[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 175 (Monday, September 11, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47248-47257]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-22497]




[[Page 47247]]

_______________________________________________________________________

Part V





Environmental Protection Agency





_______________________________________________________________________



Guidance on Identification of Lead-Based Paint Hazards; Notice

  Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 175 / Monday, September 11, 1995 / 
Notices  
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[[Page 47248]]


ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPPTS-62150; FRL-4969-6]


Guidance on Identification of Lead-Based Paint Hazards

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Section 403 of Title IV of the Toxic Substances Control Act 
(TSCA), requires EPA to promulgate regulations that ``identify. . 
.lead-based paint hazards, lead-contaminated dust and lead-contaminated 
soil.'' While EPA is in the process of developing section 403 rules, it 
has issued information designed to serve as guidance until the 
promulgation of those rules. This guidance was originally issued in a 
July 14, 1994 memorandum from Lynn R. Goldman, Assistant Administrator 
for Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances, entitled ``Guidance on 
Residential Lead-Based Paint, Lead-Contaminated Dust, and Lead-
Contaminated Soil.'' Subsequently, copies of the guidance have been 
available from the Agency upon request. In order to further disseminate 
the guidance, the Agency is publishing the full text of that document 
in this notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For technical information, contact 
David Topping, Chemical Management Division (7404), Office of Pollution 
Prevention and Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., 
Washington, DC 20460, Telephone: (202) 260-7737, e-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 (HCDA), Pub. L. 
102-550, contains 16 titles amending and extending a number of laws 
relating to housing and community development. Title X of the HCDA 
titled ``The Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act of 
1992'' contains five subtitles extending and establishing programs for 
reducing exposure to lead, principally in paint. Subtitle B of Title X 
amends the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), 15 U.S.C. 2601, et. 
seq., by adding Title IV, which requires EPA to take certain actions to 
address lead-based paint concerns, including establishing requirements 
for training and accreditation of contractors conducting lead paint-
related work.
    Section 403 of TSCA requires EPA to promulgate regulations that 
``identify . . . lead-based paint hazards, lead-contaminated dust and 
lead-contaminated soil'' for purposes of Title IV of TSCA and the 
entire Title X of the HCDA. The Agency is continuing to develop this 
rule and expects to promulgate final section 403 rules by October of 
1997.
    Recognizing that the section 403 rulemaking process is technically 
complicated and would be protracted, the Agency issued information on 
lead-based paint hazards on July 14, 1994, in response to an increasing 
number of requests for guidance from State and EPA Regional offices, as 
well as public health and housing officials. The information (the 
``Guidance'') was issued in the form of a memorandum from Lynn R. 
Goldman, Assistant Administrator for Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic 
Substances, to EPA Regional Toxics Program Division Directors. The 
Guidance was made available to the public through various means, 
including the National Lead Information Center Clearinghouse and EPA's 
RCRA/Superfund Hotline. In response to concerns that additional steps 
should be taken to ensure that the Guidance is readily available to the 
general public, the Agency is publishing the full text of the Guidance 
in today's notice.

II. Appropriate Use of the Guidance

    The Agency notes that these recommendations were designed to serve 
solely as guidance for purposes of Title IV of TSCA and, as such, do 
not have the effect of regulation. Additionally, the Guidance reflects 
risk management decisions based upon consideration of the information 
available to the Agency at the time that it was issued. As more 
complete information becomes available to the Agency, it will be 
considered in the section 403 rulemaking. Other caveats related to the 
Agency's intentions and the appropriate use of the Guidance are 
contained in the sections entitled ``Use of This Guidance'' and 
``Relationship of Soil Levels in This Guidance to the OSWER Interim 
Soil Lead Directive'' in the Guidance text. For example, these sections 
explain that the Guidance does not apply to RCRA Corrective Action and 
Superfund sites.

III. Updated Citations

    The Guidance contains a now outdated reference to draft EPA 
sampling procedures, referenced as ``Residential Sampling for Lead: 
Protocols for Sampling Lead in Dust and Soil (EPA, 1994).'' Since the 
release of the Guidance, these procedures have become available in the 
final version, as Residential Sampling for Lead: Protocols for Dust and 
Soil Sampling, EPA 747-R-95-001 (March 1995). Copies of this document 
can be obtained from the National Lead Information Center Clearinghouse 
at 1-800-424-LEAD.

IV. Text of the Guidance

Agency Guidance on Residential Lead-Based Paint, Lead-Contaminated 
Dust, and Lead-Contaminated Soil

July 14, 1994.
    Recently EPA has received an increasing number of requests for 
advice on residential lead-based paint hazards, including hazards from 
lead-contaminated dust and soil in and around homes. These requests 
have come from State and EPA Regional officials, as well as from public 
health and housing personnel, concerned with childhood lead poisoning. 
While the Agency is in the process of developing a rule to identify 
these hazards under section 403 of the Toxic Substances Control Act 
(TSCA), 15 U.S.C. 2683, we believe it is appropriate to respond to 
these requests by issuing guidance at this time based upon our best 
currently available information.
    EPA believes that it would not be prudent to issue national 
regulatory standards under section 403 at this time since a number of 
relevant research activities are currently underway and are scheduled 
to be completed in the near future. It is expected that this research 
will allow the Agency to develop standards that would more accurately 
direct resources toward residences that would benefit most from 
abatement and control activities. In the interim, the recommendations 
in this document represent the Agency's best judgement given its 
current state of knowledge and experience and are intended to serve as 
guidance until the promulgation of the TSCA section 403 rule. EPA 
emphasizes that these recommendations are intended solely as guidance 
and, as such, are not intended, nor can they be relied upon, to create 
any obligation or right that may be created in the future by rules 
issued under TSCA section 403. Persons to whom this guidance is 
directed may decide to follow it or to act at variance with it and may 
use the guidance in conjunction with analysis of specific site 
circumstances. The Agency also reserves the right to change this 
guidance at any time without public notice.

Use of This Guidance

    It is the Agency's intent that this guidance be used to prioritize 
primary prevention activities that address hazards from lead in and 
around residences. EPA expects that these 

[[Page 47249]]
hazards will be among those that will be identified when regulations 
are issued under TSCA section 403. The levels and conditions described 
in this guidance should be used by decisionmakers (risk assessors, risk 
managers, etc.) to identify lead-based paint hazards, sources of lead 
exposure, and the need for control actions in residential environments 
where children may be present. They should not be regarded as 
definitive statements of the lead hazard associated with specific 
environmental lead measurements, but the Agency believes that the 
criteria provided herein can inform and guide decisions on the 
identification of lead-based paint hazards and appropriate responses. 
Also, any lead-based paint-related activities (including lead 
detection, abatement, clearance, and disposal) should comply with all 
Federal, State, and local regulations.
    Additionally, it should not be inferred that the recommendations in 
this guidance will, in and of themselves, guarantee the elimination of 
risks to children from residential lead exposure. Rather, this guidance 
is an attempt to identify the general types of environmental conditions 
and response activities that, given the current state of our knowledge, 
are likely to reduce risks over various broad ranges of environmental 
lead levels that may be found in the residential environment.
    Finally, this guidance is not to be applied in addressing potential 
threats from lead at CERCLA and RCRA Corrective Action sites. Guidance 
developed by the Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response is the 
appropriate tool for addressing these types of sites.

General

    Although considerable progress has been made in the reduction of 
environmental lead (e.g., the phase-out of leaded gasoline and lead-
soldered food cans, more stringent drinking-water standards, etc.), 
residual lead contamination remains ubiquitous in both residential and 
commercial areas. In this guidance, the Agency's approach is to focus 
on the sources of lead that are related to the nation's housing stock. 
While there are numerous pathways for lead exposure, eliminating or 
reducing the role of lead-based paint and lead-contaminated soil as 
direct exposure sources (and as contributors to indoor lead dust) will 
significantly reduce total lead exposures from residential sources.
    Soil and dust at other locations (e.g., day care centers, public 
playgrounds, and other non-residential areas) can also be important 
contributors to a child's lead exposure. While these areas are outside 
the scope of TSCA section 403 authority, their potential contribution 
to a child's total lead exposure should also be considered when 
deciding upon community-wide responses to environmental lead.
    In addition, the Agency recognizes that a number of factors 
contribute to risks from lead, including the nature of the lead 
sources, the amount of exposure to each source, and others. In this 
guidance, the Agency is using the levels of lead (and, for soil, the 
expected extent of children's contact) as a surrogate for risk.
    At low to moderate levels of lead in soil and dust, and where paint 
deterioration is not extensive nor substrate failures or moisture 
problems present, EPA believes that interim controls can be an 
effective way to temporarily reduce exposures.1 Interim control of 
lead in dust, soil, or painted surfaces must be predicated upon 
demonstrated ability to maintain and monitor such management 
strategies, based upon condition of the environment, expected use and 
contact, and reasonably anticipated changes in condition and/or use. At 
higher lead levels in soil and dust, and under deteriorated conditions 
of lead-based painted surfaces, more rigorous and long-term exposure 
reduction interventions should be taken. Under certain conditions 
related to extremely high soil concentrations or structural damage to 
painted surfaces, interim controls may not be appropriate for 
particular areas or components and only complete abatement of the 
component by an adequately trained professional will ensure adequate 
protection.

    1``Interim controls'' means a set of measures designed to reduce 
temporarily human exposure or likely exposure to lead-based paint 
hazards, such as paint repair, specialized cleaning, temporary 
containment and ongoing monitoring of lead-based paint hazards or 
potential hazards.
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    EPA policymakers do not believe that they are in a position to 
identify these levels and conditions as regulatory standards at this 
time. However, the Agency has developed this guidance based on 
consideration of estimated health impacts from lead exposure, the need 
to prioritize residences that would benefit from abatement, and 
comparison of risk reduction benefits and cost allocation projected for 
various control measures.

Sequence of Source Control Activities

    Because of the interrelationship between lead-based paint, lead-
contaminated dust, and lead-contaminated soil (e.g., lead in paint can 
contribute lead to dust and soil, lead in soil can contribute lead to 
interior dust, etc.), it is important that the sources of lead be 
considered in proper order when conducting response activities. For 
example, if soil is being contaminated by deteriorating exterior lead-
based paint, it is preferable to address the paint first, immediately 
followed by the soil. If the soil were addressed first, it may become 
recontaminated during work on the paint. In general, exterior paint 
should be addressed prior to soil, while soil and interior paint should 
be addressed prior to interior dust. This best avoids potential 
recontamination problems among the three. Exceptions should be made 
when there will be delays in addressing a source or when levels in one 
medium (such as interior dust) are clearly hazardous and immediate 
actions are needed to protect health. If, in the previous example, the 
exterior paint could not be addressed immediately for some reason, it 
would not be appropriate to delay attention to the soil, since the soil 
could continue to act as a source of exposure.

Lead-Based Paint

    Lead-based paint is of concern both as a source of direct exposure 
through ingestion of paint chips, and as a contributor to lead in 
interior dust and exterior soil. Lead was widely used as a major 
ingredient in most interior and exterior oil-based paints prior to 
1950. Lead compounds continued to be used as corrosion inhibitors, 
pigments, and drying agents from the early 1950's. In 1972, the 
Consumer Products Safety Commission limited lead content in new 
residential paint to 0.5% (5,000 ppm) and, in 1978, to 0.06% (600 ppm).
    The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) estimates 
that three-quarters of pre-1980 housing contain some lead-based paint. 
The occurrence, extent and concentration of lead-based paint increase 
with the age of the housing. Ninety percent of privately-owned housing 
units built before 1940 contain some lead-based paint; 80% of 1940-1959 
units; and 62% of 1960-1979 units.2

    2Comprehensible and Workable Plan for the Abatement of Lead-
Based Paint in Privately-Owned Housing: A Report to Congress, U.S. 
Department of Housing and Urban Development, Washington, DC, 
December 7, 1990.
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    Coatings of residential paint are defined by statute to be lead-
based if the lead content exceeds either 1.0 mg/cm2 or 0.5% by 
weight. Lead-based paint should be either abated or addressed through 
interim controls if it is found in any of the following circumstances: 
(1) it is deteriorated (in any location); (2) it is present (in any 
condition) on impact or friction surfaces; or (3) it is present 

[[Page 47250]]
(in any condition) on surfaces that are accessible for mouthing or 
chewing by children. ``Deteriorated paint'' means any interior or 
exterior paint that is peeling, chipping, chalking, or cracking, or is 
located on an interior or exterior surface or fixture that is damaged 
or deteriorated. An ``impact surface'' is an interior or exterior 
surface that is subject to damage from repeated impacts (e.g., certain 
parts of door frames). A ``friction surface'' is an interior or 
exterior surface that is subject to abrasion or friction (e.g., certain 
window, floor, and stair surfaces). A surface is considered to be 
accessible for mouthing or chewing by children if it protrudes from the 
surrounding area to the extent that a child can chew the surface, and 
is within three feet of the floor or ground (e.g., window sills, 
railings, and the edges of stair treads). (Recommendations for sampling 
of painted surfaces are attached.)
    When it is determined that paint abatement and/or interim control 
activities will be performed on housing components, they should be 
performed according to practices that will be described in the 1995 HUD 
Guidelines and the regulations to be promulgated under section 402 of 
TSCA, 15 USC 2682 (as appropriate for the unit in question), including 
clearance testing.3,4 The section 402 standards are expected to be 
proposed in several months. (Guidance on sampling and analysis of dust 
for clearance testing is attached.) Until either the HUD Guidelines are 
published in final form or the section 402 standards are issued, 
abatement activities should be performed according to the current HUD 
guidelines and interim control activities should be conducted according 
to state and local requirements, since they are not addressed in the 
existing HUD guidelines.

    3 ``Abatement'' means any set of measures designed to 
permanently eliminate lead-based paint hazards, including the 
removal of lead-based paint and lead-contaminated dust, the 
permanent containment or encapsulation of lead-based paint, the 
replacement of lead-painted surfaces or fixtures, and the removal or 
permanent covering of lead-contaminated soil.
    4HUD is developing detailed technical guidelines pursuant to 
section 1017 of Title X of the Housing and Community Development Act 
of 1992 to describe best practices for all activities related to the 
evaluation and control of lead-based paint hazards. While applicable 
specifically to federally-assisted housing, the described practices 
provide useful technical guidance for all types of housing with 
similar conditions. These Guidelines are now undergoing clearance 
and approval within HUD and are available in draft form for review. 
These Guidelines will supersede HUD's 1990 ``Interim Guidelines for 
Hazard Identification and Abatement in Public and Indian Housing,'' 
which focused primarily on testing and abatement (and do not address 
risk assessment or interim controls).
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Lead-Contaminated Dust

    In many cases, lead-contaminated interior dust can be the most 
direct source of a child's lead exposure, acting as a pathway for lead 
from lead-based paint, exterior soil, dust carried home from 
occupational exposure, etc. This guidance primarily confronts this 
source by addressing the residence-related sources of lead in dust--
namely, lead-based paint and soil. The effect of the recommendations 
for paint and soil is removal or control of these two sources, followed 
by cleanup of the previously contaminated dust. In the context of their 
lead abatement programs, HUD has established ``clearance levels,'' 
which are part of the evaluation of the thoroughness of abatement and 
subsequent cleanup activities. Clearance levels are ``technology 
based''--that is, they indicate what can be achieved after proper 
abatement or interim control actions. Clearance levels are appropriate 
since the marginal cost of attaining them is typically quite low once 
an intervention is underway, and EPA and HUD experience indicates that 
they can be achieved through proper abatement and interim control 
activities. The Agency therefore recommends that the following 
clearance levels be met after abatement or interim control activities 
have been performed:

                                                                        
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Location                           Lead loading        
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Uncarpeted floors5                          100 g/ft2 (0.93 mg/
                                             m2)                        
Interior window sills                       500 g/ft2 (4.65 mg/
                                             m2)                        
Window wells                                800 g/ft2 (7.45 mg/
                                             m2)                        
------------------------------------------------------------------------
5It is anticipated that the 1995 revision to the HUD guidelines will    
  lower the current clearance standard of 200 g/ft2 for        
  uncarpeted floors to 100 g/ft2.                              

    Section 403 directs the Agency to issue rules that identify lead-
based paint hazards, which include lead-contaminated dust that would 
result in adverse health effects. The levels that will be developed in 
the section 403 rulemaking will indicate to risk assessors that a lead-
based paint hazard (for dust) exists. Obviously, the levels will be 
different in purpose than clearance levels--the former indicating that 
a hazard is present and the latter indicating that source control and 
cleanup have been appropriately performed. Accordingly, hazard levels 
are to be used during risk assessment and re-evaluation, whereas 
clearance levels are used to confirm the success of abatement and/or 
interim control activities.
    Until the standards can be developed under section 403, the above-
listed clearance levels should be used in identifying lead-based paint 
hazards and sources of lead exposure, and determining the need for 
control actions. The Agency reiterates that these recommendations are 
based upon lead levels that have been demonstrated to be achievable 
through abatement and interim control activities and they are not based 
upon projected health effects associated with specific dust lead 
levels. As a result of continued Agency evaluation of the relationship 
between interior dust lead levels and health effects, these hazard 
levels may be revised in future guidance.6 Also, when assessing 
multiple sources of lead, dust lead concentration may be a more 
appropriate measurement. The utility of concentration measurements for 
identifying section 403 hazards from dust will be further considered in 
the development of the section 403 rulemaking.

    6Principal among the studies expected to provide further 
information on the relationship between dust lead and children's 
blood lead levels is the recent Rochester Lead-in-Dust study. This 
HUD-funded study was conducted by the University of Rochester from 
May to December of 1993 and included approximately 200 children 
whose primary source of lead exposure was from house dust. Peer 
review of this study began in June of 1994.
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    Other potential sources of lead that may be present in house dust 
in addition to lead-based paint and lead-contaminated soil include 
neighborhood sources, such as demolition of a nearby building, 
sandblasting of a bridge, or other activities involving structures that 
may contain lead-based paint. Also, lead may be brought into the home 
on clothing of residents employed in lead-related occupations, or as 
the result of some hobbies. Additionally, deteriorated paint which 
contains some lead, but at levels lower than 1.0 mg/cm2 or 0.5% by 
weight, could be a source. Depending upon the extent to which these 
sources contribute lead to interior dust, regular cleaning of the 
residence may not provide sufficient reduction in the level of lead 
exposure from dust, and the sources should be identified and 
controlled. It is often possible to identify these situations through 
sampling and analysis of the interior dust.
    Since lead levels measured by wipe samples (``dust lead loading'') 
are dependent upon both the amount of collectable dust on a surface and 
the concentration of lead in that dust, high values for either of these 
two factors 

[[Page 47251]]
could produce high wipe sample lead results. That is, a large amount of 
low-lead-concentration dust and a small amount of high-lead-
concentration dust could result in similar wipe sample results. 
Therefore, while low dust lead loading values may indicate that sources 
that contribute to household dust have been sufficiently controlled, 
high values could result from any of the following situations: (1) 
there are some insufficiently controlled sources that continue to 
contribute significant amounts of lead to the dust; (2) relatively 
large amounts of low-lead dust are present; or (3) some combination of 
these occurs.
    Dust lead concentration measurements can provide insight as to 
which of these conditions is resulting in high wipe sample values, as 
well as assist risk assessors in identifying possible sources. For 
example, if interior paint has been ruled out as a source, and dust 
concentrations approach those of exterior soil, it may well be the 
result of soil being tracked into the house from outside. Also, if 
paint is in sound condition and soil concentrations are low but the 
interior dust concentrations are high, it is possible that other 
sources, such as dust carried home from lead-related work, are present. 
Through a systematic process of elimination, many of the sources of 
lead in house dust can often be determined. While a detailed discussion 
on how to perform these types of assessments is outside the scope of 
this guidance, these issues will be addressed by certification 
procedures and training requirements for parties involved in lead-
based-paint activities (which includes abatement, inspection and risk 
assessment) currently being developed under section 402 of TSCA.
    To ensure that excessive exposures are not being caused by the 
amount of dust in the house, the Agency recommends that efforts always 
be made to minimize dust in residences, even after paint and dust 
sources have been addressed through any needed interim control and/or 
abatement activities. A key component of these efforts is the need to 
maintain a residence in a cleanable state (i.e., in such a condition 
that it can be effectively cleaned by the occupant using reasonable 
cleaning procedures). For example, water-damaged or worn wood flooring 
may have a rough surface with crevices from which dust cannot be 
readily removed through routine wet mopping. Such surfaces should 
either be replaced or repaired so that they are cleanable. Likewise, it 
is important that the residence be effectively and regularly cleaned 
and that exposures to any interior dust be minimized. Recommended 
activities to reduce interior dust lead levels and associated exposures 
include: mopping floors, window ledges, and accessible surfaces with a 
warm detergent solution; washing pacifiers and bottles if they fall on 
the floor; washing toys and stuffed animals regularly; and ensuring 
that children wash their hands before meals, naps, and bedtime. These 
activities, as well as the importance of nutrition and other factors 
relevant to children's risk from lead exposure, should always be 
stressed as part of public education and awareness programs, regardless 
of the measured lead concentration in any one medium.

Lead-Contaminated Soil

    Lead-contaminated exterior bare soil is of concern both as a direct 
source of exposure through inadvertent ingestion due to children's 
normal hand-to-mouth activity, and as a contributor to indoor dust lead 
levels (e.g., when tracked into a residence from outside).
    Common sources of lead in residential soil include deteriorating 
exterior lead-based paint and historical airborne deposition onto the 
soil surface as the result of point source emissions or leaded 
gasoline. These sources have added substantially to the naturally 
occurring lead in soils, which generally range from 5 - 50 parts per 
million.7 Also, industrial sources such as smelters, recycling 
facilities, and mining activities can result in lead contamination at 
residential areas. This adds difficulty in relating lead levels in soil 
to potential health effects because lead from different sources may 
pose different levels of potential hazard. One apparent difference is 
the extent to which ingested lead originating from different sources is 
taken up into the body--that is, the bioavailability of the lead. 
Decisionmakers should consider this and any other available information 
when implementing the recommendations contained in this guidance, 
particularly where non-paint sources of lead are involved. That is, if 
the soil is contaminated by lead from other sources, rather than lead-
based paint, decisionmakers should investigate the types of lead 
compounds present and their unique characteristics. Agency guidance on 
consideration of bioavailability of lead in risk assessment can be 
found in the Guidance Manual for the Integrated Exposure Uptake 
Biokinetic Model for Lead in Children (available from National 
Technical Information Service, U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Attn: Sales, 
Springfield, VA 22169 (703/487-4650), as document number PB 93-963510).

    7 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (1989) Review of the 
National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Lead: Exposure Analysis 
Methodology and Validation. U.S. EPA Office of Air Quality Planning 
and Standards, RTP, NC. EPA-450/2-89/011.
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    Soil lead concentrations in the United States vary widely, from 
less than one to tens of thousands of parts per million (ppm). This 
range of concentrations and attendant potential exposure levels 
indicates that it is appropriate to develop a scaled strategy of risk 
reduction activities, depending upon the concentrations at particular 
locations and other site-specific factors. The Agency's recommendations 
for response activities at varying soil lead concentrations are as 
follows.
    The Agency is recommending that (depending upon use patterns, 
populations at risk, and other factors), when lead concentrations are 
observed that exceed 400 ppm in bare soil, further evaluation should be 
undertaken and physical exposure-reduction activities, commensurate 
with the expected degree of risk, are appropriate.8 The Agency 

[[Page 47252]]
believes that the 400 ppm level serves as a reasonable current 
benchmark for the purposes of this guidance. Therefore, the Agency 
recommends that further evaluation and appropriate exposure-reduction 
activities be undertaken when soil lead concentrations exceed 400 ppm 
at areas expected or intended to be used by children.9 
(Recommendations for soil sampling and analysis are attached.) Further 
evaluation activities may include blood lead screening of children and 
others in the community.

    8The selection of 400 ppm in this guidance is based upon two 
decisions. The first is that the level should help in reducing the 
threat that environmental lead poses to the public. In this 
guidance, EPA estimates that beginning exposure reduction activity 
at 400 ppm will help ensure that a typical child or group of 
children exposed to lead would have an estimated risk of no more 
than 5% of exceeding a blood lead level of 10 g/dl. This 
benchmark may change in the future section 403 rulemaking.
    The second decision is to use the best available tool for 
assessing the relationship between children's blood lead levels and 
environmental lead levels. Current research indicates that young 
children are particularly sensitive to the effects of lead and 
require specific attention in the development of lead standards. A 
level that is protective for young children is expected to be 
protective for older population subgroups. In the same environmental 
setting, pregnant women would be expected to have blood lead levels 
lower than would young children, and this may further limit fetal 
exposures.
    The Agency has examined both epidemiological studies and 
modeling approaches for this purpose. Both of these will be further 
evaluated as part of the effort to develop section 403 rulemaking. 
However, given the need to issue guidance at this time, the Agency 
is choosing to base the guidance on the Integrated Exposure Uptake 
Biokinetic (IEUBK) model, which EPA designed to evaluate exposures 
to children in a residential setting.
    In general, the model generates a probability distribution of 
blood lead levels for a typical child, or group of children, exposed 
to a particular soil lead concentration and concurrent lead levels 
from other sources.
    The spread of the distribution reflects the observed variability 
of blood lead levels in several communities. This variability arises 
from several sources, including behavioral and cultural factors.
    The identification of lead levels from other sources (due to 
air, water, diet, etc.) is an essential part of characterizing the 
appropriate blood lead distribution for a specific neighborhood or 
site. For the purpose of deriving the 400 ppm value used in this 
guidance, the background lead exposure inputs to the IEUBK model 
were determined using national averages, where suitable, or typical 
values. Thus, the estimated level of 400 ppm is associated with an 
expected ``typical'' response to these exposures, and should not be 
taken to indicate that a certain level of risk (e.g., exactly 5% of 
children exceeding 10 g/dl blood lead) will be observed in 
a specific community (e.g., in a blood lead survey).
    Because a child's exposure to lead involves a complex array of 
variables, because there is population sampling variability, and 
because there is variability in environmental lead measurements and 
background levels of lead in food and drinking water, results from 
the model may differ from results of blood lead screening of 
children in a community. Extensive field evaluation of the model is 
in progress and the model will be evaluated further once these 
efforts are completed. EPA may base the future section 403 
rulemaking on the model once these evaluations have been completed, 
or on another methodology.
    9400 ppm is also used as the residential soil lead screening 
level for corrective Action under the Resource Conservation and 
Recovery Act (RCRA) and cleanups under the Comprehensive 
Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) in 
the Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response (OSWER) Interim 
Soil Directive. OSWER's screening level is not a ``cleanup 
standard,'' nor automatically as ``cleanup goal.'' Rather, it is a 
level of contamination above which there is enough concern to 
warrant site-specific study of risks.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    When soil lead levels exceed 400 ppm and children are likely to be 
present, exposure-reduction responses should focus on interim controls 
designed to change use patterns and create barriers between children 
and contaminated soil. This involves taking steps to keep children away 
from certain areas and to reduce exposure to bare soil in accessible 
areas. As an example of changing the use pattern, thorny shrubs can be 
planted to keep children from playing around houses that have elevated 
soil lead concentrations immediately next to the house. Also, play 
equipment can be moved from bare soil contaminated areas to encourage 
children to play elsewhere or, for more highly contaminated areas, 
access can be restricted by fencing. As an example of the use of 
barriers to reduce exposure, grass or other groundcover can be 
established and maintained or the area can be covered with mulch or 
gravel. While the effectiveness of many of these interim control 
actions cannot yet be quantified, the Agency believes that they can 
reduce exposure. However, whenever interim controls are used, their 
condition should be monitored to ensure continued effectiveness. For 
example, the condition of plants, groundcover, etc., that serve as use-
modifying and barrier-type elements should be visually inspected to 
ensure that they have become well established and remain effective at 
preventing exposure in accordance with the upcoming HUD Guidelines.
    Within the range of 400 - 5,000 ppm, the degree of risk reduction 
activity should be commensurate with the expected risk posed by the 
bare soil, considering both the severity of exposure (as reflected by 
the soil lead concentration) and the likelihood of children's exposure. 
At concentrations in the lower segment, emphasis should be placed on 
reducing exposures through interim controls at those areas expected or 
intended to be used by children. If the area is not frequented by 
children, these exposure reduction activities may be less rigorous. 
Where bare-soil lead levels are found to be 2,000 ppm or more, interim 
controls should be implemented even if the area is not frequented by 
children.
    Increasingly aggressive exposure-reduction activities are warranted 
at higher soil lead levels, with very high levels indicating that soil 
abatement may be necessary. For purposes of prioritizing abatements, 
the Agency recommends soil abatement when lead levels are found at 
5,000 ppm or more in residential bare soil. Appropriate activities at 
this level of lead concentration may include removal and replacement of 
the soil, the use of more permanent covers (e.g., paving), or other 
activities. Of course, state and local agencies should consider any 
other factors that affect the actual risks and benefits of abatement 
when determining whether abatements may be necessary at lower levels, 
including, for example, prevalence of elevated blood lead levels in 
children.
    The Agency is suggesting 5,000 ppm for this higher level because of 
the need to prioritize the types of activities that can often be 
resource intensive. Factors considered in the choice of this level 
include the risk reduction that may be achieved by different measures 
and the resources needed to reduce those risks. Consequently, this 
level is designed to indicate where there is a relatively higher 
certainty that abatement or other extreme activities would be 
appropriate from a risk reduction and resource prioritization 
perspective. Based upon estimates of residential soil lead 
distributions (from HUD, 1990), 5,000 ppm would target the soil at an 
estimated \1/2\% of U.S. homes.
    Because of the likelihood that lead-contaminated soil will have 
previously contributed lead to interior dust, specialized cleaning is 
recommended for the interior of residences to meet dust clearance 
levels after soil abatement or interim control activities have been 
conducted.
    The Agency's recommendations for residential lead-contaminated soil 
are summarized in Table I.

[[Page 47253]]


  Table 1.--EPA Recommendations for Response Activities for Residential 
                       Lead-Contaminated Bare Soil                      
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    Bare Soil Lead        Recommended   
         Area of Concern             Concentration         Response     
                                         (ppm)            Activities    
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Areas expected to be used by                                            
 children, including:                                                   
  residential backyards,          400-5,000           Interim controls  
  daycare and school yards,                            to change use    
  playgrounds,                                         patterns and     
  public parks, and                                    establish        
  other areas where children                           barriers between 
   gather.                                             children and     
                                                       contaminated     
                                                       soil, including: 
                                                        planting ground 
                                                       cover or         
                                                       shrubbery to     
                                                       reduce exposure  
                                                       to bare soil,    
                                                        moving play     
                                                       equipment away   
                                                       from contaminated
                                                       bare soil,       
                                                        restricting     
                                                       access through   
                                                       posting, fencing,
                                                       or other actions,
                                                       and              
                                                        control further 
                                                       contamination of 
                                                       area.            
                                                      Monitor condition 
                                                       of interim       
                                                       controls.        
                                                      Public notice of  
                                                       contaminated     
                                                       common areas by  
                                                       local agency.    
                                 ---------------------------------------
                                  >5000               Abatement of soil,
                                                       including:       
                                                        removal and     
                                                       replacement of   
                                                       contaminated     
                                                       soil, and        
                                                        permanent       
                                                       barriers.        
                                                      Public notice of  
                                                       contaminated     
                                                       common areas by  
                                                       local agency.    
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Areas where contact by children   2000-5000           Interim controls  
 is less likely or infrequent                          to change use    
                                                       patterns and     
                                                       establish        
                                                       barriers between 
                                                       children and     
                                                       contaminated     
                                                       soil, including: 
                                                        planting ground 
                                                       cover or         
                                                       shrubbery to     
                                                       reduce exposure  
                                                       to bare soil,    
                                                        moving play     
                                                       equipment away   
                                                       from contaminated
                                                       bare soil,       
                                                        restricting     
                                                       access through   
                                                       posting, fencing,
                                                       or other actions,
                                                       and              
                                                        control further 
                                                       contamination of 
                                                       area.            
                                                      Monitor condition 
                                                       of interim       
                                                       controls.        
                                                      Public notice of  
                                                       contaminated     
                                                       common areas by  
                                                       local agency.    
                                 ---------------------------------------
                                  >5000               Abatement of soil,
                                                       including:       
                                                        removal and     
                                                       replacement of   
                                                       contaminated     
                                                       soil, and        
                                                        permanent       
                                                       barriers.        
                                                      Public notice of  
                                                       contaminated     
                                                       common areas by  
                                                       local agency.    
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Relationship of Soil Levels in This Guidance to the OSWER Interim Soil 
Lead Directive

    A variety of Agency programs address lead under a number of 
statutes. Lead in soil is addressed under TSCA Title IV (including TSCA 
sections 402 and 403), the RCRA Corrective Action program, and CERCLA 
(Superfund), each of which differs somewhat in purpose and in the types 
of sites to which they apply. Title IV section 403 regulations, which 
have yet to be issued, will identify lead hazards in paint and 
residential dust and soil. RCRA Corrective Action applies to RCRA 
hazardous waste sites. CERCLA applies to sites that have been 
contaminated by releases of CERCLA hazardous substances (which include 
lead).
    While this guidance applies to housing, which is a significant part 
of the coverage of TSCA Title IV, it is not issued under the legal 
standards of any of these statutes, nor is it to be used to support 
statutorily driven requirements of CERCLA or RCRA. Instead, the 
guidance is designed to allow screening of the worst sources of lead-
contaminated soil related to the housing stock among the potentially 
huge number of sites affected. The top one percent of housing sites 
consists of about 1,000,000 locations.
    Because there is such a large number of housing sites, the purpose 
of this guidance is to recommend a set of nationwide levels that will 
screen those sites at which, EPA expects, decisionmakers will want to 
consider various risk reduction activities. The higher the level and 
the more likely exposure will occur, the more aggressive the risk 
reduction activities undertaken should be. The ultimate decision, 
however, will be made locally by various federal, state and local 
officials, or by building owners, operators or occupants. These 
decisionmakers will need to consider a variety of issues, including the 
risk reduction to be achieved by different measures and the resources 
needed to reduce those risks. Given the wide applicability of this 
guidance, EPA has developed generic standards to deal with the most 
risky sites--in particular, those where the Agency feels most confident 
that actual adverse effects could occur.
    The Agency's recommendations for evaluating RCRA Corrective Action 
and CERCLA sites are contained in the OSWER Interim Soil Lead 
Directive. The OSWER directive deals with a much smaller number of 
sites, at which extensive site characterization will have been 
performed before cleanup decisions are made. RCRA and CERCLA programs, 
thus, will often have site-specific exposure values, which may be in a 
relatively narrow range. As a result, values chosen for action under 
the RCRA or CERCLA programs may be different from those selected under 
this guidance. Also, once the section 403 

[[Page 47254]]
regulations are promulgated, OSWER intends to issue a final (to replace 
the interim) directive.
The Section 403 Rulemaking
    At present, the Agency's section 403 rulemaking activities are 
focused on a variety of technical issues related to more accurate 
assessment of the risks associated with residential lead-based paint, 
lead-contaminated dust, and lead-contaminated soil. These activities 
include continued analysis of models and slope studies, including 
evaluation of the range of environmental conditions over which they are 
adequate. Complicating factors include likely differences in the 
bioavailability of lead from different sources and the variability in 
dust lead levels on interior surfaces. Because the Agency's work on 
these issues involves ongoing as well as previously published research, 
additional time will be required before levels for lead-based paint 
hazards can be determined with more specificity and proposed in the 
section 403 rulemaking.
    As a result of these additional investigations, the section 403 
rulemaking may differ from this guidance in a number of areas. These 
may include the role of dust concentration (in addition to, or in place 
of, dust lead loading), the quantitative or relative degree of blood 
lead level reduction that may be targeted, methods to relate 
environmental lead measurements to expected blood lead levels, and 
holistic standards rather than specific levels for each exposure 
source.

Attachments

Guidance for Measuring Lead in Soil and Paint
Sampling and Analysis of Dust for Clearance Testing
Guidance for Measuring Lead in Soil and Paint

July 1994

Preface

    Lead-contaminated house dust is considered the most significant 
source of lead poisoning for the greatest number of children. All house 
dust contains some lead; the amount depends on lead contamination from 
other sources such as deteriorated lead-based paint and lead-
contaminated soil. Millions of children live in dwellings with high 
dust-lead levels and routinely put dust-laden fingers, toys, and other 
objects into their mouths. Deteriorated lead-based paint and soil also 
may individually contribute significantly to a child's lead exposure if 
ingested. However, a more common scenario is the contamination of house 
dust by paint and soil and the child's subsequent ingestion of the 
contaminated house dust. One way to control high house dust lead levels 
and dust-lead exposure is to control the sources of lead that 
contaminate house dust, namely lead-contaminated bare soil and 
deteriorated lead-based paint.

Soil Sampling Overview

    Soil is a major reservoir of lead in our environment. It has been 
contaminated with lead from many years of airborne particulate fallout 
from automobile exhaust, from industrial sources, and from the 
extensive use of lead-based paint on residential housing and other 
structures. Children who play in bare soil may be directly exposed to 
lead. Soil tracked into the home (e.g., on shoes or by wind) 
contaminates house dust and, thus, may expose children through the dust 
medium. The purpose of this section is to assist the reader to develop 
and implement a soil sampling strategy to determine whether the soil 
outside of a dwelling poses a significant health hazard to children.
    Because only areas of bare soil are considered likely lead hazards, 
the focus of this guidance is to assess lead levels in areas of bare 
soil.10 While only bare soil needs to be sampled, a property owner 
may wish to have additional sites sampled if the ground covering on 
those sites may be disturbed by such activities as gardening or 
excavation.

    10 Title X defines ``Lead contaminated soil'' as bare soil on 
residential property that contains lead at or in excess of the 
levels determined by the EPA to be hazardous to human health.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

A soil sampling strategy should be designed to:
      Identify the location of soil-lead hazards outside of the 
dwelling.
      Provide recommendations to the property owners or other 
interested parties on the best ways to control identified hazards.
      Do the assessment at an affordable price to enable most 
property owners in the United States to have such an assessment 
conducted.
    Due to the diversity of housing stock in the U.S., residential 
soil-lead assessments must be done case-by-case. The federal government 
can provide only general guidelines on where to collect samples. Actual 
sampling locations are based on information obtained during a 
preliminary assessment of the property and on the professional judgment 
of the person collecting the samples.
    If sample analysis costs were trivial, then numerous soil samples 
could be collected at each residence to fully characterize lead levels. 
But analytical cost, in the range of $15 per sample, is not trivial. 
Therefore, to keep costs affordable, the sampling strategy must limit 
the number of soil samples analyzed.
    When collecting only a limited number of samples from a yard, the 
major source of uncertainty in the results is from collecting samples 
from very small areas relative to the total area of interest. Imagine 
that a single soil sample is collected from an unusually high, but 
small, lead-contaminated area, or from a small section of the yard that 
recently had lead-free potting soil spilled on it. Most of these 
variations are out of the control of or unknown to the person 
collecting samples. One simple approach to reduce this problem is to 
sample from larger areas.
    The easiest and most cost-effective way to sample from larger areas 
is to collect field composite samples. A field composite sample 
consists of individual sub-samples collected from two or more locations 
and combined into one sample for analysis (the composite sample). When 
only a few samples can be feasibly analyzed at a residence due to time 
and money constraints, composite sampling offers a more cost-effective 
approach and provides more accurate information than collecting a few 
single location samples.
    At least two composite samples per dwelling or building should be 
collected where bare soil is present. General sampling locations are as 
follows:
      one from bare soil in the child's principal play area(s) 
and
      one from bare soil areas in the front or back yard (if 
present) and/or from the foundation drip line.
    Vegetable gardens, pet sleeping areas, and bare pathways are also 
potential sampling sites, depending on the situation.
    Once sampling areas are identified, sub-sampling locations within 
these areas need to be determined. No more than 10 sub-samples should 
be collected into one composite sample. Without much gain in 
representativeness, combining more than 10 sub-samples in composite 
samples may add extra costs to laboratory lead analysis.

Determining Collection Locations for Each Composite

 Option A

    Sub-sampling locations in bare soil play areas are selected by 
first sketching the area and then drawing a circle just encompassing 
the accessible bare area. A second circle is drawn inside the first 
with one-half the radius and three equally-spaced sampling locations 

[[Page 47255]]
selected at random on the inner circle. Soil sub-samples are then 
collected at each location. This process may be repeated for up to 
three bare soil play areas, if present.
    To sample the building foundation or dripline, take four individual 
sub-samples. Where possible, given accessibility limitations and the 
availability of bare soil, each sub-sample should be located at random 
in a bare soil area at the dripline on a different side of the house. 
Composite the four individual foundation/dripline sub-samples into one 
sample for lead analysis. At other sampling locations in the yard, 
samples should be collected following the procedures for play areas.

Option B

    Each composite sample should consist of bare area soil sub-samples 
collected from 3 to 10 distinct locations roughly equidistant from each 
other along an axis. For samples collected along the foundation 
dripline, sub-samples should be collected at least 2 to 6 feet away 
from each other. At other sampling locations, samples should be 
collected at roughly equidistant points along each axis of an ``x'' 
shaped grid.

Sampling Equipment and Methods

    Samples may be collected using a coring tool to acquire the top 1/2 
inch (or 1 centimeter) of the soil surface. Soil coring devices may not 
be useful in sandy, dry, or friable soil. In these cases, a stainless 
steel scoop or the lip of the sample container itself may be used.
    If paint chips are in the core sample taken, they should be 
included as part of the sample. Paint chips should not be excluded from 
the soil sample, since they are part of the soil matrix. However, there 
should be no attempt to oversample paint chips. Following the detailed 
sampling procedures outlined in ``Residential Sampling for Lead: 
Protocols for Sampling Lead in Dust and Soil (EPA, 1994),'' is 
essential to correctly apply the guidance provided here.

Interpreting Results

    Bare soil, if highly contaminated with lead, is thought to be a 
significant hazard to children who play on it. It may also be a 
significant source of tracked-in or wind-blown lead that subsequently 
contaminates house dust. The level of hazard is determined by comparing 
the sampling results to the section 403 soil lead guidance.
    If duplicate composite samples are collected from the same bare 
soil area(s), the arithmetic average of the two lead levels should be 
compared to the Section 403 guidance. If non-composited individual 
samples are taken instead of composites, within an area expected to 
have relatively homogeneous lead levels, the arithmetic average of the 
individual samples should be compared to the standard. However, 
individual samples above the standard might possibly indicate that 
there are inherently large differences in lead levels and that more 
sampling or some remediation should be considered.

Sampling and Testing for Lead in Paint Where to Sample

    For a residential unit, all interior rooms, the exterior sides of 
the unit, and the outside property around the unit are to be inspected. 
The residence should be divided into room equivalents. Room equivalents 
are standard interior rooms, stairways and hallways which are not 
usually regarded as rooms, portions of very large rooms, each of the 
sides of the house, and the outside property. Within the room 
equivalents, painted components are to be identified and grouped by 
component type, substrate, and visible color. For example, if there are 
four walls in a room, all made of plaster, and all painted with white 
paint, these four walls are all grouped together. One wall of the four 
is to be randomly selected to represent the four walls. In similar 
fashion, the inspection continues in each room equivalent with the 
identification of unique combinations of component, substrate, and 
visible color. A random representative area of each unique combination 
is to be sampled and tested in each room equivalent.
    For each of these designated components, an area on the component 
is to be chosen which represents the paint on that component. During 
the inspection, components which are accessible surfaces, friction 
surfaces, impact surfaces, or have deteriorated paint are to be 
identified.

How Many Samples

    It is expected that between 50 to 200 components will be identified 
for testing at a residential unit.
    In multifamily housing with more than 20 units, a random sample of 
units for inspection is allowed. Units and buildings that have similar 
construction, floor plans, and painting history should be grouped for 
sampling purposes. Samples may be selected for each group. In 
multifamily housing with 20 or fewer units, each unit is to be sampled. 
In both cases, individual units are to be sampled following the 
guidance on where to sample described for residential units. The number 
of units in the sample should be determined from Table I, which is 
attached. However, the decision logic for a sample of units is more 
complicated than for single residential units, and should be fully 
grasped before a sample is selected.

How to Sample

    The recommended method for testing in a residential unit at this 
time is the K shell reading from a portable XRF instrument. Substrate 
corrections are to be made where necessary. Standard reference material 
paint films developed by NIST for usage with XRFs are to be used to 
demonstrate that XRF instruments are in control. XRF results are in 
units of milligrams per square centimeter.
    An average of three readings is recommended. Each reading should be 
approximately 15 seconds with a new source. Appropriate adjustments in 
reading time should be made for source age.
    Where portable XRF is not feasible due to a surface being narrow or 
curved, where greater accuracy is desired, or where comparison to the 
percent by weight standard is desired, paint samples can be collected 
and sent to a laboratory for analysis. The paint samples should be 
collected from a one square inch area. Care should be taken to collect 
all the paint in the area, and to minimize the inclusion of substrate 
material. Lead in paint samples collected in this way can be reported 
in both milligrams per square centimeter and percent by weight. If a 
surface is so deteriorated that XRF is not feasible and a paint sample 
cannot be collected from a square inch, then a strip of peeling paint 
is to be collected. Lead from such a sample can only be reported in 
percent by weight units.

How to Analyze Paint Samples

    Paint chip samples should be analyzed by a laboratory recognized by 
EPA's National Lead Laboratory Accreditation Program. Paint samples 
should be no more than 500 milligrams in weight. If the paint samples 
received by the laboratory are larger than 500 milligrams, the 
laboratory should homogenize and subsample the paint samples to select 
a subsample of approximately 500 milligrams for the analysis. Results 
reported by the laboratory must make the appropriate adjustment for the 
subsampling.

Conclusions

    For single houses and units, conclusions are reached as follows. 
XRF results are to be corrected for substrate effects where necessary. 
Corrected XRF results are divided into three categories: positive, 
inconclusive, and negative. Reading averages of 1.6 mg/cm2 or more 


[[Page 47256]]
are classified as positive; reading averages of 0.4 mg/cm2 or less 
are classified as negative. All other reading averages are classified 
as inconclusive. K-shell XRF results in the positive category indicate 
lead is present at or above 1.0 mg/cm2. K-shell XRF results in the 
negative category indicate lead is not present at or above 1.0 mg/
cm2. The probability of false positives is currently estimated to 
be at least less than 10%, and less than 5% in most cases. The 
probability of false negatives is similarly estimated to be at least 
less than 10%, and less than 5% in most cases. Inconclusive results 
should be confirmed by laboratory analysis. Inconclusive XRF results on 
accessible, impact, friction or deteriorated surfaces should be 
regarded as positive for lead unless a subsequent laboratory test 
proves otherwise.
    When paint chip laboratory results are reported in milligrams per 
square centimeter, a result greater than or equal to 1.0 is positive 
for lead. When the results are in percent by weight, a result greater 
than or equal to 0.5% is positive for lead. If laboratory results are 
in both units, and at least one result is above the 1.0 mg/cm2 or 
0.5% standard, then the sample is positive for lead.
    Locations tested by XRF or paint chip sampling may represent other 
locations. Refer back to the original inspection to determine the 
housing components which the samples represent. Findings of positive, 
negative, or inconclusive apply to all the components represented by a 
sample.
    For multi-family housing of 20 or more units where a sample of 
units has been selected, group the sample results by component type, 
such as ``kitchen walls'' or ``doors.'' Each component type group 
should consist of at least 40 samples to the extent this is practical. 
Classify XRF results as positive, inconclusive, or negative following 
the rules above. For any component type with 20% or more positive 
results, lead is present at or above the 1.0 mg/sq on one or more of 
the components of that type. If all sample results are negative or all 
sample results are less than 1.0 mg/cm2, lead is not present at or 
1.0 mg/cm2 on any components of that type. All other cases are 
inconclusive and require laboratory testing.
    To do the laboratory testing, take a paint sample for all XRF 
sample results that were greater than or equal to 1.0 mg/cm2. If 
any of these results are positive, reach the conclusion that lead is 
present at or above 1.0 mg/cm2 on at least one component of the 
type in question. If no results are positive, reach the conclusion that 
lead is not present at or above 1.0 mg/cm2 for any components of 
that type. Results from the sample can be used to determine which 
component types need abatement or control, which do not, and which need 
further testing in the unsampled units.

   Table 1.--Number of Units to Be Tested in Multifamily Developments   
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 No. of units in building or   No. of units to                          
  group of similar buildings      be tested                             
----------------------------------------------                          
21-26                          20                                       
                                                                        
27                             21                                       
                                                                        
28                             22                                       
                                                                        
29-30                          23                                       
                                                                        
31                             24                                       
                                                                        
32                             25                                       
                                                                        
33-34                          26                                       
                                                                        
35                             27                                       
                                                                        
36                             28                                       
                                                                        
37                             29                                       
                                                                        
38-39                          30                                       
                                                                        
40-50                          31                                       
                                                                        
51                             32                                       
                                                                        
52-53                          33                                       
                                                                        
54                             34                                       
                                                                        
55-56                          35                                       
                                                                        
57-58                          36                                       
                                                                        
59                             37                                       
                                                                        
60-73                          38                                       
                                                                        
74-75                          39                                       
                                                                        
76-77                          40                                       
                                                                        
78-79                          41                                       
                                                                        
80-95                          42                                       
                                                                        
96-97                          43                                       
                                                                        
98-99                          44                                       
                                                                        
100-117                        45                                       
                                                                        
118-119                        46                                       
                                                                        
120-138                        47                                       
                                                                        
139-157                        48                                       
                                                                        
158-177                        49                                       
                                                                        
178-197                        50                                       
                                                                        
198-218                        51                                       
                                                                        
219-258                        52                                       
                                                                        
259-299                        53                                       
                                                                        
300-379                        54                                       
                                                                        
380-499                        55                                       
                                                                        
500-776                        56                                       
                                                                        
777-1004                       57                                       
                                                                        
1005-1022                      58                                       
                                                                        
1023-1039                      59                                       
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    For buildings or groups of similar buildings with 1,040 units or 
more, test 5.8 percent of the number of units, rounded to the 
nearest unit. EXAMPLE: If there are 2,170 units, 5.8 percent is 
125.86 units, so 126 units should be tested.

Dust Clearance Testing

July 1994

Background

    Section 403 of the Residential Lead-Based Paint hazard Reduction 
Act of 1992 requires EPA to promulgate regulations which identify lead-
based paint hazards, lead-contaminated dust, and lead-contaminated 
soil. The purpose of this document is to summarize clearance testing 
procedures to identify lead dust hazards that may remain after lead 
abatements or application of interim controls.

Who Should Sample

    Clearance testing for dust should be conducted after lead 
abatements or after application of interim controls. Clearance testing 
should be conducted by a party independent of the person or 
organization that completed the abatement or interim controls.

When to Sample

    Sampling of dust should take place at least one hour after 
completion of all abatement and interim control work, including clean-
up. All interior rooms or areas and exterior areas should be visually 
clean before collecting dust samples. If this is not the case, clean 
the rooms and areas before starting dust collection for clearance 
testing.

Where to Sample

    Identify the interior rooms or areas and exterior areas of the 
residence where abatements or interim controls were carried out. If 
there was an interior containment area, most of the clearance sampling 
should be conducted within the containment area. If there was no 
interior containment area, all interior rooms or areas should be 
sampled. Designate rooms or areas in the interior for sampling. An 
interior area is a portion of a the residence that is equivalent to a 
room, even though it is not ordinarily regarded as such. Hallways and 
stairways are examples of areas in a house. In addition, very large 
rooms should be divided into areas.
    If on-site paint removal took place in the interior, collect one 
floor sample, one interior window sill sample, and one exterior window 
sill sample from each of the interior rooms or areas designated for 
sampling. If no on-site paint removal took place in the interior, 
select one floor sample and one window sample, either an interior or 
exterior sill, in each room or area designated for sampling.
    If there were any exterior abatements or interim controls, select 
one exterior window sill and one other horizontal surface in a living 
area or near an 

[[Page 47257]]
entryway for testing, preferably from the sides or exterior areas of 
the house where abatements or controls were applied. A porch railing or 
the top step of a stairway are examples of horizontal surfaces on the 
exterior. If there was an interior containment area, collect one floor 
sample outside the containment area but within 10 feet of the airlock.

How Many Samples

    The total number of samples will depend on the number of interior 
rooms, the presence of an interior containment area, whether there was 
any exterior work, the number of windows present, and the presence of 
horizontal surfaces on the exterior.
    For example, consider a single family house with 8 interior rooms 
and areas. In this case suppose abatement had taken place in 4 of the 
interior rooms, and on the front and back of the house. There was no 
interior containment area, and on-site removal of paint took place in 
the interior. All rooms had windows. There would be 26 dust samples for 
this house, 3 from each of the 8 interior rooms or areas, and 2 from 
the exterior.
    As another example, consider another house with 8 interior rooms or 
areas. Suppose abatement had taken place in the interior, in 5 rooms, 
with a containment separating these 5 rooms from the rest of the house. 
Suppose no on-site removal of paint had taken place. There would be 11 
interior dust samples, 2 from each of the 5 rooms where abatements were 
done, plus one floor sample within 10 feet of the containment area. If 
there had been any exterior work, 2 dust samples would have been 
collected from the exterior.
    In multi-family housing of more than 20 units, random sampling of 
units for clearance testing is allowed. Units and buildings that have 
similar construction and were cleaned in the same manner should be 
grouped for sampling purposes. Samples may be selected for each group. 
The number of units in the sample should be derived from Table I, which 
is attached. In this case, guidance on where to sample for the selected 
units is the same as for an individual house. However, if any component 
in the sample of units fails clearance, that component, in all the 
unsampled units, must be re-cleaned, as well as the specific components 
that failed clearance in sampled units. The significance of this aspect 
of clearance failure should be grasped before selecting a sample of 
units.

How to Sample

    Draw or obtain a floor plan of the house or unit. Rooms, areas, and 
locations of windows should be clearly marked on the floor plan. If 
there were exterior abatements, identify the window exterior sills and 
horizontal surfaces closest to the exterior areas that were worked on. 
Using information about the abatement or interim control applications, 
designate interior rooms and areas and exterior areas for sampling.
    Using the floor plan, go through the residence and make selections 
of where to sample. For floors, divide each room or area into three 
segments, randomly select one of the segments, and then, within the 
segment, randomly select either a position near a wall or a position 
near the center. If there is one window in a room or area, that window 
should be sampled. If there is more than one sample, randomly select an 
interior window sill and/or an exterior window sill. Note that if there 
are two or more windows in a room, the interior and exterior sills may 
come from different windows.
    The basic method for collecting dust clearance samples is the wipe 
method. Other dust collection methods may be used provided the user 
establishes comparability to the wipe method.
    To collect floor samples, use a template or tape to mark off one 
square foot within the floor location selected. Use a wipe method to 
collect dust within the template or taped area. Clean the template 
between samples if using a non-disposable template. Take other 
appropriate steps to avoid contamination of samples.
    For sampling interior and exterior window sills and exterior 
horizontal surfaces, use tape to mark the specific section to be 
sampled. Be sure what is delineated by the tape can be measured.
    After collection of dust, fold the wipe and place it in a clean 
glass or plastic container. Label the container so that the sample can 
be associated with the location from which it was collected. Measure 
all sampling areas not delineated by the template, and in all cases 
indicate the sampling area on each label for each container.

How to Analyze Dust Samples

    Dust samples are to be analyzed for ``total lead,'' not 
``bioavailable lead.'' Samples should be analyzed at a laboratory 
recognized as proficient for lead in dust analysis by the EPA National 
Lead Laboratory Accreditation Program (NLLAP).

Conclusions

    At this time, the standards for clearance are 100 g/
ft2 for floors, 500 g/ft2 for interior window sills, 
and 800 g/ft2 for exterior window sills and exterior 
horizontal surfaces. These numbers are for wipe samples. If a 
collection method other than the wipe method is used, the user is 
responsible for providing comparable standards for clearance.
    Samples which are less than the appropriate standard are said to 
have passed clearance, and all rooms or areas represented by those 
samples have passed clearance.
    Samples above or equal to the appropriate standard have failed 
clearance, and all rooms or areas represented by those samples are said 
to have failed. For samples that have failed, the components 
represented by those samples (floors, interior window sills, exterior 
window sills, exterior horizontal surfaces, or interior areas outside a 
containment area) must be re-cleaned and re-tested. The process 
continues until clearance is obtained for all components. In addition, 
if a sample outside a containment area fails clearance, collect 
additional floor samples outside the containment area, at a further 
distance from the airlock, during the re-testing.

Re-evaluation Schedule

    When lead-based paint is removed during abatement, successful 
clearance testing after application is all that is recommended. When 
lead-based paint remains at the residence, re-evaluation testing is 
recommended in addition to clearance testing. For enclosures, re-
evaluation testing is recommended 10 years after treatment. For 
encapsulation, re-evaluation testing is recommended 1 year after 
application, and then every 3 years afterwards. For interim controls, 
re-evaluation testing is recommended every 12 months after application. 
If a mixture of methods is used in a room or area, the most stringent 
schedule for re-evaluation testing is recommended.

    Dated: August 30, 1995.
Lynn R. Goldman,
Assistant Administrator for Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic 
Substances.

[FR Doc. 95-22497 Filed 9-8-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F