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Participation Sought at EPA Lead Proposal Public Meetings

Release Date: 03/22/2006
Contact Information: Enesta Jones, (202) 564-4355 / jones.enesta@epa.gov

(3/22/06) EPA is encouraging public participation and comment at five half-day public meetings to be held across the country for the proposed federal rule, "Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Program," which was published in the Federal Register on Jan. 10, 2006.

To help protect children from dangerous levels of lead paint dust during home renovation activities, EPA is proposing that contractors be trained in the use of lead-safe work practices, renovators and firms be certified, providers of renovation training be accredited, and renovators and painters use simple, but effective, work practices while conducting activities that disturb lead-based paint in pre-1978 homes.

This proposal is one component of a comprehensive program that will also include training and an education and outreach campaign to promote the use of lead-safe work practices. These efforts will help meet the goal of eliminating childhood lead poisoning as a major health concern by 2010.

In addition to the five public meetings, the agency is seeking written comment on the proposed rule until April 10, 2006.

The meetings will be held in Chicago (March 27, from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.); Washington, D.C. (March 29, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.); New York (March 30, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.); Atlanta (April 4, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.); and San Francisco (April 6, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.).

The locations are listed below:

CHICAGO
GSA Conference Center, Metcalfe Federal Building, Room 331
77 West Jackson Blvd., Chicago, Ill. 60604

WASHINGTON, D.C.
U.S. EPA East Building, Room 1153
1201 Constitution Ave.
Washington, D.C. 20460

NEW YORK
Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House, Auditorium
1 Bowling Green
New York, N.Y. 10004

ATLANTA
Atlanta Tradeport, Suite 104
4244 International Parkway
Atlanta, Ga. 30354

SAN FRANCISCO
Phillip Burton Federal Building & U.S. Courthouse, Nevada/California Conference Rooms
450 Golden Gate Ave.
San Francisco, Calif. 94102

Proposed rule and background information: epa.gov/lead