Environmental Safety

  • Pueblo School District 60 is committed to providing a learning environment that is safe and secure from known hazards.

    In addition to complying with all federal and state regulations regarding the presence of hazardous materials in schools, our experienced environmental health staff works to encourage the usage of safe materials and keep track of potentially hazardous materials in our schools, such as asbestos, lead-based paint, and surplus paints and chemicals. We also check radon levels, sample for lead in drinking water, and perform initial air quality investigations as needed.

    • Asbestos - Pueblo School District 60 complies with the Environmental Protection Agency and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment requirements for managing asbestos in schools. The Environmental Safety Officer is the PSD60 'designated person' ensuring that the asbestos management program is regularly updated, including periodic inspections of buildings with asbestos-containing materials and updating the Asbestos Management Plan every three years.

      These AHERA Management plans are stored in the Facilities office and also in each school.  The AHERA plans for each school is available to designated staff at that school, and also available for public inspection during regular working hours at the Facilities office, located at 1902 Montezuma Road

      This notification is provided to fulfill the requirement of section 763.93(4) of the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act, 40 CFR Part 763, October 30, 1987.  All interested parents, teachers, employees, or other persons are invited to review the AHERA plan, which includes the following items:
    • Location, amounts, and types of asbestos-contained materials in all schools and support buildings
    • Response actions to the asbestos-contained materials
    • Plans for re-inspection, periodic surveillance, and operation and maintenance programs
    • Public notification procedures


    Anyone interested in reviewing this plan should contact 719-549-7204.

     

    • Drinking-Water Quality – PSD60 has been working to update and replace older plumbing in schools which can be a source of lead in drinking water.  The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment recommends testing water from municipal systems every three years. This is the protocol PSD60 currently uses.

      PSD60’s Most Recent Lead Testing Results

     

    • Radon - All Pueblo School District 60 schools were tested for radon in 1991 and again in 2019. These test locations and results are stored in the Facilities office.  The Environmental Protection Agency recommends radon levels be kept below 4.0 pCi/L (picocuries per liter).  PSD60 has taken mitigation actions where any elevated levels were found.

      PSD60’s Most Recent Radon Testing Results

     

    • Lead-Based Paint - The EPA recommends testing for lead-based paint in homes and schools built before 1978.  Pueblo School District 60 complies with all EPA guidelines and regulations for lead-based paint, including encapsulation and remediation.  All District Facilities staff are trained in lead-based paint requirements.

     

    • Indoor Air Quality - Good indoor air quality is important for health and learning.  PSD60 is always working to improve indoor air quality in all our schools and investigates all concerns and complaints to resolve any problems.

      Mold, Radon, and other airborne hazards are closely monitored and any needed remediation addressed.  Below is a link for air quality information.

      General Information about Mold:  https://www.cdc.gov/mold/basics.htm