[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 62 (Thursday, April 1, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15746-15749]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-8087]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[PB-402404-WV; FRL-6066-6]


Lead-Based Paint Activities in Target Housing and Child-Occupied 
Facilities; The State of West Virginia's Authorization Application

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice; request for comments and opportunity for public 
hearing.

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SUMMARY: On December 17, 1998, the State of West Virginia submitted an 
application for EPA approval to administer and enforce training and 
certification requirements, training program accreditation 
requirements, and work practice standards for lead-based paint 
activities in target housing and child-occupied facilities under 
section 402 of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). This notice 
announces the receipt of West Virginia's application, provides a 45-day 
public comment period, and provides an opportunity to request a public 
hearing on the application.


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DATES: Comments on the authorization application must be received on or 
before May 17, 1999. Public hearing requests must be received on or 
before May 3, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Submit all written comments and/or requests for a public 
hearing identified by docket control number ``PB-402404-WV'' (in 
duplicate) to: Environmental Protection Agency, Region III, Waste and 
Chemicals Management Division, Toxics Programs and Enforcement Branch 
(3WC33), 1650 Arch St., Philadelphia, PA 19103-2029. Comments, data, 
and requests for a public hearing may also be submitted electronically 
to: [email protected]. Follow the instructions under Unit IV. of 
this document. No information claimed to be Confidential Business 
Information (CBI) should be submitted through e-mail.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Artencia R. Johnson (3WC33), Waste and 
Chemicals Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, Region 
III, 1650 Arch St., Philadelphia, PA 19103-2029, telephone: (215) 814-
5754; e-mail address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    On October 28, 1992, the Housing and Community Development Act of 
1992, Pub. L. 102-550, became law. Title X of that statute was the 
Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act of 1992. That Act 
amended TSCA (15 U.S.C. 2601 et seq.) by adding Title IV (15 U.S.C. 
2681-2692), entitled ``Lead Exposure Reduction.''
    Section 402 of TSCA authorizes and directs EPA to promulgate final 
regulations governing lead-based paint activities in target housing, 
public and commercial buildings, bridges, and other structures. Those 
regulations are to ensure that individuals engaged in such activities 
are properly trained, that training programs are accredited, and that 
individuals engaged in these activities are certified and follow 
documented work practice standards. Under section 404 of TSCA, a State 
may seek authorization from EPA to administer and enforce its own lead-
based paint activities program.
    On August 29, 1996 (61 FR 45777) (FRL-5389-9), EPA promulgated 
final TSCA section 402/404 regulations governing lead-based paint 
activities in target housing and child-occupied facilities (a subset of 
public buildings). Those regulations are codified at 40 CFR part 745, 
and allow both States and Indian Tribes to apply for program 
authorization. Pursuant to section 404(h) of TSCA, EPA is to establish 
the Federal program in any State or Tribal Nation without its own 
authorized program in place by August 31, 1998.
    States and Tribes that choose to apply for program authorization 
must submit a complete application to the appropriate Regional EPA 
Office for review. Those applications will be reviewed by EPA within 
180 days of receipt of the complete application. To receive EPA 
approval, a State or Tribe must demonstrate that its program is at 
least as protective of human health and the environment as the Federal 
program, and provides for adequate enforcement (section 404(b) of TSCA, 
15 U.S.C. 2684(b)). EPA's regulations (40 CFR part 745, subpart Q) 
provide the detailed requirements a State or Tribal program must meet 
in order to obtain EPA approval.
    A State may choose to certify that its lead-based paint activities 
program meets the requirements for EPA approval by submitting a letter 
signed by the Governor or Attorney General stating that the program 
meets the requirements of section 404(b) of TSCA. Upon submission of 
such certification letter, the program is deemed authorized. This 
authorization becomes ineffective, however, if EPA disapproves the 
application.
    Pursuant to section 404(b) of TSCA, EPA provides notice and an 
opportunity for a public hearing on a State or Tribal program 
application before authorizing the program. Therefore, by this notice 
EPA is soliciting public comment on whether West Virginia's application 
meets the requirements for EPA approval. This notice also provides an 
opportunity to request a public hearing on the application. If a 
hearing is requested and granted, EPA will issue a Federal Register 
notice announcing the date, time, and place of the hearing. EPA's final 
decision on the application will be published in the Federal Register.

II. State Program Description Summary

    The following summary of the State of West Virginia's proposed 
program has been provided by the applicant:
    In September 1994, the Radiation, Toxics and Indoor Air Division 
created a Lead Program to provide environmental lead assessments in 
childhood lead poisoning cases, to: prepare grant submittals for 
Federal monies to support the program; promulgate legislation and 
regulations to meet Federal mandates; provide technical assistance to 
local and State agencies; and conduct lead hazard awareness and 
education outreach activities to inform the public of the dangers of 
lead poisoning.
    The Lead Program has received Federal funding for the past 4 years. 
During this time, the program has conducted or coordinated over 230 
environmental lead assessments in childhood lead poisoning cases. The 
Program sponsored creation of a Lead Advisory Committee to assist in 
drafting proposed legislation to meet Federal mandates. The Program 
continues to provide lead hazard awareness materials and technical 
assistance to local and State agencies and the public.
    Beginning in January 1996, and also in January 1997, the Bureau for 
Public Health submitted proposed lead legislation for consideration by 
the Legislature. The proposed legislation would amend West Virginia's 
Health Code Chapter 16 by adding a new statute, Article 35, ``Lead 
Abatement Act.'' It was not until January 1998, that the Legislature 
acted upon the proposed legislation. The bill passed on March 14, 1998, 
and became effective June 15, 1998. Subsequent emergency-filed rules 
were filed with the West Virginia Secretary of State on June 16, 1998.
    West Virginia Code 16-35 requires lead abatement professionals 
conducting lead abatement in child-occupied buildings and target 
housing to be properly trained by an accredited training provider, 
certified by a State accredited examiner and licensed by the Bureau for 
Public Health. The licensing categories consist of lead abatement 
contractor, worker, supervisor, inspector, risk assessor and project 
designer.
    Lead abatement projects are restricted to target housing (pre-1978) 
or residences that have known lead hazards. Notification of abatement 
projects and elevated blood lead levels are required. Home owners 
removing and handling lead on their own premises are exempt from 
notification and licensing requirements.
    The Commissioner of the Bureau for Public Health will administer 
and enforce WV Code 16-35 and WV Title 64 Series 45, which includes: 
issuing licenses; assessing fees and fines; approving training 
providers; approving third party examiners; work practices; project 
clearance levels; and ordering reduction or abatement of lead hazards. 
In addition to the detailing of acceptable and non-acceptable abatement 
project work practices, the rules also incorporate by reference HUD and 
OSHA work practices and clearance levels.
    The proposed statute establishes a special revenue account for 
implementing the article, allows for

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reciprocity with other States with similar programs as stringent as 
West Virginia's, and provides for enforcement with civil penalties from 
$250 to $5,000. The statute also creates a misdemeanor offense for 
violations, and upon conviction, a fine of not less than $250 nor more 
than $50,000 and/or confinement in the county or regional jail for not 
more than 1 year may be imposed. Fines imposed must be paid by 
violators within 30 days of receipt of notification, failure to do so 
constitutes a separate violation. When non-compliance with this article 
or promulgated rules occurs at abatement projects, a Notice of 
Violation will be issued directing compliance with the law. When 
warranted, Cease and Desist Orders may be issued on lead abatement 
projects, which if violated could result in civil penalties of not less 
than $10,000 nor more than $25,000 for initial violations and not less 
than $25,000 nor more than $50,000 for subsequent violations.
    The Bureau for Public Health is committed to assuring that the 
Federal mandates are met through effective implementation of WV Code 
16-35 and Title 64 Series 45, and through implementation of a mandated 
public awareness and education program. The necessary infrastructure is 
in place at the local and State level to implement an EPA-approved 
program for the licensing and certification of lead abatement 
professionals. The Bureau for Public Health has contracted with local 
health agencies to provide environmental lead assessments, public 
outreach and education at the local level for the past 2 years. Also, 
it is felt that the successful operation of the asbestos certification 
and licensure program, since 1989, has prepared the Bureau to assume 
the responsibility of operating another environmental certification and 
licensure program.

III. Federal Overfiling

    TSCA section 404(b) makes it unlawful for any person to violate, or 
fail, or refuse to comply with, any requirement of an approved State or 
Tribal program. Therefore, EPA reserves the right to exercise its 
enforcement authority under TSCA against a violation of, or a failure 
or refusal to comply with, any requirement of an authorized State or 
Tribal program.

IV. Public Record and Electronic Submissions

    The official record for this action, as well as the public version, 
has been established under docket control number ``PB-402404-WV.'' 
Copies of this notice, the State of West Virginia's authorization 
application, and all comments received on the application are available 
for inspection in the Region III office, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The docket is located 
at the Environmental Protection Agency, Region III, Waste and Chemicals 
Management Division, Toxics Programs and Enforcement Branch (3WC33), 
1650 Arch St., Philadelphia, PA.
    Electronic comments can be sent directly to EPA at:
    [email protected]
    Electronic comments must be submitted as an ASCII file avoiding the 
use of special characters and any form of encryption. Comments and data 
will also be accepted on disks in WordPerfect 5.1/6.1 or ASCII file 
format. All comments and data in electronic form must be identified by 
the docket control number ``PB-402404-WV.'' Electronic comments on this 
document may be filed online at many Federal Depository Libraries. 
Information claimed as CBI should not be submitted electronically.
    Commenters are encouraged to structure their comments so as not to 
contain information for which CBI claims would be made. However, any 
information claimed as CBI must be marked ``confidential,'' ``CBI,'' or 
with some other appropriate designation, and a commenter submitting 
such information must also prepare a nonconfidential version (in 
duplicate) that can be placed in the public record. Any information so 
marked will be handled in accordance with the procedures contained in 
40 CFR part 2. Comments and information not claimed as CBI at the time 
of submission will be placed in the public record.

V. Regulatory Assessment Requirements

A. Certain Acts and Executive Orders

    EPA's actions on State or Tribal lead-based paint activities 
program applications are informal adjudications, not rules. Therefore, 
the requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA, 5 U.S.C. 601 
et seq.), Executive Order 12866 (Regulatory Planning and Review, 58 FR 
51735, October 4, 1993), and Executive Order 13045 (Protection of 
Children from Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks, 62 FR 1985, 
April 23, 1997), do not apply to this action. This action does not 
contain any Federal mandates, and therefore is not subject to the 
requirements of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (2 U.S.C.1531-1538). 
In addition, this action does not contain any information collection 
requirements and therefore does not require review or approval by the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction Act 
(44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).

B. Executive Order 12875

    Under Executive Order 12875, entitled, Enhancing Intergovernmental 
Partnerships (58 FR 58093, October 28, 1993), EPA may not issue a 
regulation that is not required by statute and that creates a mandate 
upon a State, local or Tribal government, unless the Federal government 
provides the funds necessary to pay the direct compliance costs 
incurred by those governments. If the mandate is unfunded, EPA must 
provide to OMB a description of the extent of EPA's prior consultation 
with representatives of affected State, local, and Tribal governments, 
the nature of their concerns, copies of any written communications from 
the governments, and a statement supporting the need to issue the 
regulation. In addition, Executive Order 12875 requires EPA to develop 
an effective process permitting elected officials and other 
representatives of State, local, and Tribal governments ``to provide 
meaningful and timely input in the development of regulatory proposals 
containing significant mandates.''
    Today's action does not create an unfunded Federal mandate on 
State, local, or Tribal governments. This action does not impose any 
enforceable duties on these entities. Accordingly, the requirements of 
section 1(a) of Executive Order 12875 do not apply to this action.

C. Executive Order 13084

    Under Executive Order 13084, entitled, Consultation and 
Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments (63 FR 27655, May 19, 
1998), EPA may not issue a regulation that is not required by statute 
and that significantly or uniquely effects the communities of Indian 
tribal governments, and that imposes substantial direct compliance 
costs on those communities, unless the Federal government provides the 
funds necessary to pay the direct compliance costs incurred by the 
Tribal governments. If the mandate is unfunded, EPA must provide OMB, 
in a separately identified section of the preamble to the rule, a 
description of the extent of EPA's prior consultation with 
representatives of affected Tribal governments, a summary of the nature 
of their concerns, and a statement supporting the need to issue the 
regulation. In addition, Executive Order 13084 requires EPA to develop 
an effective process permitting elected and other representatives of 
Indian tribal

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governments ``to provide meaningful and timely input in the development 
of regulatory policies on matters that significantly or uniquely affect 
their communities.''
    Today's action does not significantly or uniquely affect the 
communities of Indian tribal governments. This action does not involve 
or impose requirements that affect Indian Tribes. Accordingly, the 
requirements of section 3(b) of Executive Order 13084 do not apply to 
this action.
    Authority: 15 U.S.C. 2682, 2684.

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection, Hazardous substances, Lead, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements.

    Dated: March 23, 1999.
W. Michael McCabe,
Regional Administrator, Region III.

[FR Doc. 99-8087 Filed 3-31-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F