United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Prevention, Pesticides,
and Toxic Substances
(7404)
EPA-747-F-96-005
August 1996
FACT SHEET
EPA Releases Final Rule to Ensure Safe Conduct of Lead-
Based Paint Activities
ACTION
In an expansion of its campaign to reduce the
public's exposure to lead hazards, the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency is issuing new
regulations to protect the public from the
hazards of improperly conducted lead-based
paint activities. The rule contains several key
elements, including:
> Training and certification requirements to
ensure the proficiency of contractors who
offer to conduct lead-based paint inspection,
risk assessment and abatement services in
residences and day care centers;
> Accreditation requirements to ensure that
training programs provide quality instruction
in current and effective work practices;
*• Work practice standards to ensure that lead-
based paint activities are conducted safely,
reliably and effectively; and
> Procedures for States and Tribes to apply to
EPA for authorization to administer these
elements at the State or Tribal level.
For States and Tribes that choose to apply to
EPA for authorization, the final rule also
provides a model state lead program that they
can use to develop their programs. In States
or Tribes that do not apply for EPA
authorization to administer a program, EPA will
proceed to establish a program based on the
federal program elements contained in the rule.
BACKGROUND
To protect families from exposure to lead in paint,
dust and soil, Congress passed the Residential
Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act of 1992,
also known as Title X. About three-quarters of
the nation's housing stock built before 1978 (64
million homes) contains some lead-based paint.
When properly maintained and managed, this paint
poses little risk. If improperly managed, chips and
dust from this paint can create a health hazard.
Recent studies indicate that 1.7 million children
have blood-lead levels above safe limits; the most
common source of lead exposure in the U.S. is
lead-based paint hazards.
Under Title X, EPA and other federal agencies are
developing a national program and supporting
policies to prevent and reduce lead-based paint
exposures and hazards. EPA has undertaken
several efforts primarily designed to improve the
public's awareness/understanding of lead hazards.
EPA also has supported the development of
training centers to assist in ensuring that lead
hazards are managed safely.
Today's rule builds on these efforts by ensuring
the public that contractors claiming to know how
to inspect, assess or remove lead-based paint, dust
or soil are well qualified, trained and certified to
conduct these activities.
Additionally the model state lead program
contained in the rule will help ensure consistency
in the training and certification requirements and
work practice standards developed by States,
Indian Tribes and U.S. Territories.
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BUILDINGS COVERED
Contractors conducting lead-based paint
activities in "target housing" and in
"child-occupied facilities" will be
required to obtain training, receive certification,
and follow the standards contained in the rule.
Target housing includes housing constructed
prior to 1978, except housing for the elderly or
persons with disabilities (unless any one or more
children age six years or under resides or is
expected to reside in such housing for the elderly
or persons with disabilities) or any
zero-bedroom dwelling.
A child-occupied facility is a building, or a
portion of a building, constructed prior to 1978,
that is visited regularly by the same child, six
years of age or under. Such facilities include,
but are not limited to, day-care centers,
preschools and kindergarten classrooms.
The new rule does not address work performed
in public and commercial buildings, on steel
structures, bridges, and other industrial facilities.
EPA is currently evaluating the need to establish
a training and certification program for
individuals and firms working in these buildings.
EFFECT ON STATES AND TRIBES
This rule should have minimal impact on States
and Tribes since the development of State and
Tribal programs is voluntary. States and Tribes
that choose to administer a lead training and
certification program will be required to submit an
application to receive EPA authorization. To
assist States and Tribes that choose to develop
and implement programs, the Agency provides
program guidance and grants. Additionally, the
final rule authorizes States and Tribes to establish
fees to support their programs.
EFFECTIVE DATES
States may apply to EPA for approval to
administer lead contractor training/certification
programs of their own 60 days after promulgation
of the rule.
In States that do not apply or receive EPA
approval to run their own programs within two
years following promulgation of the rule, the
Agency will proceed to establish programs based
on the federal training, certification, and
accreditation requirements and work practice
standards contained in the rule. While EPA's
requirements will help ensure that certified lead
professionals are available nationwide, the Agency
does not require property owners to test, assess or
abate lead-based paint, dust or soil.
FURTHER INFORMATION
• For a copy of the rule, supporting documents, fact sheets and other information about lead call
the National Lead Information Clearinghouse (NLIC) at (800) 424-LEAD, or TDD (800) 526-
5456 for the hearing impaired. You may also send your request by fax to (202) 659-1192 or by
Internet E-mail to ehc@cais.com. Visit the NLIC on the Internet at
http://www.nsc.org/nsc/ehc/ehc.html.
• The final rule and supporting documents, and other lead information also are available
electronically, and may be accessed through the Internet.
Electronic Access:
Gopher: gopher.EPA.gov:70/ll/Offices/PestPreventToxic/Toxic/lead_pm
WWW: http://www.epa.gov/opptintr/lead
Dial up: (919) 558-0335
FTP: Ftp.epa.gov {To login, type "anonymous." Your password is your
Internet E-mail address.)
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