MEC&F Expert Engineers : December 2016

Saturday, December 31, 2016

3 killed after two sport utility vehicles collided head-on Friday night at a dangerous curve on Route 123 in Easton, Mass.





Victims in horrific fatal crash identified as Easton man, 58, his son and son's girlfriend, both 17





Friday Posted Dec 30, 2016 at 7:36 PM Updated at 11:51 AM



Two sport utility vehicles collided head-on Friday night at a dangerous curve on Route 123 in Easton. Two people were pronounced dead at the scene and another died overnight at a Boston hospital. By Cody Shepard
The Enterprise


EASTON, Mass. - Police have identified the three victims of horrific fatal crash Friday evening.

Two sport utility vehicles collided head-on Friday night at a dangerous curve on Route 123. Two people were pronounced dead at the scene and another died overnight at a Boston hospital, all as a result of the injuries they sustained in the crash.


On Saturday morning Easton Police identified the victims as William R. Fleming, 58, of Easton, his son Robert W. Fleming, 17, also of Easton, and Kayleigh Desrosiers, 17, of Halifax.

Roberts Fleming was a student at Oliver Ames High School in Easton, as were three of his siblings who since graduated, and Desrosiers attended Silver Lake Regional High in Kingston.

Oliver Ames Principal Wes Paul sent a letter out Saturday to students, families and teachers Saturday which read in part:

"It is with a heavy heart that I share with you the sad news that one of our classmates, Robert Fleming, was killed in a car accident last night. I have spoken with Robert's mother expressing our collective condolences for her losses and offered our assistance... Robert is survived by his mother Deena, and siblings Joseph Gizzi OA Class of 2011, Kimberly Newman OA Class of 2012, and Amy Maliff OA Class of 2013."

Paul added that various forms of grief counseling will be available at the school Saturday until 3 p.m.

Police said a Chevrolet HHR crossed the center line and slammed into a Toyota Sequoia SUV shortly after 6 p.m. on Depot Street, Route 123, at an S-curve west of the Cross Street intersection.

The vehicles' front ends were completely caved in. One victim was injured, lying on the ground outside the car, another was unconscious inside and a nurse was performing CPR as witnesses looked on in horror.

The man driving the Chevrolet, William Fleming, and the female rear-seat passenger, Desrosiers, died at the scene, Fire Chief Kevin Partridge told The Enterprise.

A man in the back seat, Robert Fleming, was taken by ambulance to Good Samaritan Medical Center in Brockton and flown to a Boston hospital with life-threatening injuries, Partridge said. He later died.

"Unfortunately, the third passenger succumbed to his injuries last night at the hospital," Police Chief Gary Sullivan told The Enterprise Saturday morning.

The driver of the black Toyota was taken by ambulance to a Brockton hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, Partridge said. She was alone in the vehicle.

A family member identified the victims in the Chevrolet as her husband, her son and her son's girlfriend.T he family lives in South Easton, about a mile from the crash scene.

The first police officer and engine arrived simultaneously at the scene at 8:14 p.m. The officer found a nurse performing CPR on one of the victims and immediately requested more help for what he thought might be a fatal crash.

After the collision, the Chevrolet was over the center line in the westbound lane, facing east. The Sequoia appeared to have been driving west toward the Foundry Street intersection and was cleanly between the center yellow and right white travel lines.

Partridge said it appears initially that none of the three people inside the Chevy were wearing seat belts.

"It appears they were unrestrained," he told The Enterprise at the scene late Friday night. "As you can see, in that car there, the passenger compartment is pretty well intact. I can't stress enough, people need to wear their seat belts, that's what they're designed for."

Partridge said his firefighters did the best they could to treat the victims. They had to use hydraulic rescue tools to remove William Fleming from the Chevy, but he died at the scene.

"As you can imagine, it was a very hectic scene at first," Partridge said. "Just like everybody else, it's an emotional thing to deal with. They're (firefighters) trained to do their job, they do their job, but everyone's affected by it differently. We talk to the guys, see how everyone's doing, make sure everyone's doing OK. Over time, in your career, you have many of these. It's like an accumulative effect on you."

Investigators remained on scene for four hours. The cause of the crash is being investigated by Easton police and a state police accident reconstruction unit.

Valantein Burson, 31, the female driver responsible for an October car crash that killed her and four others was drunk, high and speeding at the time of the crash


Wrong-way driver was drunk, high at time of fiery crash
Updated: 9:39 PM EST Dec 30, 2016






By Anna Burgess/Brockton Enterprise




MIDDLEBOROUGH, Mass. —

The woman responsible for an October car crash that killed her and four others was drunk, high and speeding at the time of the crash, police have determined.


Fall River resident Valantein Burson was driving home from a party with a blood alcohol level of .16 and marijuana in her system when she sped down Route 495 the wrong way and crashed into a Mercury Sable, causing it to burst into flame.

The Oct. 24 crash, which occurred just after midnight on Route 495 in Middleboro, killed Burson, who was 31, and all four college students who had been in the Mercury, the Brockton Enterprise reported.

The students were later identified as 20-year-old Kraig Diggs, of Osterville; 19-year-old Jordan Galvin-Jutras, of Hyannis; 19-year-old Jordan Fisher, of Harwich; and 18-year-old Cory Licata, of New York.

Diggs and Galvin-Jutras had been students at Anna Maria College, while Fisher and Licata had been students at Becker College.

Burson was a Stoughton native and graduate of Stoughton High School.

According to a Friday press release from the office of Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz, Burson's postmortem toxicology report showed she had a blood alcohol level of .16 and marijuana in her system.

Crash reconstruction showed Burson had been traveling about 90 miles per hour at the time of the crash, with her headlights off.

The State Police investigation revealed Burson had been at a party in New Bedford earlier in the night.

She was smoking and drinking at the party, witnesses told police.

Burson left the party alone, planning to meet someone at her Fall River apartment, but never arrived home.

A few minutes before the crash, witnesses reported seeing Burson make a three-point turn on the northbound side of the highway, driving south and hitting several cars before crashing head-on into the Mercury.

Reconstruction of the crash revealed that Burson's headlights were off at the time of the crash, and there were no tire marks or evidence of braking left by either vehicle prior to impact.

The speedometer of Burson's car was stuck at approximately 90 mph.

Massachusetts State Police concluded their investigation into the crash this week.

The crash was investigated by Massachusetts State Police troopers assigned to Troop D in Middleboro, in conjunction with state police detectives assigned to the Plymouth County District Attorney's Office, the State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section and State Police Crime Scene Services.

1 person killed and at least 3 others injured after a two-vehicle crash on Route 70 in Medford, NJ

MEDFORD, N.J. (WPVI) -- One person is dead and at least three others are injured after a two-vehicle crash in South Jersey.

Chopper 6 was over Route 70 Friday, just east of Troth Road in Medford.

There, shortly after 6 p.m., police say a car and SUV collided, resulting in the closure of a short stretch of Route 70.

Five ambulances and a medical helicopter responded to the scene.

The injured victims were rushed to area hospitals for care.

Police have not identified the victims, or what caused the vehicles to collide.

The accident remains under investigation.

Massive 5-alarm fire tears through row of 14 stores in Kew Gardens, Queens





5-alarm fire tears through row of stores in Kew Gardens; 3 firefighters injured


By Josh Einiger
Updated 2 hrs 15 mins ago
KEW GARDENS, Queens (WABC) -- Three firefighters have been hurt while battling a five-alarm fire burning through a row of businesses in Kew Gardens, Queens.

The fire broke out just after 6:30 p.m. on Vleigh Place. At least 14 stores were affected.


Millions of gallons of water were no match for the relentless flames which consumed an entire block of businesses in a building that's withstood generations.

"Born and raised here, this was our whole life, and we just watched the whole block burn down," a resident said. "It's heartbreaking. It's heartbreaking."


Firefighters say they arrived within three minutes after the first flames in the first storefront, but it was already too late to save it and thirteen other businesses. They were all doomed to the fast spreading blaze.

"Once the fire gets into these concealed spaces up above the roof, it's almost impossible for us to put it out. We have to worry about the safety of our firefighters," said Chief of Department James Leonard, FDNY.

The response grew to a fifth alarm as firefighters attacked the inferno defensively, from the outside disappearing within a thick cloud of black, choking smoke.


At least three FDNY members were hurt, fortunately, none of them seriously, as the fire raged on.

"Here we are, it's a holiday weekend, and 14 people lose their business. Sometimes that's lost in the in the excitement of the fire, but 14 people. Think about all these business owners, people who work in these stores, and even the impact on the neighborhood, for all these people who shop in these stores, that's the real tragedy," Leonard said.

Friday, December 30, 2016

Ray Lockhart, line specialist with WIN Energy, was electrocuted to death in Sullivan County, Indiana









SULLIVAN COUNTY, Ind. (WTHI) – WIN Energy released a statement Thursday morning after an employee was killed while on the job in Sullivan County on Wednesday evening.

“WIN Energy REMC has suffered a great loss with the passing of Ray Lockhart, line specialist in the Sullivan district,” the statement read.

Lockhart and a crew were working on a power line on County Road 1100 N in Farmersburg on Wednesday afternoon when the accident happened. Police on scene told our crew that the line they were working on should not have had any electricity running to it.

When Lockhart picked up the line, he was electrocuted.

The Sullivan County Coroner reported an autopsy was scheduled for Thursday.

“Ray came to WIN Energy REMC as an experienced Line Specialist and worked at the cooperative for three and a half years,” the release continued to say. “Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to his wife, children, family, and friends. He will be greatly missed by his cooperative family.”



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SULLIVAN COUNTY, Ind. (WTHI) – Crews were on the scene of a fatal accident in Sullivan County.

The accident happened near West County Road 1100 North and North County Road 25 West.

According to police, a utility worker was working on a power line in the area.

The line wasn’t supposed to have any electricity running to it.

When the worker picked up the line, he was electrocuted.

The Sullivan County Coroner’s office has confirmed Ray Lockhart, 46, of Linton died in that accident. An autopsy is scheduled for Thursday morning at 10.

The accident has resulted in a power outage in parts of the area.

Win Energy’s website was reporting 43 customers without power in the area.





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Published: 12/29/16 12:18 pm EST.

FARMERSBURG, Ind. (AP) - Officials say a utility worker died after being shocked while working on a downed power line in rural western Indiana.

The Sullivan County coroner's office says 46-year-old Ray Lockhart of Linton died Wednesday afternoon while working at the site along a county road near the town of Farmersburg. Utility crews were working to repair a power outage in the area about 15 miles south of Terre Haute when Lockhart was shocked.

Vincennes-based WIN Energy REMC says Lockhart was an experienced line specialist who had worked for the electric utility for three and a half years.

The Sullivan County Sheriff's Department says the utility and state safety regulators will investigate why the downed line still had power and whether proper safety procedures were followed.

Speeding female driver, Brianna Lee Vann, crashes at the back of North Carolina trooper's SUV on US-1 and reaches her final destination, early.




Woman killed in crash with North Carolina trooper's SUV


It happened on US-1

Updated 2 hrs 20 mins ago
NEW HILL, North Carolina (WTVD) -- A woman in a crash with a North Carolina Highway Patrol officer's SUV has died.

The chain-reaction crash on U.S. Highway 1 in southern Wake County happened Friday morning near New Hill Holleman Rd (Exit 89).





It appeared the officer was hit from behind.
It began when a tree-trimming truck headed towards Apex hit the barriers in the median and turned over.

Traffic headed in the other direction towards Sanford began slowing down because of the crash.







There were crashes on both sides of the highway.


Troopers said Brianna Lee Vann of Sanford failed to slow for the traffic and swerved at the last second to avoid hitting another car. Her 2003 Toyota went into the median and then back across both lanes of US 1 before slamming into the back of a Highway Patrol officer's SUV parked on the shoulder. The 23-year-old was killed. The trooper was not in the SUV when it was hit and is okay.

DRIVER ON DRUGS CRASHES IN LONG ISLAND: John Winn, 32, charged with driving while impaired by drugs, reckless endangerment and leaving the scene of an accident.

SHIRLEY, Long Island (WABC) -- The driver of a car that crashed into a home on Long Island jumped out, took off his clothes and fled the scene late Thursday.

Suffolk County police responded to a home in Shirley around 11:30 p.m. after the car had been driven through two lawns -- destroying their fences -- before striking a deck and careening into the home on Ridgewood Drive.

The deck collapsed into the pool, and water from the pool flooded the house.

The man exited the vehicle, got naked and ran, police said.

"There was a big boom, come running downstairs, look in the kitchen," homeowner Ron Sandolo said. "There's a car in my kitchen. I yell, 'Is anybody in there?' He says, 'Yeah, I'm alright though.'"

Suffolk police took him into custody a short time later, and he was taken to Brookhaven Memorial Hospital Medical Center in East Patchogue.

John Winn, 32, is now charged with driving while ability impaired by drugs, reckless endangerment and leaving the scene of an accident.

4 injured after the driver of a box truck lost control while hauling food and rear-ended a Greyhound bus on I-5 near Kettleman City


4 injured after semi-truck and Greyhound Bus crash near Kettleman City

Investigators say the driver of a box truck lost control while hauling food and rear-ended a Greyhound bus. It was forced up an embankment and the truck tipped over on its side. (KFSN)

Benjamin Kirk
Thursday, December 29, 2016 01:27PM
FRESNO, California (KFSN) -- Investigators say the driver of a box truck lost control while hauling food and rear-ended a Greyhound bus. It was forced up an embankment and the truck tipped over on its side.

Three people were hurt and taken to the hospital, including the truck driver and a 6-year-old girl. All injuries were minor.

According to investigators, there were nearly 50 people on the bus, many were stranded in the cold, but have since been picked up and were taken to San Francisco.

Traffic was backed up for miles and drivers are being advised to find a different route.

"Investigating officer already talked with, and evaluated the driver. It sounds like an unfortunate accident. Fortunately not a lot of people were hurt in it -- at this point, it's minor," said Jay Adams, California Highway Patrol.

Investigators say the driver of the truck doesn't remember what happened. They say he may have fallen asleep behind the wheel, but was not driving under the influence.





4 injured, N/B I-5 closed in Kettleman City, due to Greyhound bus and big rig crash

1 female driver dead, 1 critical after head-on crash in Palos Park, Illinois


1 female driver dead, 1 critical after head-on crash in Palos Park, Illinois

Updated 1 hr 48 mins ago
PALOS PARK, Ill. -- A woman was killed and a man critically injured in a head-on crash Thursday night in southwest suburban Palos Park, police said.

Emergency crews responded at 9:04 p.m. to the two-vehicle collision on 123rd Street between Wolf and Will Cook roads, according to Palos Park police.

Firefighters had to extricate both drivers, including a 55-year-old Orland Park woman who was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. The Cook County medical examiner's office did not immediately have information on the death.

The other driver, a 32-year-old Hickory Hills man, was taken in critical condition to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn.

Roads around the crash scene were shut down for about five hours as authorities investigated. The cause is under investigation.

Another head-on collision about three hours earlier and four miles away in the same suburb left a man in serious condition. One driver in that crash was charged with a DUI.


========



A man was charged with DUI after a head-on crash Thursday evening in southwest suburban Palos Park.

At 5:47 p.m., officers arrived and found one vehicle with extensive damage and another vehicle stopped near the trees along the road in the 12300 block of Route 7, according to Palos Park police.

A 51-year-old man from Indiana was taken to Palos Hospital in serious condition, police said. The driver of the other vehicle, 35-year-old Brian Fox, was taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn. His condition was not immediately known.

Fox, of Orland Park, was charged with DUI, improper lane usage and failure to wear a seatbelt. Additional chargers were pending, police said.

Route 7 was closed for four hours while authorities reconstructed the accident scene. The investigation is ongoing, police said.

A mother died and her two young daughters were injured after falling 20-feet from a chairlift at Ski Granby Ranch in Colorado







Mother dies, 2 daughters injured in Colorado chairlift fall


Thursday, December 29, 2016 08:04PM
GRANBY, Colorado -- A mother died and her two young daughters were injured after falling from a chairlift at a small Colorado ski area Thursday.

The 40-year-old Texas mother and the girls, ages 9 and 12, fell 20 feet from a four-person lift onto snow at Ski Granby Ranch, a 400-acre family-oriented resort about 90 miles west of Denver.

One of the children was hospitalized in stable condition and the other was flown to a children's hospital in suburban Denver for treatment. Investigators have not released any names and have not said what caused the family to fall.

Police spokeswoman Schelly Olson said state regulators who oversee chairlifts are helping with the investigation.

Deaths from malfunctions or falls are rare in the United States, The Denver Post reported. According to the National Ski Areas Association, deaths from malfunctions have totaled just 12 from 1973 through October, and there were three deaths from falls between 2004 and October.

According to an October report by the NSAA, the last death on a chairlift attributed to a malfunction was in 1993. As of the 2015-2016 ski season, the annual fatality rate per 100 million miles traveled on ski lifts was 0.14.

The latest death comes during one of the busiest weeks of the season for ski resorts in Colorado.

Thursday, December 29, 2016

ROAD WORKERS ARE AT HIGH RISK OF DEATH OR INJURY: J.R. Rogers, a worker with the Tennessee Department of Transportation, has died after being struck on the side of Interstate 40 while helping a family



ROAD WORKERS ARE AT HIGH RISK OF DEATH OR INJURY: J.R. Rogers, a worker with the Tennessee Department of Transportation, has died after being struck on the side of Interstate 40 while helping a family.  He was killed by a Hispanic driver, Dennis Castellanos Moreno.  He was charged with operating a vehicle without a license and driving without insurance.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - A worker with the Tennessee Department of Transportation has died after being struck on the side of Interstate 40 on Christmas Eve.

J.R. Rogers was hit around 7 p.m. Saturday after stopping to help a family in need. The incident happened in the westbound lanes of Interstate 40 near the Old Hickory Boulevard exit.

Rogers also worked as a football coach at Cheatham County High School. Late Wednesday night, the school tweeted, "We are grieving the loss of our coach and friend, JR Rogers. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends."

The roads were wet the night of the crash. Officials said driver Dennis Castellanos Moreno failed to see other vehicles slowing down where the tire was being changed.

By the time he saw Rogers, he was unable to stop quick enough and lost control.

Moreno was charged with operating a vehicle without a license and driving without insurance. He was later released on bond.

Friends and athletes hoped they could help Rogers’ family with any expenses insurance won’t cover. For details on the fund, visit GoFundMe.com


Black and Hispanic drivers commit dis-proportionally high  traffic offenses, as per a Federal Traffic Study.  The blacks also commit more than 50% of homicides, but they only represent 13.3% of the U.S. population.  These two races are responsible for the majority of the federal and state expenditures required to feed them, house them, treat them, etc.

TOW TRUCK DRIVERS ARE IN HIGH RISK OF DEATH OR INJURY: tow truck driver killed in a hit-and-run on Interstate 95 as he was hooking up a disabled vehicle.



The tow truck driver is dead after being hit on Interstate 95. (New York State Police)

TOW TRUCK DRIVERS ARE IN HIGH RISK OF DEATH OR INJURY

HARRISON, New York (WABC) -- The tow truck driver was killed in a hit-and-run in Harrison Thursday morning.

Around 7 a.m., the driver was outside his flatbed truck on northbound Interstate 95 near Exit 18B, hooking up a disabled vehicle.

He was hit by a passing car, then taken to Greenwich Hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

There is no description of the vehicle and there is no surveillance camera near the crash.

Officials closed a northbound lane for accident investigation.

Anyone with information on the case is asked to call (845) 727-2280 or (914) 769-2600.

Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) in Building Materials







Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) in Building Materials

EPA is concerned that there is potential widespread use of PCB-containing building materials in schools and other buildings constructed or renovated between about 1950 and 1979. This page provides the Agency’s updated guidance for school administrators and building owners, including information about managing PCBs in building materials to help minimize possible exposures to building occupants.
On this page:

Information about PCBs in Building Materials for School Administrators, Building Owners and Managers

Fact sheet: Practical Actions for Reducing Exposure to PCBs in Schools and Other Buildings: Guidance for School Administrators and Other Buildings Owners and Managers - This fact sheet provides concise information on how to manage and reduce exposures to PCBs in building materials.
PCBs in Building Materials: Questions and Answers - This questions and answers document is meant to help school administrators, building owners, managers and occupants better understand the types of building materials that may contain PCBs, the potential for building occupant exposure to PCBs, and how exposure to PCBs can be assessed and reduced.
PCBs in Building Materials: Diagram - This diagram compliments the document PCBs in Building Materials: Questions and Answers on how exposure to PCBs can be assessed and reduced in school buildings.
PCB-Containing Fluorescent Light Ballasts (FLB) in School Buildings: A Guide for School Administrators and Maintenance Personnel - This page provides information to school administrators and maintenance personnel on the hazards posed by PCB-containing FLBs, how to properly handle and dispose of these items, and how to properly retrofit the lighting fixtures in your school to remove potential PCB hazards.
Exposure Levels for Evaluating PCBs in Indoor School Air - The PCBs in air levels were developed to maintain total PCB exposure below the oral reference dose (RfD) of 20 ng PCB/kg body weight per day. The RfD is an estimate of a daily oral exposure to the human population (including sensitive subgroups) that is likely to be without an appreciable risk of harmful effects during a lifetime.

Information for Contractors Working in Older Buildings that May Contain PCBs

The information on the following pages is designed to assist building owners and abatement contractors who may be handling PCB-containing or PCB-contaminated building materials during planned renovation or repair activities or planned PCB abatement efforts in older buildings:

Disclaimer

Regardless of the size of a project involving potentially contaminated building materials, contractors and building owners should be especially aware of the impact of their work in buildings occupied by high-risk populations, such as schools and daycare centers. The information provided is intended solely for guidance and does not replace or supplant the requirements of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) or the PCB regulations at 40 CFR Part 761. Those responsible for renovation, repair, or abatement activities of potential PCB-containing or PCB-contaminated materials should review and understand the regulatory requirements, and are encouraged to consult the EPA or experienced environmental professionals with PCB cleanup activities. This information does not impose requirements or obligations on EPA or the public. The use of the word "should" in this document reflects an EPA recommendation, not a requirement.
In addition to the PCB regulations under TSCA, renovators and abatement personnel should also be aware that their activities may also disturb asbestos-containing materials and/or lead-based paint. Read more about EPA's regulations and guidance for lead-based paint and asbestos. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) also has standards and guidance on the hazards of lead and asbestos specifically for workers and employers.
The use of the term "caulk" in this document refers to any building joint, window, or door sealer or filler found on the inside or outside of a building.

Test Methods for PCBs in Buildings

Test Methods for Determining the Presence of PCBs in Indoor Air

EPA has the following two approved methods for determining the presence of PCBs in indoor air:

Test Methods for Determining the Presence of PCBs in Buildings Materials

EPA recommends that building materials suspected to contain PCBs be tested directly for the presence of PCBs and removed if renovations are planned in the building. The PCB regulations provide appropriate methods for testing. More information on these procedures can be found at:

EPA Research on PCBs in Buildings

EPA conducted research to address several unresolved scientific questions that help to assess the magnitude of problems surrounding PCBs in school buildings, and to identify the best long-term solutions. For example, the link between the concentrations of PCBs in building materials and PCBs in the air or dust is not well understood. The results of this research will be used to provide further guidance to schools and building owners as they develop and implement long-term solutions.

Research on PCBs in Schools

In response to concerns raised by the public about PCBs in schools, EPA scientists have been identifying and evaluating potential sources of PCBs in schools to better understand exposures to children, teachers, and other school workers. EPA is also investigating methods to reduce or eliminate PCB emissions in a school setting.

Research Results

  • Caulk put in place between 1950 and 1979 may contain as much as 40 percent PCBs and can emit PCBs into the surrounding air. PCBs from caulk may also contaminate adjacent materials such as masonry or wood.
  • Fluorescent lighting fixtures that still contain their original PCB-containing light ballasts have exceeded their designed lifespan, and the chance for rupture and emitting PCBs is significant. Sudden rupture of PCB-containing light ballasts may result in exposure to the occupants and may also result in the addition of significant clean-up costs.
  • Some building materials (e.g., paint and masonry walls) and indoor dust can absorb PCB emissions and become potential secondary sources for PCBs. When the primary PCB-emitting sources are removed, the secondary sources often emit PCBs.
  • Encapsulation is a containment method that uses a coating material to separate PCB sources from the surrounding environment to reduce surface and air concentrations of PCBs. Encapsulation is only effective at reducing air concentrations to desirable levels when PCB content in the source is low. Selecting high-performance coating materials is key to effective encapsulation. Multiple layers of coatings enhance the performance of the encapsulation. 
As EPA gains new information, it will make further recommendations regarding PCBs in schools and how to best prevent harmful exposure.

BRAVO for the City of New York for replacing lighting fixtures containing polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in 883 New York City public school buildings.








EPA Commends the City of New York for Removing PCB Lighting
Health of Children and Teachers in 883 Public Schools Protected
12/29/2016
Contact Information:
John Martin (martin.johnj@epa.gov)
212-637-3662

(New York, N.Y. – December 29, 2016) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency commended the City of New York for replacing lighting fixtures containing polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in 883 New York City public school buildings. This public health response began as a result of EPA’s enforcement of the federal Toxic Substances Control Act. Testing by the EPA at 10 New York City public schools in early 2011 showed that about 80 percent of the samples from light fixtures exceeded the regulatory level of 50 parts per million. At one school in Brooklyn, EPA found pure PCBs (1,000,000 parts per million) in the light fixture. The EPA and New York City worked to develop and implement a plan to identify, prioritize and determine the most effective ways to reduce exposures from PCBs in lighting fixtures within the New York City public school system. Hundreds of jobs were created to implement the project and hundreds of thousands of lighting fixtures were replaced.

PCBs are probable carcinogens and can seriously damage the nervous system, immune system, reproductive system, and endocrine system. Exposure to PCBs may occur as a result of their release from old lighting equipment into the air and from direct contact with oil or dust on surrounding surfaces.

“PCBs are a particular risk to children because PCBs can damage their neurological system and affect their ability to learn. That is why it was so important to remove lighting fixtures that contain PCBs from all public schools in New York City. The New York City Department of Education is to be commended for protecting children’s health and saving energy with new and improved lightings,” said Judith A. Enck, EPA Regional Administrator.

In 2010, New York City and EPA began measuring indoor PCB levels in a number of New York City public school buildings. That program identified caulk and lighting ballasts in older fluorescent lighting fixtures as sources of PCBs. EPA’s testing of light fixtures for PCBs in early 2011 confirmed there was a problem. In 2013 the Department of Education accelerated their efforts to replace old, PCB-containing lighting and the project was completed in December 2016. This work was also the result of a lawsuit filed by New York Lawyers for the Public Interest.

Over time, PCB-containing fluorescent light ballasts begin to fail. They can leak, volatize and can emit smoke, leading to elevated levels of PCBs in the air of schools. That’s why the EPA recommends that leaking ballasts must be removed and properly disposed of along with any part of the fixture that has been contaminated with PCBs.

A complete lighting retrofit improves energy efficiency by 30 to 50 percent. New York City performed an evaluation of the energy and associated cost savings at 28 City public schools. The schools are located throughout the five boroughs (nine in Brooklyn, seven in Manhattan, five in Queens, three in Staten Island, and four in the Bronx). The annual energy savings varied from 67,464 to 451,388 kilowatt-hours, with a respective annual cost savings of $11,131 to $74,479.

EPA has also developed written guidance as part of its ongoing efforts to address potential PCB problems in buildings such as schools. That guidance can be found at https://www.epa.gov/pcbs/polychlorinated-biphenyls-pcbs-building-materials#Information-Buildings.



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Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) in Building Materials

EPA is concerned that there is potential widespread use of PCB-containing building materials in schools and other buildings constructed or renovated between about 1950 and 1979. This page provides the Agency’s updated guidance for school administrators and building owners, including information about managing PCBs in building materials to help minimize possible exposures to building occupants.
On this page:

Information about PCBs in Building Materials for School Administrators, Building Owners and Managers

Fact sheet: Practical Actions for Reducing Exposure to PCBs in Schools and Other Buildings: Guidance for School Administrators and Other Buildings Owners and Managers - This fact sheet provides concise information on how to manage and reduce exposures to PCBs in building materials.
PCBs in Building Materials: Questions and Answers - This questions and answers document is meant to help school administrators, building owners, managers and occupants better understand the types of building materials that may contain PCBs, the potential for building occupant exposure to PCBs, and how exposure to PCBs can be assessed and reduced.
PCBs in Building Materials: Diagram - This diagram compliments the document PCBs in Building Materials: Questions and Answers on how exposure to PCBs can be assessed and reduced in school buildings.
PCB-Containing Fluorescent Light Ballasts (FLB) in School Buildings: A Guide for School Administrators and Maintenance Personnel - This page provides information to school administrators and maintenance personnel on the hazards posed by PCB-containing FLBs, how to properly handle and dispose of these items, and how to properly retrofit the lighting fixtures in your school to remove potential PCB hazards.
Exposure Levels for Evaluating PCBs in Indoor School Air - The PCBs in air levels were developed to maintain total PCB exposure below the oral reference dose (RfD) of 20 ng PCB/kg body weight per day. The RfD is an estimate of a daily oral exposure to the human population (including sensitive subgroups) that is likely to be without an appreciable risk of harmful effects during a lifetime.

Information for Contractors Working in Older Buildings that May Contain PCBs

The information on the following pages is designed to assist building owners and abatement contractors who may be handling PCB-containing or PCB-contaminated building materials during planned renovation or repair activities or planned PCB abatement efforts in older buildings:

Disclaimer

Regardless of the size of a project involving potentially contaminated building materials, contractors and building owners should be especially aware of the impact of their work in buildings occupied by high-risk populations, such as schools and daycare centers. The information provided is intended solely for guidance and does not replace or supplant the requirements of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) or the PCB regulations at 40 CFR Part 761. Those responsible for renovation, repair, or abatement activities of potential PCB-containing or PCB-contaminated materials should review and understand the regulatory requirements, and are encouraged to consult the EPA or experienced environmental professionals with PCB cleanup activities. This information does not impose requirements or obligations on EPA or the public. The use of the word "should" in this document reflects an EPA recommendation, not a requirement.
In addition to the PCB regulations under TSCA, renovators and abatement personnel should also be aware that their activities may also disturb asbestos-containing materials and/or lead-based paint. Read more about EPA's regulations and guidance for lead-based paint and asbestos. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) also has standards and guidance on the hazards of lead and asbestos specifically for workers and employers.
The use of the term "caulk" in this document refers to any building joint, window, or door sealer or filler found on the inside or outside of a building.

Test Methods for PCBs in Buildings

Test Methods for Determining the Presence of PCBs in Indoor Air

EPA has the following two approved methods for determining the presence of PCBs in indoor air:

Test Methods for Determining the Presence of PCBs in Buildings Materials

EPA recommends that building materials suspected to contain PCBs be tested directly for the presence of PCBs and removed if renovations are planned in the building. The PCB regulations provide appropriate methods for testing. More information on these procedures can be found at:

EPA Research on PCBs in Buildings

EPA conducted research to address several unresolved scientific questions that help to assess the magnitude of problems surrounding PCBs in school buildings, and to identify the best long-term solutions. For example, the link between the concentrations of PCBs in building materials and PCBs in the air or dust is not well understood. The results of this research will be used to provide further guidance to schools and building owners as they develop and implement long-term solutions.

Research on PCBs in Schools

In response to concerns raised by the public about PCBs in schools, EPA scientists have been identifying and evaluating potential sources of PCBs in schools to better understand exposures to children, teachers, and other school workers. EPA is also investigating methods to reduce or eliminate PCB emissions in a school setting.

Research Results

  • Caulk put in place between 1950 and 1979 may contain as much as 40 percent PCBs and can emit PCBs into the surrounding air. PCBs from caulk may also contaminate adjacent materials such as masonry or wood.
  • Fluorescent lighting fixtures that still contain their original PCB-containing light ballasts have exceeded their designed lifespan, and the chance for rupture and emitting PCBs is significant. Sudden rupture of PCB-containing light ballasts may result in exposure to the occupants and may also result in the addition of significant clean-up costs.
  • Some building materials (e.g., paint and masonry walls) and indoor dust can absorb PCB emissions and become potential secondary sources for PCBs. When the primary PCB-emitting sources are removed, the secondary sources often emit PCBs.
  • Encapsulation is a containment method that uses a coating material to separate PCB sources from the surrounding environment to reduce surface and air concentrations of PCBs. Encapsulation is only effective at reducing air concentrations to desirable levels when PCB content in the source is low. Selecting high-performance coating materials is key to effective encapsulation. Multiple layers of coatings enhance the performance of the encapsulation. 
As EPA gains new information, it will make further recommendations regarding PCBs in schools and how to best prevent harmful exposure.