United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Prevention, Pesticides
and Toxic Substances
[Mail Code 7404]
EPA 747-F-98-001
June 1998
(http://www.epa.gov/lead)
& EPA FACT SHEET
Proposed Rule on Identification of Lead-Based Paint Hazards
Under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), paint, dust, and soil are sources of lead that
constitute lead-based paint hazards if exposure to them "would result" in adverse human health
effects. In the proposed rule (63 Federal Register 30302, June 3, 1998), EPA defines hazardous
conditionsfor paint, dust, and soil. These standards apply to target housing (most housing built before
1978) and child-occupied facilities, such as day-care centers. They can be used as a tool to prevent
childhood lead-poisoning by identifying properties that contain hazards before children are harmed.
How are Lead-based Paint, Dust,
and Soil Hazards Defined?
Lead-Based Paint. Lead-based paint is
defined by statute as paint with a lead
concentration of 1 milligram per square
centimeter, or 0.5 percent by weight. EPA
proposes that lead-based paint is in "poor
condition" and therefore is a hazard under any
of the following conditions:
More than two square feet of
deteriorated paint on interior
components with large surface areas,
such as inside walls, ceilings, floors, and
doors-,-
• More than 10 square feet of
deteriorated paint on exterior
components with large surface areas,
such as outside walls; or
• Deteriorated paint on more than 10
percent of the total surface area of
interior or exterior components with
small surface areas, such as window
sills, baseboards, soffits, and trim.
EPA is not proposing separate standards for
chewable surfaces or friction and impact
surfaces at this time, but instead is asking for
public input on how best to address these
sources.
Dust. EPA is proposing that dust be
considered a hazard based on average
measurements of the loading of lead in dust.
Loading is the weight of lead present per unit
of surface area. The proposed dust-lead
hazard standards are 50 micrograms per
square foot (ug/ft2) or higher for uncarpeted
floors and 250 ug/ft2 or higher for interior
window sills. EPA is not proposing hazard
standards for carpeted floors or window
troughs at this time.
Soil. EPA proposes that bare soil on
residential property and child-occupied
facilities be considered a hazard based on the
yard-wide average concentration of lead.
Lead concentration is defined as the relative
amount of lead within the soil measured in
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parts per million (ppm) by weight. The
proposed hazard standard is 2000 ppm.
EPA recommends removing or permanently
covering soil containing lead that equals or
exceeds this level.
Clearance Standards
Under the proposed rule, post-abatement dust
cleanup must be repeated until dust clearance
standards have been met. The proposed
clearance standards are the same as the dust-
lead hazard standards: 50 ug/ft2 and 250
ug/ft2 for uncarpeted floors and window sills,
respectively. Although EPA has not proposed
a hazard standard for dust in window troughs,
EPA is proposing a dust-lead clearance
standard of 800 ug/ft2 for window troughs.
How to Identify & Control Hazards
Although more than 60 million homes contain
some lead-based paint, EPA estimates that
many fewer have lead-based paint hazards.
The only way to determine if a home contains
hazards is to have it tested by a certified
professional called a risk assessor. EPA is
developing guidance with recommendationson
when property owners should consider having
a risk assessment performed. This guidance
also will contain recommendations on how
property owners should respond to any
hazards identified by the risk assessor.
Additional information may be obtained by
calling the National Lead Information
Clearinghouse at 1-800-424-LEAD and
requesting EPA publications including Protect
Your Family From Lead in Your Home and
Lead in Your Home: A Parent's Reference
Guide.
How to Submit Comments
Comments on this proposed rule may be
submitted in written or electronic form. Each
comment must bear the docket control number
62156. A public version of the official record
for this rule (docket control number 62156) is
available for inspection from 12 noon to 4 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, excluding lega|
holidays, in the TSCA NonconfidentiaF
Information Center, Room NEB607, 401 M
Street, SW, Washington, DC.
Written comments. Written comments must
be received on or-before September 1, 1998.
All comments should be sent in triplicate to:
OPPT Document Control Officer (7407), Office
of Pollution Prevention and Toxics,
Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M
Street, SW, Room G099, East Tower,
Washington, DC 20460.
Electronic Comments. Comments and data
also may be submitted electronically to:
opptncic@epamail.epa.gov. No Confidential
Business Information (CBI) should be
submitted through e-mail. E-mailed comments
must avoid the use of special characters and
.any form of encryption, and be submitted in
ASCII file format. Comments and data will
also be accepted on disks in WordPerfect
5.1/6.1 or ASCII file format. Electronic
comments on this proposed rule may be filed!
online at many Federal Depository Libraries.
Oral comments. If requested, the Agency will
hold public meetings to hear oral comments.
The Agency will announce in the Federal
Register the time and place of any public
meetings. Oral statements will be scheduled
on a first-come first-served basis by calling the
telephone number listed in the Federal
Register notice. All statements will be made
part of the public record and will be considered
in the development of the final rule.
For More Information
For general information contact the National
Lead Information Center's Clearinghouse,
1-800-424-LEAD (5323). Information is also
available on EPA's website at http://www.epa.
gov/lead/. For specific technical and policy
questions regarding this rule, contact Jonathan
Jacobson at (202) 260-3779 or e-mail at
jacobson.jonathan@epamail.epa.gov.
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