Verdant  Web Technologies (VWT) has confirmed the EPA’s support of electronic management of AHERA documentation. In recent communications with VWT’s management team, Wallace Reid (Region 10’s – Asbestos and Lead Team Leader) clarified that it is “perfectly acceptable not to have a physical copy of the Management Plan if it is being managed as part of an electronic data system.”

Mr. Reid further outlined general guidelines related to electronic file management:

• Although AHERA rules are interpreted to require a physical copy, EPA Region 10 will not enforce this specific requirement within their jurisdiction.
• Accommodations for parents, teachers and others to access and review the electronic system must be available.
• The plan must also be available to EPA for inspection when the School District is presented with an EPA Notice of Inspection.
• From a practical perspective, the EPA may also need to have some portions of an electronic management plan printed for the purposes of performing an inspection or taking notes.

It was also confirmed that the EPA will work with School Districts and encourage them to reduce, to the maximum extent practical, the amount of paper used to comply with AHERA requirements.

“This shift of acceptance by the EPA is a big step in toward pollution prevention, efficiency and costs savings for Schools” says Ron Petti of VWT.

While moving toward paperless management of AHERA data seems like a daunting task for School Districts who have relied on hard-copy records for decades, Verdant Web Technologies offers an easy, turnkey solution.

If your organization is interested in converting toward electronic management of environmental records, contact Verdant Web Technologies today. We’ll walk you through the process, step-by-step.