa laws and we will begin implementation of our plan on July 9, 1989.  We plan on taking whatever steps are necessary to ensure that our students and employees have a healthy and safe environment in which to learn and work.