[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 92 (Friday, May 13, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-11695]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: May 13, 1994]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-4883-7]

 

Availability of Report on the Costs and Benefits of Smoking 
Restrictions: An Assessment of the Smoke-Free Environment Act of 1993

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing the 
availability of and opportunity to comment on a report, ``The Costs and 
Benefits of Smoking Restrictions: An Assessment of the Smoke-Free 
Environment Act of 1993 (H.R. 3434)''.

DATES: Written comments on this report must be submitted on or before 
August 11, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be mailed to Cost/Benefit Analysis, Indoor 
Air Division (6607J), Office of Air and Radiation, U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, 401 M Street, SW., Washington, DC. 20460.
    Copies of the report are available from the EPA Indoor Air Quality 
Information Clearinghouse, P.O. Box 37133, Washington, DC 20013-7133. 
1-800-438-4318.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
David H. Mudarri, Indoor Air Division, (6607J), Office of Air and 
Radiation, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M Street, SW., 
Washington, DC 20460. 202-233-9030.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In compliance with the ``Radon Gas and 
Indoor Air Quality Research Act of 1986'', under which the 
Environmental Protection Agency is directed to conduct research and 
disseminate information on all aspects of indoor air quality, this 
notice announces that the report described below is available for 
public review.
    The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Energy 
and Commerce Subcommittee on Health and the Environment requested that 
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency analyze (quantitatively where 
possible) the compliance costs and the health and economic benefits of 
H.R. 3434. Specifically, the Agency was requested to assess the cost of 
compliance including provisions for smoking lounges; the value of 
benefits resulting from reduced exposure to environmental tobacco smoke 
and changes in smoking behavior including the value of lives saved; the 
value of increased productivity and reduced absenteeism; savings from 
reduced operation and maintenance costs; and savings in fire related 
injuries and property damage.
    The Smoke-Free Environment Act of 1993 (H.R. 3434) would require 
that all residential buildings regularly entered by ten or more persons 
in the course of a week that bans smoking inside the building or 
restricts smoking to separately ventilated smoking rooms. The proposed 
legislation provides for enforcement actions in the United States 
District Courts by an individual, government or other aggrieved entity 
and allows for fines of up to $5,000 per day.
    The report presents EPA's analysis and findings of the costs and 
benefits of implementing national legislation that would establish 
policies that would prohibit smoking indoors in specified buildings 
and/or provide for separately ventilated smoking lounges.

    Dated: April 19, 1994.
Mary D. Nichols,
Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation.
[FR Doc. 94-11695 Filed 5-12-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-M