[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 137 (Tuesday, July 18, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 36806]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-17601]



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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[OPPTS-62148; FRL-4964-8]


Notice of Intent to Form Dialogue Group on Identification of 
Lead-Based Paint Hazards

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: EPA is planning to establish a Dialogue Group on the 
forthcoming rulemaking under section 403 of the Toxic Substances 
Control Act (TSCA). Section 403 directs the Agency to ``. . . 
promulgate regulations which shall identify. . . lead-based paint 
hazards, lead contaminated dust and lead contaminated soil.'' The 
purpose of the Dialogue Group is to provide a forum where interested 
parties can contribute information and give individual perspectives on 
specific policy questions related to this forthcoming rulemaking. 
Agency staff may also ask participants to give their individual 
reactions to specific proposals and questions.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on substantive 
matters, contact: Jonathan Jacobson, Chemical Management Division 
(7404), Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Environmental 
Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460, Telephone: 
202-260-3779, e-mail: [email protected]. For 
information on administrative matters, contact: Andrea Yang, Chemical 
Management Division (7404), Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, 
Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460, 
Telephone: 202-260-4918, e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 403 of TSCA, 15 U.S.C. 2683, directs 
EPA to promulgate regulations that identify lead hazards in paint, 
household dust, and bare residential soil. Title IV of TSCA, titled 
``Lead Exposure Reduction,'' which includes section 403, was added to 
TSCA by the Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act of 1992. 
This latter Act is Title X of the ``Housing and Community Development 
Act of 1992.'' On occasion, therefore, TSCA section 403 may be referred 
to as a section of ``Title X'' or the ``Housing and Community 
Development Act of 1992.''
    Establishing the technical basis for this rulemaking has presented 
a significant challenge to the Agency, particularly in the area of 
assessing the impacts of defining various levels of lead in dust and 
soil as ``hazardous.'' While the Agency continued to work on these and 
related questions, the Agency issued interim guidance on July 14, 1994, 
to meet an immediate and growing need among Federal, state, and local 
officials, property owners, and other decision makers for advice on 
potential hazards from lead-based paint and lead-contaminated dust and 
soil.
    EPA is beginning an examination of a broad range of policy and 
regulatory issues to help it develop the section 403 rule. Because the 
forthcoming regulation will have broad and significant impacts, the 
Agency believes it would be beneficial to involve interested parties in 
this stage of the regulatory development process. EPA, therefore, has 
decided to establish a dialogue process to obtain input from 
knowledgeable individuals who represent groups that would be affected 
by forthcoming regulation (e.g., lead-poisoning prevention advocates, 
housing providers, banking and insurance industries, the lead industry, 
and state and local governments). To ensure that EPA assembles a 
representative range of knowledgeable experts and that meetings are 
productive, the Agency is engaging professional contract support to 
facilitate the meetings.
    The Dialogue Group will examine the following issues: standards for 
paint, dust, and soil; property owners response to standards; and 
implementation issues. Although there will be some discussion of the 
scientific and technical approach for standard setting, EPA would like 
the group to focus on policy questions (e.g, establishing a de minimis 
area of deteriorated lead-based paint).
    The Agency will implement the convening process during July and 
August 1995 and expects that the first meeting of the group will take 
place during September or October 1995. EPA is currently planning to 
hold four monthly meetings, completing the dialogue in early 1996. All 
meetings will be held in Washington, DC and will be open to the public.

    Dated: July 10, 1995.
William H. Sanders III,
Director, Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics.

[FR Doc. 95-17601 Filed 7-17-95; 8:45 am]
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