January 1, 2021
Dear Faculty, Staff, and Parents/Guardians:
In 1986, Congress passed the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) which mandated the Asbestos-Containing Materials in Schools Rule, 40 CFR Part 763. It requires all primary and secondary school buildings to be inspected by AHERA accredited inspectors and to identify all asbestos-containing building materials. Alternatively, a school constructed after 1988 may be certified to be asbestos-free via an exclusion statement written by the architect or engineer responsible for construction. The AHERA rule further requires the development of a management plan by an AHERA accredited management planner that is based on the findings of the inspection, even if the school is asbestos-free. Solomon Elementary School was opened in 1968 with a new campus constructed in 2017 and buildings A-B-C completed in 2019. New campus buildings A, B and C were constructed without asbestos-containing building materials. An exclusionary statement provided by Swinterton certifies the asbestos-free construction.
In February 2001, Hawaii Administrative Rules Chapter 11-502 was adopted by the Hawaii State Legislature. These rules essentially mirror the requirements of the AHERA regulations. In both cases, the rule requires our school to notify parents, teachers, and employees of the presence and status of asbestos containing material in our school buildings, as well as the availability of the asbestos management plan.
An asbestos management plan was drafted based on our initial inspection and submitted to the Hawaii State Department of Health. It outlines in detail the methods we will use to maintain the material in a safe manner. The management plan is updated regularly as asbestos is removed or conditions change.
A copy of the management plan is on file in the administrative office and is available for your review during our regular school hours. Should you have any questions, please call the school at (808) 305-1800 or the Environmental Services Unit at (808) 784-5067.
Sincerely,
Mr. Fujimoto
Vice Principal