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Lead in the News
EPA Press Announcements:
March 2009
March 20, 2009 - EPA issued a final rule to address fees for its lead-based paint programs. The rule addresses two areas: first, it modifies and lowers the existing fees for EPA's Lead-based Paint Activities Regulations; second, it establishes fees for the new Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting rule. The final rule establishes fees that will be charged for training programs seeking accreditation, for firms engaged in renovations seeking certification, and for individuals (for example, risk assessors) or firms engaged in lead-based paint activities seeking certification. The final rule applies only in those states and tribes without their own authorized lead programs. The fees were developed as required by section 402 of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to recover the cost of administering and enforcing the law's requirements.
The final rule slightly lower fees for the Lead-based Paint Activities regulations -- a significant reduction considering the 35 to 40 percent increase in government labor costs since the original fees were set in 1999.
Read more information on the final rule or contact the National Lead Information Center at 1-800-424-LEAD. Also read EPA's fact sheet on the final rule. For technical information regarding the rule, contact Marc Edmonds at the EPA at 202-566-0758 or by email at edmonds.marc@epa.gov.
- March 17, 2009 - EPA is making available approximately $500,000 for Tribal Lead Grants. EPA is accepting grant proposals from Federally-recognized Indian tribes and tribal consortia to support Tribal educational outreach and to conduct a baseline assessment of Tribal children's existing and potential exposure to lead-based paint and related lead-based paint hazards. In the Request for Proposal (PDF) (24 pp, 140K), EPA describes activities eligible for funding include educational outreach, data gathering, inspections, risk assessments, training, and development of new and innovative approaches to identifying or reducing lead poisoning. EPA is awarding grants to Federally-recognized Indian tribes to perform those activities and to encourage Indian tribes to consider continuing such activities in the future. The number of grants EPA will fund as a result of this announcement will be based on the quality of proposals received and the availability of funding. It is anticipated that approximately 4-6 awards will be made.
The closing date for applicants to submit proposals under this announcement is April 30, 2009. Applicants can submit proposals via e-mail or by regular mail.
October 2008
October 16, 2008 - EPA substantially strengthened the national ambient air quality standards for lead. The revised standards will improve health protection for at-risk groups, especially children.
October 2, 2008 - The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has issued two lead safety podcasts. Click to download the recent CDC interviews: Is Your Child Safe from Lead Poisoning? and Renovate Right: Prevent Lead Poisoning in Children.
August 2008
August 21, 2008 - EPA issued a proposed rule to address fees for its lead-based paint programs. The rule will address two areas: first, it will modify and lower the existing fees for EPA's Lead-based Paint Activities Regulations; second, it will establish fees for the new Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting rule. The proposed rule would establish fees to be charged for training programs seeking accreditation, for firms engaged in renovations seeking certification, and for individuals (for example, risk assessors) or firms engaged in lead-based paint activities seeking certification. The proposed rule would apply only in those states and tribes without their own authorized lead programs. The fees were developed as required by section 402 of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to recover the cost of administering and enforcing the law's requirements.
The proposal would slightly lower existing fees -- a significant reduction considering the 35 to 40 percent increase in government labor costs since the original fees were set in 1999.
Read more information on the proposed rule or contact the National Lead Information Center at 1-800-424-LEAD. Also read EPA's fact sheet on the proposed rule. For technical information regarding the proposed rule, contact Marc Edmonds at the EPA at 202-566-0758 or by email at edmonds.marc@epa.gov.
EPA is accepting public comment on its fee proposal until September 22, 2008.
April 2008
April 22, 2008 - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) modified the Request for Proposals (RFP) Number EPA-HQ-OPPT-08-007, Tribal Educational Outreach on Lead Poisoning and Baseline Assessment of Tribal Children's Existing and Potential Exposure and Risks Associated with Lead. The modified RFP (PDF) (24 pp, 180K) extended the closing deadline to April 30, 2008, due to problems encountered in submitting the proposals through www.grants.gov. The remainder of the information in the RFP was unchanged.
The closing date for applicants to submit proposals under this announcement was April 30, 2008. Applicants could apply via mail or on-line at www.grants.gov. Helpful Grants.gov instructions (PDF) (6 pp, 92K) were provided for on-line application.
April 22, 2008 - To better protect children from lead-based paint hazards, EPA issued a new rule for home improvement contractors and maintenance professionals who renovate or repair pre-1978 housing, child care facilities or schools.
The rule requires that by April 2010 contractors and maintenance professionals be certified, that their employees be trained, and that they follow protective lead-safe work practice standards. Trained contractors must post warning signs, restrict occupants from work areas, contain work areas to prevent dust and debris from spreading, conduct a thorough cleanup, and verify that the cleanup was effective.
To foster adoption of the new measures, EPA launched an education and outreach campaign promoting use of lead-safe work practices. EPA's analysis indicated that renovation, repair and painting projects in housing and child-occupied facilities that are likely to contain lead-based paint affect 1.4 million children under age six annually. The new requirements are key components of a comprehensive federal effort to eliminate childhood lead poisoning. These include programs to educate parents and caregivers to keep their housing clean and well-maintained, to make sure their young children wash their hands frequently and eat nutritious food, and to talk to their doctor about testing young children for lead poisoning. Read more about the new rule for renovation, repair and painting to protect against lead poisoning. Read the fact sheet on renovation. En Español. Más información en inglés.
March 2008
March 6, 2008 - EPA made available approximately $500,000 for Tribal Lead Grants. EPA accepted grant proposals from Federally-recognized Indian tribes and tribal consortia to support Tribal educational outreach and to conduct a baseline assessment of Tribal children's existing and potential exposure to lead-based paint and related lead-based paint hazards. In the Request for Proposals (PDF) (24 pp, 167K). EPA described activities eligible for funding, including educational outreach, data gathering, inspections, risk assessments, training, and development of new and innovative approaches to identifying or reducing lead poisoning. EPA awarded grants to Federally-recognized Indian tribes to perform those activities and to encourage Indian tribes to consider continuing such activities in the future. The number of grants EPA funded as a result of this announcement was based on the quality of proposals received and the availability of funding. EPA anticipated that approximately 4-6 awards would be made.
The closing date for applicants to submit proposals under this announcement was April 21, 2008. Applicants could apply via mail or on-line at www.grants.gov. Helpful Grants.gov instructions (PDF) (6 pp, 84K) were provided for on-line application.
February 2008
February 15, 2008 - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) solicited grant proposals from eligible entities to reduce incidences of childhood lead poisoning in low-income communities with older housing. In the Request for Proposals (PDF) (19 pp, 94K), EPA described a new community-based lead grant program and provided potential grant activities that could include outreach, training, ordinance development, and other activities that would result in reduction of childhood lead poisoning. This grant program supports the partnership of national organizations with community-based organizations and local governments to improve the environmental health of communities regarding lead poisoning prevention. EPA awarded grants to provide approximately $2 million to interested entities. EPA anticipated that approximately 6-8 awards would be made. The number of grants EPA funded as a result of this announcement was based on the quality of proposals received and the availability of funding.
The closing date for applicants to submit proposals under this announcement was March 31, 2008. Applicants could apply via mail or on-line at http://www.grants.gov. Helpful Grants.gov instructions (PDF) (5 pp, 32K) were provided for on-line application.
January 2008
January 29, 2008 - EPA issued a final rule under the Toxic Substances Control Act requiring certain manufacturers, including importers, of consumer products intended for use by children to submit unpublished health and safety information on the lead content of children's products, excluding children's metal jewelry. Read more information on this rule.
June 2007
June 5, 2007 - To provide the nation's children with additional protection from lead exposure, EPA issued a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking to require lead-safe work practices and worker training and certification for contractors and construction professionals conducting renovation activities in child-occupied facilities. Child-occupied facilities include child-care centers, preschools, and kindergarten classrooms, and may be located in private homes and apartments, as well as in public or commercial buildings. Whether a dwelling or building is covered by the proposal depends on the number of hours that a child under six years of age regularly spends there.
This proposal supplemented EPA's January 10, 2006, proposed requirements for training, certification and work practices for contractors who perform renovations in most pre-1978 housing. In addition to extending the proposal to cover renovations in child-occupied facilities, the June proposal also required renovation firms to distribute lead hazard information to owners and operators of buildings containing child-occupied facilities, as well as to the parents and guardians of children under age six using the facilities.
Renovation activities that disturb lead-based paint can create lead hazards. A 2003 survey of child care centers by the Department of Housing and Urban Development found that 28 percent of all licensed child care centers nationwide still contain some lead-based paint, and more than half of the centers built before 1960 do. This supplemental proposal is another component of a comprehensive program that will include training and an education and outreach campaign to promote lead-safe work practices. As part of this program, EPA has developed model training courses for renovators and for dust sampling technicians. This program will help to meet the goal of eliminating childhood lead poisoning as a major public health concern by the year 2010.
April 2007
April 13, 2007 - EPA and the Sierra Club reached a settlement on April 13, 2007, under which the Agency will take targeted actions to complement numerous other measures EPA has taken, along with its federal and state partners, to protect children from lead exposure. More information on lead in toy jewelry.
March 2007
March 15, 2007 - EPA announced the availability of two new studies in the Renovation, Repair, and Painting Program rulemaking docket [docket ID number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2005-0049]. On January 10, 2006, EPA proposed a rule establishing requirements to protect residents of pre-1978 housing units from lead hazards due to renovation, repair, and painting activities (71 FR 1588). Since the 2006 proposal, two new studies assessing hazards associated with renovation activities have been completed. They include one study conducted by EPA (Characterization of Dust Lead Levels after Renovation, Repair, and Painting Activities) and a second study conducted by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) - Lead-Safe Work Practices Survey Project. EPA offered the opportunity for the public to comment regarding the proposed work practice standards in light of these studies. Comments were to have been submitted to the docket for the proposed rule by April 16, 2007. More information about the proposed rule and the studies.
March 1, 2007 - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) amended the Request for Proposals (RFP) Number EPA-OPPT-2006-0648, National Community-Based Lead Outreach and Training Grant Program. The amendment (PDF) (1 pg, 9K) clarified eligibility information and extended the closing deadline. The remainder of the information in the Request for Proposals (PDF) (18 pp, 100K) remained unchanged. The closing date for applicants to submit proposals under this amendment to the announcement was April 12, 2007.
January 2007
January 29, 2007 - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) solicited grant proposals from eligible entities to reduce incidences of childhood lead poisoning in low-income communities with older housing. In the Request for Proposals (PDF) (18 pp, 100K) EPA described a new community-based lead grant program and provided potential grant activities that could include outreach, training, ordinance development, and other activities that would result in reduction of childhood lead poisoning. This grant program supports the partnership of national organizations with community-based organizations and local governments to improve the environmental health of communities regarding lead poisoning prevention. EPA awarded grants to provide approximately $1.5 million to interested entities. EPA anticipated that approximately 6-8 awards would be made. The number of grants EPA funded as a result of this announcement was based on the quality of proposals received and the availability of funding.
The closing date for applicants to submit proposals under this announcement was April 2, 2007. Applicants could apply via mail or on-line at www.grants.gov. Helpful instructions (PDF) (3 pp, 26K) were provided for on-line application.
January 17, 2007 - EPA made available approximately $1 million for Tribal Lead Grants. EPA evaluated grant proposals from Federally-recognized Indian tribes and tribal consortia to support Tribal educational outreach and to conduct a baseline assessment of Tribal children's existing and potential exposure to lead-based paint and related lead-based paint hazards. Activities eligible for funding included educational outreach, data gathering, inspections, risk assessments, training, and development of new and innovative approaches to identifying or reducing lead poisoning. EPA awarded grants to Federally-recognized Indian tribes to perform those activities and to encourage Indian tribes to consider continuing such activities in the future. The number of grants EPA funded as a result of this announcement was based on the quality of proposals received and the availability of funding. EPA anticipated that approximately 15-30 awards would be made. The deadline for submission of grant proposals was January 12, 2007.
January 17, 2007 - EPA made available $3 million in funding for Targeted Grants to Reduce Childhood Lead Poisoning, a competitive grant program to address populations still at risk for elevated blood lead levels. EPA evaluated grant proposals to conduct activities to reduce incidences of childhood lead poisoning in vulnerable populations, including projects to: (1) Reduce lead poisoning in areas with high incidences of elevated blood-lead levels; (2) identify and reduce lead poisoning in under-studied areas with high potential for undocumented elevated blood-lead levels; and (3) develop tools to address unique and challenging issues in lead poisoning prevention, especially tools that are replicable and scalable for other areas. Activities eligible for funding included outreach and public education, data gathering, monitoring, training, inspections and assessments, and demonstrations of new and innovative approaches for identifying or reducing lead poisoning. The deadline for submission of grant proposals was January 12, 2007.
March 2006
March 16, 2006 - EPA published "Lead Paint Test Kit Development; Request for Comments" in the Federal Register of March 16, 2006 (71 FR 13561-13563). In this request, EPA asked for information concerning the development of test kits or similar technologies for testing lead in paint that could be used by renovators, repair persons, and painters complying with a future regulation for renovation, repair, and painting activities. The information was considered in formulating EPA's policy and research decisions regarding the development of lead paint test kits.
Comments had to be received on or before April 17, 2006. You could submit comments on Lead Paint Test Kit Development; Request for Comments, identified by Docket ID number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2006-0044, online through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at www.regulations.gov. Other methods for submitting comments were also described in the Request for Comments.
March 8, 2006 - EPA published a notice (71 FR 11570-11572) seeking comment on the Agency's new lead hazard information pamphlet for renovation activities, Protect Your Family from Lead During Renovation, Repair & Painting (PDF) (22 pp, 305K). EPA developed this renovation-specific pamphlet to better inform families about the potential risk associated with renovation activities in target housing. This new pamphlet gives information on lead-based paint hazards in a home, lead testing, how to select a contractor, what precautions to take during the renovation, and proper cleanup activities. Comments on the new brochure had to be submitted by April 7, 2006. More information.
March 2, 2006 - OPPTS published a notice (71 FR 10628-10630) announcing the availability of, and seeking comment on, a revised Economic Analysis to support the Renovation, Repair, and Painting Program (PDF) (1083 pp, 14M) proposed regulation. As discussed in the proposed rule, the revised economic analysis contains the Agency's updated estimate of the potential costs and benefits of the proposed rule. Comments had to be submitted by April 10, 2006. More information.
February 2006
February 27, 2006 - EPA published a notice (71 FR 9750-9752) announcing five public meetings to receive comments from the public regarding the proposed Renovation, Repair and Painting Program requirements. The meetings were held in late March and early April in New York, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, and San Francisco. The FR Notice announced the locations and times for the meetings, and explained meeting procedures. More information.
January 2006
January 10, 2006 - EPA published the Renovation, Repair, and Painting Program proposed rule (71 FR 1588). The proposal seeks to minimize the introduction of lead hazards resulting from the disturbance of lead-based paint during renovation, repair, and painting activities in most housing built before 1978. Comments on this proposed rule, identified by the Docket ID number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2005-0049, had to be submitted by April 10, 2006, through http://www.regulations.gov. Other methods for submitting comments were also described in the proposed rule. More information. Más información.