Easton police expect to arrest someone today on charges

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Easton police expect to arrest someone today on charges related to

mold clean-up at Staples Elementary School.

Though Police Chief Jack verified the pending arrest

Wednesday, he would not identify the individual or the charges.

did confirm that the criminal division of the federal

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been investigating the

spraying of a chemical known commercially as Microb Shield at

Staples.

Microb Shield is marketed as a product that eliminates mold, fungi,

and bacteria species from enclosed environments, destroys existing

microbiological colonies, and prevents future colonies for up to two

years.

Easton Health Director Dr. Michos apparently filed a

complaint with the EPA about the spraying when he was unable to get

answers about the type of chemicals Microb Shield contains.

" One of my officers is in another state right now working on the

case, " said. " We had started an investigation into the case

in the latter part of November because of allegations of wrong-doing. "

Hubbard, the special agent in charge of the EPA's criminal

investigation division for New England, said he probed the

allegations and determined that environmental crimes were committed.

Hubbard said his division investigated violations of federal

environment statutes and other criminal charges.

" These were serious concerns that were taken seriously, " said

Hubbard, whose office is in Boston.

Hubbard said he could not comment on any arrests, charges or

indictments regarding the ongoing federal investigation, but he had

praise for the local force

" Chief and his department were very professional in how they

assisted my agents and me in this investigation, " Hubbard said.

What was sprayed?

An environmental consultant working for the school board addressed

questions about Microb Shield last September. He noted that workers

from Microb Phase treated ceiling tiles in September 2000, spraying

tiles in the upper and lower wings with an enzyme-based anti-

microbial solution.

Some children and staff who entered the school the next day

experienced illness that they related to a chemical smell, which they

believed came from the Micro Shield. However, at the time Microb

Phase Vice-President Ron Schongar asserted that the spray was not

harmful, producing only an unpleasant smell similar to rubbing

alcohol immediately after application.

Information from the EPA at that time identified Microb Shield as a

pesticide. However, Schongar said that was not quite correct.

At a meeting last September, former facilities manager Ugo Celini

recalled that Microb Phase workers went back to Staples for a follow-

up visit last spring and sprayed again in an administrator's office

and on the wall across from Room 11. The next day, Staples staff

complained about the smell, he said.

Schongar said at the time that he had no record of any spraying being

done at Staples other than in September of 2000, though Microb Phase

workers did take samples from the building last year. He also said

workers made follow-up visits to the school in September 2001 and May

2002.

Town officials seek answers

On Tuesday, the Easton Board of Education (BOE) discussed pursuing

further investigation into the type of solution Microb Phase used

when spraying ceiling tiles at Staples.

Apparently, Microb Shield also was sprayed on a small area at Helen

Keller Middle School.

Michos said Microb Phase was hired to spray Microb Shield to contain

mold and stop further bacteria growth.

" We do have to get to the bottom of what the product is that was

sprayed at the school, " Michos said Tuesday.

He said members of the School Building Committee took samples of

ceiling tiles from Staples to be tested by Aegis Lab, the maker of a

similar product, Microbe Shield. The School Building Committee had

asked for information regarding the chemical sprayed at the school.

When mold was not found on the samples taken, questions came up as to

what kind of chemicals, if any, were sprayed at the school, Michos

said.

He said school administrators, parents and town officials have tried

to contact Schongar, without success.

" I have personally sent faxes, made phone calls, and sent certified

mail to Schongar, and nothing has been returned or answered, " Michos

said. " I am greatly concerned and I filed a complaint with the EPA. "

Michos said Easton residents and officials should stop trying to

contact Schongar and instead allow the EPA to conduct its

investigation.

School Board Chairman Rowland said she was aware that the EPA

is investigating Microb Phase but she did not know about any criminal

charges.

" When we hired Microb Phase in 2000 to spray at the schools, they

were given positive recommendations by other districts that had used

them, " Rowland said. " It's not like we hired a fly-by-night company. "

At the time, she said, Microb Shield application " was a new approach

to containing mold. "

" The goal now is to find out what the answers are and then decide on

the next step is, " Rowland said.