Lead Hazard Information Pamphlet; Notice of Public Meeting

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPPTS-62133A; FRL-4906-8]

Lead Hazard Information Pamphlet; Notice of Public Meeting

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

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SUMMARY: On March 9, 1994, EPA issued a notice announcing the

availability of its draft lead hazard information pamphlet, entitled

Lead-Based Paint: Protect Your Children, for public review and comment.

The pamphlet, required under section 406(a) of the Residential Lead-

Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act of 1992, will be distributed to owners

and occupants of pre-1978 housing before the commencement of

renovations by paid renovators, and will be distributed to purchasers

and lessees of pre-1978 housing before sale or lease. The comment

period for the pamphlet closed on May 9, 1994. Based on the comments

received, and on information obtained during focus group tests in

several cities, EPA has revised the pamphlet. In the spirit of

maximizing responsiveness to the general public and regulated

community, EPA is scheduling a public meeting to augment the publics'

opportunity to provide input on the pamphlet. Because of the time

constraints imposed by the statutory deadline, however, no additional

comment period will be allowed beyond the public meeting date.

DATES: The meeting will take place on August 29, 1994, from 9 a.m. to

noon. Written requests to participate in the meeting must be received

no later than August 30, 1994.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in the EPA auditorium at 401 M St.,

SW., Washington, DC 20460. The request to participate in the meeting,

identified with docket number OPPTS-62133A must be submitted to: TSCA

Docket Receipt (7407), Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, NE-

G99, Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC

20460. Requests for a waiver to participate in the meeting by those

organizations that did not file main comments must be sent to EPA

Headquarters Hearing Clerk, Mail Code 1900, 401 M St., SW., Washington,

DC 20460.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Charles Franklin, Program Development

Branch, Chemical Management Division (7404), Office of Pollution

Prevention and Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW.,

Washington, DC 20460, Telephone: (202) 260-1781.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Meeting Participation

Each person or organization desiring to participate in the public

meeting must file a written request to TSCA Docket Receipt at the

address listed above. The request must be received by the Agency no

later than August 30, 1994.

An impartial moderator shall preside at the meeting, on behalf of a

panel of EPA representatives, and solicit feedback on a revised draft

pamphlet. Individuals will also receive an opportunity to leave

informal written comments on specific issue areas.

Following the public meeting, EPA will consider the feedback

provided and develop the final version of the pamphlet. Attendees of

the meeting will receive notification of the final pamphlet's

availability. Individuals and organizations who are unable to attend

the meeting may request inclusion on the final mailing list by mailing

a request, including name, organization, and mailing information, to

Charles Franklin at the address listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

CONTACT.

II. Background

Under the Congressional mandate in section 406(a) of TSCA, EPA has

developed a lead hazard information pamphlet, for use in association

with several regulations mandated by the Residential Lead-Based Paint

Hazard Reduction Act [Pub. L. 105-550]. As required by the statute, EPA

is developing the pamphlet in consultation with the Centers for Disease

Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Department of Housing and Urban

Development (HUD).

Section 406(a) of TSCA also requires that EPA issue the pamphlet

for notice and comment. EPA issued a notice in the Federal Register of

March 9, 1994 (59 FR 11119), announcing the draft pamphlet's

availability for public comment. EPA made the draft pamphlet available

through the National Lead Information Clearinghouse, as well as the

TSCA Docket. During the 60-day public comment period, 69 parties

submitted comments. EPA also conducted a series of focus group tests in

five different cities, Atlanta, GA, Birmingham, AL, Chicago, IL,

Hayward, CA, and Washington, DC. EPA has used these focus tests to

solicit general feedback on the presentation of the material from

individuals with a high school education or lower. The results of the

focus tests, combined with the technical and stylistic comments

provided by the public commenters, will help EPA develop a final

pamphlet that meets the informational needs of a broad range of

readers.

III. Role of Pamphlet

This pamphlet will be disseminated as a result of several

Congressional directives that will be implemented in separate

rulemaking initiatives.

Section 406(b) of TSCA requires that EPA promulgate regulations

requiring each person who performs for compensation a renovation of

target housing to provide a lead hazard information pamphlet to the

owner(s) and occupant(s) of such housing prior to commencing the

renovation. In addition, this pamphlet may be used by other Federal

Programs to support their educational and outreach goals and

obligations. EPA issued proposed regulations under section 406(b) on

March 9, 1994 (59 FR 11108), for a 60-day public comment period that

closed on May 9, 1994. EPA is currently reviewing public comments and

preparing the final rulemaking.

Section 1012 of the Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction

Act (also known as ``Title X'') requires that the Department of Housing

and Urban Development (HUD) provide the pamphlet to purchasers and

tenants of housing receiving Federal assistance. These regulations are

under development by HUD.

Section 1018 of Title X requires that EPA and HUD promulgate

regulations requiring sellers or lessors of target housing to provide

purchasers and lessees with the lead hazard information pamphlet. EPA

and HUD expect to issue the proposed regulations for this rulemaking in

late summer or early fall of 1994. Commenters should be aware, however,

that comments received on the pamphlet during the comment period for

the proposed section 1018 regulation will not be used in developing the

final draft of the pamphlet, due by October 28, 1994. Where

appropriate, EPA may consider those comments when developing subsequent

revisions to the pamphlet, as authorized by section 406 of TSCA.

List of Subjects

Environmental protection, Lead.

Dated: August 9, 1994.

Joseph A. Carra,

Acting Director, Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics.

[FR Doc. 94-20034 Filed 8-15-94; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6560-50-F