[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 53 (Friday, March 18, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-6576]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: March 18, 1994]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[OPPTS-62138; FRL-4765-6]

 

Lead Renovation and Remodeling Guidelines; Notice of Availability

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of Availability and Request for Comment.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability for review and comment 
of EPA's draft renovation and remodeling (R&R) guidelines document 
entitled ``Reducing Lead Hazards When Remodeling Your Home.'' This 
document is being developed pursuant to Title IV, section 402(c)(1) of 
the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). Section 402(c)(1) 
specifically, mandates that EPA develop guidelines for homeowners and 
other persons who may engage in renovation and remodeling activities. 
EPA is developing the R&R guidelines in response to Congressional 
concerns about the public's knowledge of lead hazards when conducting 
R&R activities in homes.
DATES: Written comments in response to the draft R&R guidelines 
document must be received on or before April 18, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Please submit three copies of all written comments on the 
draft R&R guideline document to: TSCA Document Receipts (7407), Room G-
99, Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Environmental Protection 
Agency, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460. All comments on the draft 
Guideline document should be identified by Docket Number OPPTS-62138.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For technical information, contact 
Darlene Watford, Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Chemical 
Management Division, Technical Programs Branch [7404], 401 M St., SW., 
Washington, DC 20460, Telephone: 202-260-3989, Fax: 202-260-0001. For a 
copy of the draft R&R guideline document, ``Reducing Lead Hazards When 
Remodeling Your Home,'' contact: the TSCA Assistance Information 
Service at 202-554-1404, TDD: 202-554-0551 or fax your request to 202-
554-5603.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The draft R&R guidelines text is available 
as an electronic file on the Federal Bulletin Board at 9 a.m. on the 
date of publication in the Federal Register. By modem dial 202-512-1387 
or call 202-512-1530 for disks or paper copies. The document is 
available in WordPerfect and ASCII formats.
     Under the Congressional mandate in section 402(c)(1) of TSCA, EPA 
has developed guidance for homeowners and building occupants to alert 
them to potential lead hazards associated with renovation and 
remodeling activities (which may create a risk of exposure to dangerous 
levels of lead). Congress specifically required that these guidelines 
be developed for homes and buildings constructed prior to 1978. It is 
further mandated that these guidelines are to be distributed through 
paint and hardware stores, employee organizations and trade groups, 
State and local agencies, and through other appropriate means.
    The Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics is seeking public 
comment on all aspects of the content and design of the R&R Guidelines 
document.
    In particular, EPA requests comment on the tone of the document, 
and the extent to which the current wording and design tend to support 
(or undermine) its effectiveness as an informational tool. One issue 
that EPA has considered is the need to balance technical accuracy with 
clarity and freedom from overly technical jargon. The extent to which 
the current draft is clear and understandable is of primary concern to 
the Agency, given the broad distribution that the document will have.
    In addition to soliciting public input through this notice, EPA 
will conduct a series of focus group reviews on the draft R&R 
guidelines document to evaluate the effectiveness of the current 
reading level, content, and graphic presentation. EPA will include a 
summary of the focus groups' test results when it announces the 
availability of the final R&R guidelines document in the Federal 
Register.
    EPA also recognizes that this lead hazard information may be 
important in some communities that may have a limited ability to 
utilize information provided in English. For that reason, EPA is 
developing a Spanish language version of the Guidelines document as 
well. The Spanish-language R&R guidelines document will be available 
after the English version has been completed.

    Dated: March 15, 1994.

Mark Greenwood,
Director, Office of Prevention and Toxic Substances.

[FR Doc. 94-6576 Filed 3-16-94; 2:20 pm]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F