[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 76 (Wednesday, April 21, 1999)] [Notices] [Pages 19528-19530] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 99-10003] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [PB-402404-AL; FRL-6072-1] Lead-Based Paint Activities in Target Housing and Child-Occupied Facilities; State of Alabama's Authorization Application AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice; request for comments and opportunity for public hearing. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: On October 5, 1998, the State of Alabama 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 Alabama's application, provides a 45-day public comment period, and provides an opportunity to request a public hearing on the application. Alabama has provided a certification that its program meets the requirements for approval of a State program under section 404 of TSCA. Therefore, pursuant to section 404, the program is deemed authorized as of the date of submission. If EPA finds that the program does not meet the requirements for approval of a State program, EPA will disapprove the program, at which time a notice will be issued in the Federal Register and the Federal program will take effect in Alabama. DATES: Comments on the authorization application must be received on or before June 7, 1999. Public hearing requests must be received on or before May 5, 1999. ADDRESSES: Submit all written comments and/or requests for a public hearing identified by docket number ``PB-402404-AL'' (in duplicate) to: Environmental Protection Agency, Region IV, Air, Pesticides and Toxics Management Division, Atlanta Federal Center, 61 Forsyth St., SW., Atlanta, GA 30303-3104. 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: John A. Beldin-Quinones, Project Officer, Air, Pesticides and Toxics Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, Region IV, Atlanta Federal Center, 61 Forsyth St., SW., Atlanta, GA 30303-3104. Telephone: (404) 562-9171, 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. 2681-92), 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, 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 [[Page 19529]] 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 Alabama'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 Alabama's proposed program has been provided by the applicant: The State of Alabama, through the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) and Safe State of the University of Alabama, will implement and administer the lead-based paint training, accreditation, and certification program, based on authority provided by the Alabama Legislature during ratification of ``The Alabama Lead Reduction Act of 1997.'' The Alabama regulations are applicable to all persons engaged in lead-based paint activities in target housing and child-occupied facilities. The State certification program requirements include: accreditation of lead-based paint activities training providers and training courses; certification of firms and individuals (inspectors, risk assessors, supervisors, project designers, and abatement workers) conducting lead-based paint inspections, risk assessments, or abatement in target housing and child-occupied facilities; and required work practice standards for lead-based paint activities. Additional requirements include: (1) Principal instructors and guest instructors teaching hands-on or work practice standards to successfully complete the training course to be taught; (2) training programs to notify Safe State of the University of Alabama prior to conducting a training course; and (3) training course accreditation to be contingent on completion of a satisfactory course audit. Work practice standards required for lead-based paint activities are equivalent to standards in the Federal regulations, but also include filing a project notification in writing, with fees, prior to commencement of any lead-based paint abatement activity. The State program provides for establishing reciprocity arrangements with other states and/or Indian Tribes with authorized programs, and provides for outreach activities to educate the public and the regulated community. Costs are supported by Federal grants as well as fees assessed for the certification of firms, accreditation of training programs and individuals, and the notification of projects. Alabama's rules provide for the suspension and revocation or modification of training provider accreditations, training course accreditation, and firm and individual certifications. III. Federal Overfiling TSCA section 404(b) (15 U.S.C. 2684(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-AL.'' Copies of this notice, the State of Alabama's authorization application, and all comments received on the application are available for inspection in the Region IV office, from 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The docket is located at EPA Region IV Library, Environmental Protection Agency, Atlanta Federal Center, 9th Floor, 61 Forsyth St., SW., Atlanta, GA. Commenters are encouraged to structure their comments so as not to contain information for which Confidential Business Information (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. 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-AL.'' Electronic comments on this document may be filed online at many Federal Depository Libraries. Information claimed as CBI should not be submitted electronically. 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.), the Congressional Review Act (5 U.S.C. 801 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 [[Page 19530]] 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 unfunded 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, that significantly or uniquely affects 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 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 any 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: April 7, 1999, A. Stanley Meiburg, Regional Administrator, Region IV. [FR Doc. 99-10003 Filed 4-20-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-F