[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 93 (Friday, May 14, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26428-26429]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-12224]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-4444-N-06]


Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Guidance for Analysis 
of Composite Wipe Samples

AGENCY: Office of Lead Hazard Control, HUD.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The proposed information collection requirement described 
below will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
for review, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act. The Department 
is soliciting public comments on the subject proposal.

DATES: Comments Due Date: July 13, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments regarding 
this proposal. Comments should refer to the proposal by name and/or OMB 
Control Number and should be sent to: Gail N. Ward, Reports Liaison 
Officer, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street, 
SW, Room P3206, Washington, DC 20410.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Warren Friedman, 202-755-1785 ext. 
159 (this is not a toll-free number) for available documents regarding 
this proposal.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department is submitting the proposed 
information collection to OMB for review, as required by the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended).
    This Notice is soliciting comments from members of the public and 
affecting agencies concerning the proposed collection of information 
to: (1) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility; (2) 
Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information; (3) Enhance the quality,

[[Page 26429]]

utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (5) 
Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are 
to respond; including through the use of appropriate automated 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., 
permitting electronic submission of responses.
    This Notice also lists the following information:
    Title of Proposal: Development of Guidance for Analysis of 
Composite Wipe Samples.
    OMB Control Number: (To be assigned.)
    Description of the need for the information and proposed use: The 
HUD Guidelines for the Evaluation and Control of Lead-Based Paint 
Hazards in Housing (``Guidelines'') and the Environmental Protection 
Agency (EPA) work practice standards for conducting lead-based paint 
activities: target housing and child-occupied facilities (15 U.S.C. 
2682(a)(1), 40 CFR 745.227) allow the use of analysis of composite 
samples (more than one sample analyzed together) of dust on wipes 
(typically thin cellulose cloths of a few square inches) that are wiped 
on a specified area of a building component as part of risk assessment. 
Laboratory experiences has shown that the presence of increased bulk 
from more than one wipe causes problems during laboratory analysis, 
particularly digestion (extraction of lead from the wipe). Limited 
performance testing and anecdotal information from laboratories 
indicate that the quality of laboratory processing of wipes may be poor 
due to lack of validated digestion methodology. The accrediting bodies 
authorized under the National Lead Laboratory Accreditation Program (15 
U.S.C. 2685(b)) have recently specified separation of composite wipe 
samples into separate wipes for laboratory digestion and analysis as a 
set of single wipe samples, along with reporting of cross-contamination 
results; this approach has not been validated. Most information 
collected, such as documentation of laboratory procedures, and reports 
of laboratory analytical results, will be collected and processed 
electronically, preferably through electronic mail of computer data 
files and also through shipping of computer data disks. Laboratories 
participating in the information collection will be compensated at 
market rates for performing the wipe sample analyses. Ethnical guidance 
based on field-validated laboratory processing of composite wipe 
samples is needed to promote the acquisition of technically acceptable 
and programmatically accepted laboratory analytical results. The 
guidance developed as a result of this information collection will be 
considered for incorporation into HUD documents, such as the 
Guidelines, offered to voluntary consensus standards bodies for their 
consideration in adopting voluntary consensus standards, and provided 
to other public and private entities for their use.
    Agency form numbers: Not applicable.
    Members of affected public: Laboratories performing analyses of 
lead in room dust.
    Total Burden Estimate:

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                                              Frequency of    Hours of
            Number of respondents               response      response
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20..........................................            2           400
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    Status of the proposed information collection: New collection.

    Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 
Chapter 35, as amended.

    Dated: May 6, 1999.
David E. Jacobs,
Director, Office of Lead Hazard Control.
[FR Doc. 99-12224 Filed 5-13-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-32-M