Urban Environmental Program in New England
What is School Siting?
School siting ensures that precautionary approaches are taken when locating new schools in order to protect children from chemical contamination in air and soil surrounding schools and from exposure to toxic pesticides in schools and on school grounds. A complete site history, site visit, survey of surrounding potential sources of contamination, and testing and evaluation of potential health risks to children must be part of any site proposal. Schools should not, under any circumstances, be built on top of hazardous waste, garbage, or any other landfill property. Through the use of proper school siting, every child will have an environmentally safe and healthy learning environment.
(Source: Poisoned Schools, report by the Center for Health, Environmental Justice, Falls Church, VA)