PORT ANGELES — The Port Angeles School District is accepting public comment on a determination of non-significance for the demolition of the shuttered Monroe School property.
Written comments will be accepted until 5 p.m. Friday. They are to be sent to the Port Angeles School District, Nolan Duce, Director of Maintenance and Facilities, 216 E. Fourth St, Port Angeles, WA 98362.
The 48,685-square-foot building at the former Monroe School at 106 Monroe Road, which was built in 1949, was closed in June 2004 and has become a safety hazard, according to Duce.
The Port Angeles School District has issued a determination of non-significance under the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) rules.
“The district has determined that the proposal will not have a probable significant adverse impact on the environment,” according to the determination, and therefore an environmental impact statement is not required.
Among the areas investigated by PBS Engineering and Environmental Inc. were environmental health hazards.
The company found that several hazardous materials have been identified in the building such as asbestos, lead paint and potential PSB- and mercury-containing fluorescent lamps.
“Prior to demolition all hazardous materials will be abated and/or properly contained and disposed of in an approved facility,” the company said in an environmental checklist.
After demolition, the area will be graded and seeded to grass, according to the determination of non-significance.
The checklist, determination of non-significance and other information is available at http://tinyurl.com/PDN-SEPAmonroe. Information also may be viewed at the school district offices at 216 E. Fourth St., during regular business hours.
For additional information, contact Duce at 360-457-0949.
PBS Engineering and Environmental Inc. had proposed a project estimate of $118,560 that included investigation period services ($35,852), design period services ($41,920) and construction period services ($40,788).
Costs will be covered by the capital improvements fund.
District officials intend to retain the 1,900-square-foot portable building, shed, playground, water, power, septic and asphalt paving associated with the portable, as well as trees not impacted by the demolition.
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Executive Editor Leah Leach can be reached at 360-417-3530 or at lleach@peninsuladailynews.com.
