EPA releases draft school siting guidelines

90 day public comment period

Jay Blazek Crossley, Dec 06, 10.

The US Environmental Protection Agency has issued draft guidance for the optimal methods of siting schools to protect student, teacher, and community health, according to Smart Growth America.

The guidelines will provide local school districts, states and tribal officials, and parents, teachers, and non-governmental organizations with best practices for engaging the public in the siting of schools to properly consider health and environmental issues. The guidelines are out as draft guidelines and the EPA is seeking public input for February 18, 2011.

US EPA: School Siting Guidelines

From the above website, the EPA explains the goals of this program:

School buildings are fundamental components of the educational process and children spend more time in schools than in any other environment except their home. More than 53 million children and 6 million staff occupy more than 135,000 public and private schools in the U.S. A well located, thoughtfully designed, soundly built and efficiently operated school enhances the educational process by providing a safe and healthy environment for children, teachers and other staff. State-of-the-art schools also provide many opportunities to enhance the educational process itself and to meet multiple community goals. The decision to site and build a new school is a complex one. These voluntary guidelines are intended to assist communities and community members in making the best possible school siting decisions.

(Image credit: Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center)