Environmental Services

Boulder Valley School District complies with the Environmental Protection Agency and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment requirements for managing asbestos in schools. The Environmental Manager is the BVSD 'designated person' ensuring that the asbestos management program is kept up-to-date. There are two Environmental Technicians that perform periodic inspections of buildings with asbestos building materials in them, and update the Asbestos Management Plan every three years.

These plans are kept in the Environmental Services Office at the Ed Center and in each school. The plans will be kept online in the future and will be available at the school. This 'Hazardous Materials' website contains general information about asbestos and links to information from government sources. The specific information for each school is available to designated staff at that school.

Additional information regarding asbestos

www.epa.gov/asbestos/schools.htmlwww.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite/CDPHE-AP/CBON/1251594599682

Water Testing Data

Ensuring the health and safety of our school environments continues to be our highest priority. Toward this end, we continue to be proactive in water quality testing at schools serving elementary-aged students. Water quality can have some variability by municipality, and the district has many proactive measures that can be put in place in the event that the testing results do not meet our high standards or the requirements outlined in the recently passed legislation, HB22-1358: Clean Water in Schools and Childcare Centers. Results from our water testing will be posted when completed. 

Additional information about lead in drinking water

hwater.epa.gov/infrastructure/drinkingwater/schools/basicinformation.cfm

Boulder Valley Schools were tested for radon in 1991 and there is a schedule for periodic retesting. These test locations and results have been entered on the school floor plans and are kept online and available to staff at each school. The Environmental Protection Agency recommends radon levels be kept below 4.0 pCi/L (picocuries per liter). BVSD has taken mitigation actions where high levels were found.   

Additional information about radon

www.epa.gov/radon/pdfs/radon_measurement_in_schools.pdf

Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, What You Should Know about Radon in Schools

The EPA recommends testing for lead-based paint in homes and schools built before 1978. Boulder Valley School District completed this testing in 1998 using IHI Environmental. These records are kept in the Environmental Services Office at the Education Center. 

More information about lead-based paint

http://www.epa.gov/lead/rrp/cofacilities.html

Good indoor air quality is important for health and learning. BVSD is working to understand and improve indoor air quality in all our schools. 

BVSD's Indoor Air Quality Initiative

General information about mold from the Center for Disease Control

General information about mold from OSHA

Indoor Air Quality Information from Colorado Department of Health and Environment

Outdoor Air Quality 

Air monitors have been installed on the eight schools affected by the fire and at other locations in the community. The instruments monitor the level of ultrafine particulate matter in the air. Data is recorded and shared via an online platform. Schools will monitor the air quality information and use it with BVSD’s Outdoor Air Quality Guidelines to make decisions about conducting outdoor activities. Links to the website and other helpful resources are included below: 

Air Monitor Live Data by Location - Search by school name

BVSD provides guidance to schools based on EPA guidelines for schools to use in making decisions about outdoor activities: 

BVSD Outdoor Air Quality Guidelines

BVSD Outdoor Air Quality Web Page

The following board policies relate to hazardous materials in schools: 

Policy EBBD | Hazardous Materials Policy

Policy EBBD-R | Hazardous Materials Procedures (Regulation)

Policy EBD | Asbestos in the Schools

Policy EBE-R2 | Respiratory Protection Program for Asbestos (Regulation)

Stormwater Pollution Prevention

Boulder Valley School District (BVSD) recognizes the need to protect our environment. The BVSD Stormwater Management Program is dedicated to protecting the quality of our watershed. A healthy watershed means a healthy community, environment, and economy. A Program Description Document (PDD) has been developed by BVSD to ensure permit requirements are met, the PDD is available to the public for review and comment. Please contact Carey Jensen carey.jensen@bvsd.org to receive a copy of the PDD.

Stormwater runoff occurs when rain or snowmelt flows over the ground on its way to storm drains, drainageways, creeks, and lakes. Stormwater picks up debris, chemicals, dirt, pet waste, and other pollutants, and deposits them in water bodies in the local watershed. Stormwater pollution may pose an adverse toxic effect on aquatic life, plants, animals, and people. 

Help keep our water clean by following these guidelines:

• Dispose of household hazardous wastes at designated collection or recycling locations

• Never dump chemicals or trash into storm drains

• Use a commercial car wash or wash your car on a lawn or other unpaved surface Learn more

• Sweep up yard debris rather than hosing down areas; Compost or recycle yard waste when possible

• Clean paint brushes in a sink, not outdoors 

• Clean up after your pet Learn more

• Repair auto leaks 

If you witness illegal dumping on school district property, contact the Facilities Department at 720-561-5937, or after-hours, call school district security at 720-561-5051. 

Additional information about MS4: 

https://bouldercounty.gov/environment/water/stormwater-quality-protection/

https://bouldercolorado.gov/services/stormwater-quality-program