HARTFORD — In response to reports that up to two-thirds of Connecticut schools may contain toxic polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) today called on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to assist the state and local communities in evaluating and mitigating the potentially dangerous problem. In a letter addressed to EPA Administer Gina McCarthy and New England EPA Administrator Curt Spalding, Murphy noted that the safety of children in Connecticut schools must be our top priority. Murphy requested that the EPA provide clear guidance on mitigation of PCBs  for schools and conduct an extensive review on how best to ease the burden for local communities, which often bear the entire cost of clean-up.

“The level of toxic chemicals found in schools across Connecticut is deeply troubling, and the full extent of PCB prevalence in Connecticut schools is still unknown,” wrote Murphy. “The burden of both the fact-finding and the mitigation efforts falls heavily on local schools and communities….the basic tenet that our schools should be safe places of learning for our children must be upheld. I hope that your answers will help inform the public and policymakers about the extent of the problem in Connecticut and the best ways to mitigate any harm.”

The presence of PCBs in Connecticut school was documented extensively in a WNPR investigative report this summer. Connecticut residents interested in learning more about PCBs can view the following resources:

 

The full text of the letter is below: 

November 6, 2015

The Honorable Gina McCarthy                                  The Honorable Curt Spalding
Administrator                                                              Region 1 Administrator
Environmental Protection Agency                              Environmental Protection Agency
Office of the Administrator                                        5 Post Office Square - Suite 100       
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW                                Boston, MA 02109-3912
Washington, DC 20460

Dear Administrator McCarthy and Regional Administrator Spalding,

As you know, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) continue to present a potential environmental concern for communities across the United States. In Connecticut, there have been documented cases of PCB contamination in Fairfield, Southington, Wallingford and, most recently, the City of Hartford.

The full extent of PCB prevalence in Connecticut schools is still unknown. In August 2015, WNPR released findings from its investigation regarding PCBs. The results of the investigation showed that two-thirds of Connecticut schools may contain the chemicals. The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection's data suggest that the majority of the schools with confirmed PCB findings since 2009 have been found in urban areas. However, no definitive list of Connecticut schools contaminated by PCBs exists. Rather, we only have best guesses as to which schools most likely contain PCBs based on the year of their construction and other variables.

The burden of both the fact-finding and the mitigation efforts fall heavily on local schools and communities. Therefore, I ask you for your assistance to:

  1. Provide recommendations on how your agency can help ease the burden for local schools and communities dealing with PCBs; and

2.   Provide up-to-date resources and best practices to municipalities and schools for their mitigation efforts.

I am aware that PCB production was banned by Congress nearly four decades ago and that schools built after this prohibition likely do not contain the compound. I also understand that contamination is most frequently triggered by building construction and renovation. There are many schools across Connecticut that are undergoing renovations and could encounter PCBs as a result of these renovations. It is my position that the federal government should encourage school construction projects, and PCBs often make such construction cost prohibitive—at the expense of the children those schools serve.

The basic tenet that our schools should be safe places of learning for our children must be upheld. I hope that your answers will help inform the public and policymakers about the extent of the problem in Connecticut and the best ways to mitigate any harm. I look forward to your response and to working with you.

Sincerely,

Christopher S. Murphy

United States Senator


CC:      Commissioner Rob Klee
            Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
            79 Elm Street
            Hartford, CT  06106-5127

            Commissioner Jewel Mullen

            Connecticut Department of Public Health
            410 Capitol Avenue, PO Box 340308

            Hartford, CT 06134