By Linnea Wee
Assistant Online Managing Editor
Manhattan Beach Unified School District painters who were working to reopen the Mira Costa Library damaged a wall inside the librarian’s office on Dec. 7, re-contaminating parts of the library with 2% Chrysotile asbestos.
The library first closed on Aug. 16 after tile containing 5-6% Chrysotile asbestos was damaged by construction workers hired by MBUSD. Workers handling Asbestos Containing Material must be trained asbestos professionals, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) website.
“I was not aware that this was still going on the library,” English teacher Lisa Cook said. “We [teachers] haven’t been getting a ton of information, and the information we have been getting is slightly nebulous. More communication would be good, I had no idea about the paint incident.”
The library was inspected by ENCORP again on Dec. 11, and it was found to have damaged material containing 2% asbestos in the library office and surrounding rooms. Costa’s administration has not sent an announcement about this incident to parents, staff or students.
Mira Costa High School administration could not be reached for comment.
“I think the administration should release a statement keeping the students and their families in the loop so that they can prepare for the rest of the school year,” junior Ashley Stepczyk said. “Students were waiting to get their own books until the library was open, but it may be even longer now.”
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