Sharon School Directors Tuesday approved an agreement between the federal Environmental Protection Agency and the company hired to remove asbestos from the middle and high schools.

Greenmoor Inc. of Verona, Pa., had to change the process used to dampen the asbestos, because of electrical lines running through part of the high school, said Solicitor Mark Longietti. Contractors must wet the material to stop particles from flying through the air; however, because of the danger of electrocution, Greenmoor workers chose to "mist" the asbestos, he said.

An EPA inspector filed a complaint because Greenmoor didn't apply for a variance for the process. The school district was named in the complaint because it owns the buildings, Longietti said.

The change didn't pose a health threat to anyone, because the work was done during summer 2000, and the area was sealed off from the rest of the building, Longietti said. The EPA never halted the project, he added.

After haggling with EPA, Greenmoor agreed to pay about a $20,000 fine, Longietti said. The school board has withheld $40,000 from Greenmoor's contract to cover the fine and legal fees, he said.

Greenmoor has a $660,000 contract to remove asbestos from the middle and high schools, said James Wolf, business manager.