USA: Sloppy oversight increases risk of unsafe school buildings - Audit

In their report forCalifornia Watch, Erica Perez and Corey G. Johnson write that state regulators charged with overseeing school construction have failed to ensure that the buildings children occupy are safe, according to a state audit released today.

"I think that all of the seismologists and earthquake engineers need to speak out in a strong voice and say the past practices are not acceptable," said Mary Lou Zoback – a former research scientist with the U.S. Geological Survey and a vice president at Risk Management Solutions, which advises the insurance industry.

"It is unacceptable to allow children to use facilities that are unsafe," said Senate Majority Leader Ellen M. Corbett, D-San Leandro, adding she would call a hearing of the Select Committee on Earthquake and Disaster Preparedness to explore the audit’s findings.