Issues in facility siting to create healthy high-performance schools

In January 2008 the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) was signed into law. Section 461 amended the Toxic Substance Control Act creating a new Title V, Healthy High-Performance Schools. Section 502 of the new title directed EPA to develop voluntary school siting guidelines addressing potential site contamination, transportation to sites, energy efficiency and site use as an emergency shelter. We will outline these newly developed federal guidelines and discuss best practices identified in the course of their development. The relevance of the guidelines for public, private, tribal and charter schools will be addressed. In addition to the four focus areas delimited within the statute, the panel will highlight the implications for environmental justice, sustainable development, and smart growth and the built environment. Members of the panel will include representatives from the US EPA, The Center for Disease Control/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, and state or local and community representatives.