1. Estabrook School HSR Feb 26, 2013

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Joseph Estabrook School: Historic Structure Report PCB Findings / Response 5 II. Background A. PCB Findings "During September of 2009, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued new guidelines for concentrations of airborne polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) for public buildings and identified that buildings constructed before 1978 potentially would have been constructed with PCB containing materials. "10 Because there were schools in Lexington built before 1978, the Town developed a plan for testing for the presence of PCBs in the Estabrook and other older schools. On August 9, 2010 testing determined that concentrations of PCBs in the Estabrook School exceeded guidelines for safe levels of the chemicals established by the EPA. B. EPA Directive From the beginning, the Town of Lexington worked with the US EPA and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection to develop plans for the remediation of the PCB contamination. By December of 2011, mitigation measures had been carried out to the extent that the EPA permitted the Town to continue to operate the Estabrook School until December 31, 2014. Ongoing monitoring of PCB levels was required, however. C. Town's Response / Actions In the period before the school opened on Monday, August 30, 2010, the window caulk, which contained the PCBs and asbestos, was removed and replaced with new caulk. However, testing revealed that PCB levels still exceeded the EPA guidelines. During the fall of 2010 and later, additional remediation was carried out. Some work required that students be out of the building, causing disruption to the teaching schedule. The work completed included: • Removal of 550 linear feet (LF) of exterior PCB window caulk • Decontamination of metal window frames to < l0µ /100 cm2 • Encapsulation of exterior brickwork surrounding the windows with epoxy coating • Encapsulation of interior and exterior window sealants /glazings with bond breaker tape and new caulk • Construction of new walls (i.e. mini - walls) to encapsulate lower panels of curtain walls (i.e. transite panels) which contain PCB caulk • Enclosure of I -Beam chaises with new materials • Encapsulation/sealing of areas along the new mini -walls with new caulk and/or foam insulation • Suspension of use of stand -alone steam radiators • Establishment of heating and ventilation system operating procedures /conditions)) 10 Lexington Public School District, Application to the Massachusetts School Building Authority for replacement of the Estabook School, November 5, 2010, 13. 11 James T. Owens III, Director of the US Environmental Protection Agency Region 1, letter to Patrick W. Goddard, December 1, 2011.