Economic Analyses

The Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics prepares Regulatory Impacts Analyses (RIAs) on most major regulations in accordance with Executive Order 12866 . RIAs prepared in support of rule makings present estimates of the costs and benefits for various regulatory options under consideration, such as bans on production of a substance, bans on its use in certain applications, or restrictions on the ways in which it may be used.

Economic Analysis of the Lead Renovation, Repair, and Painting Program Proposed Rule

On January 10, 2006 EPA proposed requirements under section 402(c)(3) of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) 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 (71 FR 1588). The proposal introduces lead training, certification, and safe work practice requirements for contractors and dust sampling technicians involved in these activities. It would also establish requirements for accrediting providers of training for renovators and dust sampling technicians, and would allow States, Territories, and Indian Tribes the opportunity to apply for and receive authorization to administer and enforce the new renovation provisions.

The regulatory impact analysis, Economic Analysis for the Renovation, Repair, and Painting Program Proposed Rule [PDF, 14.4 MB], analyzes the costs, benefits, and impacts of the proposed rule.

For further details on the rule, see Lead Safe Work Requirements to Protect Children During Renovation, Repair and Painting Activities.

Economic Analysis of the Proposed Rule to Modify Reporting of Lead and Lead Compounds Under EPCRA Section 313

EPA published a proposed rule on August 3, 1999 (64 FR 42221) and a final rule on January 17, 2001 (66 FR 4500) to lower the reporting thresholds for lead and lead compounds which are subject to reporting under section 313 of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986 (EPCRA) and section 6607 of the Pollution Prevention Act of 1990 (PPA). Lead and lead compounds are persistent, bioaccumulative toxic (PBT) chemicals, and this rule supplemented the October 1999 EPCRA section 313 final rule on PBT chemicals. The information reported under EPCRA section 313 and section 6607 of the PPA is entered into the Toxics Release Inventory and made available to the public.

The attached PDF files contain the economic analyses for the proposed and final rules, including the costs, benefits, and impacts of lowering the EPCRA section 313 thresholds for lead and lead compounds.

Economic analysis of final rule [PDF, 878 KB]

Economic analysis of proposed rule [PDF, 822 KB]

For further details on the rule see TRI Lead and Lead Compounds.

Economic Analysis of the Final Rule to Modify Reporting of Persistent Bioaccumulative Toxic Chemicals Under EPCRA Section 313

On October 29, 1999 EPA published a final rule (64 FR 58666) to expand the list of toxic chemicals subject to section 313 of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986 (EPCRA) and section 6607 of the Pollution Prevention Act of 1990 (PPA), lower the reporting thresholds for certain persistent bioaccumulative toxic (PBT) chemicals including mercury, dioxin, and PCBs, and revise other reporting requirements.  The information that is reported under EPCRA and the PPA is entered into the Toxics Release Inventory and made available to the public.

The economic analysis for the final rule [PDF, 1.2 MB] analyzes the costs, benefits, and impacts of the rule.

For further details on the rule, see Persistent, Bioaccumulative, and Toxic (PBT) Chemicals Rules.

TSCA Title IV: Section 402(a): Target Housing and Child-Occupied Facilities: Final Rule Regulatory Impact Analysis

On August 29, 1996, the Agency published a final rule for the certification and training of lead-based paint professionals (61 FR 45778) under section 402 of the Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA) to ensure that individuals conducting lead-based paint activities in target housing and child-occupied facilities are properly trained and certified, that training programs providing instruction in such activities are accredited and that these activities are conducted according to reliable, effective and safe work practice standards. The Agency has also finalized a Federal regulation under section 404 of TSCA that will allow States and Indian Tribes to seek authorization to administer and enforce the regulations developed under section 402. The goal of this regulation is to ensure the availability of a trained and qualified work force to identify and address lead-based paint hazards, and to protect the general public from exposure to lead hazards.

The regulatory impact analysis [PDF, 694 KB] analyzes the costs, benefits, and impacts of sections 402a and 404 of TSCA, Title IV.

For further details on the rule see Training and Certification Program, Section 402/404.

Regulatory Impact Analysis of Lead - Based Paint Hazard Disclosure Regulation for Residential Renovations

Recognizing that families have a right to know about lead-based paint and potential lead hazards in their homes, Congress directed EPA and HUD to work together to develop disclosure requirements for sales and leases of older housing. Under section 1018 of the Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act of 1992 (also known as Title X), EPA and HUD announced the new Federal program on March 6, 1996, to take effect between September 6 and December 6 of that year.

The regulatory impact analysis [PDF, 293 KB] which analyzes the costs, benefits, and impacts of section 1018, Title X.

For further details on the rule see Residential Lead-Based Paint Disclosure Program, Section 1018 of Title X.