EPA Fines 6 Arizona School Districts For Asbestos

Six school districts in Arizona have done compliance work to avoid hefty federal fines for asbestos violations.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency fined the school districts a combined total of nearly $95,000.

More than 15,000 children attend the 25 schools not in compliance in the six districts – three in Apache County, two in Pinal County and one on the Fort Apache reservation.

EPA officials say all of the school districts have since taken necessary actions to comply with the federal asbestos law and the cost of compliance reduces the penalties in most cases to zero.

During inspections in 2011, EPA inspectors say they discovered numerous violations in the school districts. Violations included failing to inspect and then re-inspect facilities for asbestos containing materials and not having a management plan.