[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 146 (Friday, July 30, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41421-41423]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-19592]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[PB-402404-NH/RI; FRL-6091-3]


Lead-Based Paint Activities in Target Housing and Child-Occupied 
Facilities; States of Rhode Island and New Hampshire Authorization 
Applications

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

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

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SUMMARY: On April 30, 1999, Rhode Island and on June 30, 1999, New 
Hampshire submitted applications 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 the applications from Rhode Island and New 
Hampshire and the opening of a public comment period that will last for 
45 days. Rhode Island and New Hampshire have provided individual State 
self-certifications of lead programs meeting the requirements for 
approval under section 404 of TSCA. Therefore, pursuant to section 404, 
each of these State programs is deemed authorized as of the date of 
submission. If EPA subsequently finds that a program does not meet all 
the requirements for approval of a State program, EPA will work with 
the State to correct any deficiencies in order to approve the program. 
If the deficiencies are not corrected, a notice of disapproval will be 
issued in the Federal Register and a Federal program will be 
implemented in the State whose program has been disapproved.

DATES: Individuals should submit comments on the authorization 
applications on or before September 13, 1999. In addition, a public 
hearing request may be submitted by September 13, 1999. If a public 
hearing is requested and granted, the hearing date and time will be 
announced in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: Submit in duplicate all written comments and/or requests for 
a public hearing, identified by docket

[[Page 41422]]

control number ``PB-402404-NH/RI'' to: Environmental Protection Agency, 
Region I, (CPT), Suite 1100, One Congress Street, Boston, MA 02114-
2023. Comments and a request for a public hearing may be submitted 
electronically to [email protected]. Please follow the 
instructions in Unit IV. of this document. No confidential business 
information (CBI) should be submitted through e-mail.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James M. Bryson, Regional Abatement 
Coordinator, Environmental Protection Agency, Region I, (CPT), Suite 
1100, One Congress Street, Boston, MA 02214-2023. Telephone: 617-918-
1524, e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    On October 28, 1992, the Housing and Community Development Act of 
1992, Public Law 102-550, became law. Title X of that statute is the 
Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act of 1992. That Act 
amended the Toxic Substances Control Act (``TSCA'') (15 U.S.C. 2601 et 
seq.) by adding Title IV (15 U.S.C. 2681-92) which is entitled ``Lead 
Exposure Reduction.''
    Section 402 of TSCA (15 U.S.C. 2682) 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 those 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. On August 31, 1998, EPA was required to institute the 
Federal program in States or Indian Country not having an authorized 
program, as provided by section 404(h) of TSCA. States and Indian 
Tribes that choose to apply for program authorization must submit a 
complete application to the appropriate Regional EPA office for review. 
EPA is required to review those applications within 180 days of receipt 
of the complete application. To receive EPA approval, a State or Indian 
Tribe must demonstrate that its program is at least as protective of 
human health and the environment as the Federal program, and that its 
program provides adequate enforcement. 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 and concluding, based 
on the required program analysis, that the State program is at least as 
protective as the Federal program and that the State program provides 
adequate enforcement.
    Upon submission of such certification letter, along with a complete 
program application, the program is deemed authorized. This 
authorization is retracted, however, if upon review, EPA subsequently 
determines that the program is not at least as protective of human 
health and the environment as the Federal program, and/or does not 
provide for adequate enforcement, and the State does not correct the 
deficiencies necessary to make it so. Section 404(b) of TSCA provides 
that before authorizing a State program, EPA must provide notice and an 
opportunity for a public hearing on the application. Therefore, by this 
notice EPA is soliciting public comment on whether the applications 
submitted by the States of Rhode Island and New Hampshire meet the 
requirements for EPA approval. This notice also provides an opportunity 
to request a public hearing on the applications. If a hearing is 
requested and granted, EPA will issue a Federal Register notice 
announcing the date, time, and place of the hearing. If EPA's final 
decision on the application is a disapproval, this will be discussed in 
another Federal Register Notice.

II. State Program Description Summary

    The Rhode Island and New Hampshire programs: (1) Require abatement 
permits prior to the commencement of abatement activity; (2) 
investigate tips and complaints, and enforce certification, 
accreditation, and permitting requirements for all disciplines and for 
all abatement-related activities, including training; and (3) provide 
for the suspension and/or revocation of the accreditation of training 
providers, as well as of the certifications of individuals and firms 
engaged in lead abatement practices.
    The following are summaries of the programs proposed by Rhode 
Island and New Hampshire.
Rhode Island
    The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations submitted a 
Lead Poisoning Prevention Program established by Title 23, Chapter 24.6 
of the Rhode Island General Laws (RIGL), the Rhode Island Department of 
Health Rules and Regulations for Lead Poisoning Prevention (R23-24.6-
PB), enacted February 1992 and last amended October 1997, and Rhode 
Island Department of Environmental Management Air Pollution Control 
Regulation No 24--Removal of Lead Based Paint from Exterior Surfaces, 
enacted April 1993.
    This program includes: (1) Statewide standards for lead-based 
paint, dust, soil, and water hazard identification and remediation; (2) 
approval and monitoring of training programs for lead hazard reduction 
and environmental lead inspection personnel; (3) licensure of lead 
hazard reduction contractors, supervisors and workers; (4) 
certification of environmental lead inspectors and inspector 
technicians; (5) oversight of lead poisoning cases and evaluation of 
trends in blood lead levels utilizing the Department of Health Lead 
Surveillance System and the Department of Health Adult Blood Lead 
Registry; (6) a full range of clinical and environmental lead-related 
testing services provided by the RI Department of Health- Division of 
Laboratories; and (7) health education and community outreach 
activities to promote lead safe behavior and conditions.
    This overall program has been implemented by the RI Department of 
Health Office of Occupational & Radiological Health and Office of 
Environmental Health Risk Assessment, the RI Department of 
Environmental Management Office of Compliance and Inspections, and the 
RI Department of the Attorney General.
New Hampshire
    The State of New Hampshire has submitted a Lead Poisoning 
Prevention Program established by the New Hampshire Revised Statutes 
Annotated Chapter 130-A, and New Hampshire Chapter He-P 1600, the Lead 
Poisoning Prevention and Control Rules. This program includes: (1) 
Licensure and certification requirements for those professionals who 
carry out lead abatement and inspection activities; (2) procedures and 
requirements for the accreditation and reaccreditation of training 
providers; (3) work practice standards for conducting lead-based

[[Page 41423]]

paint activities; (4) certification requirements for laboratories 
performing tests to detect or measure lead in human body fluids and 
tissues; (5) reporting requirements for laboratories who conduct blood 
lead analysis on adults or children residing in New Hampshire; and (6) 
procedures and requirements for enforcement of the rules within the 
state. The program has been implemented by the Department of Health & 
Human Services, Office of Community and Public Health.

III. 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-NH/RI.'' 
Copies of this notice, and all comments received on the applications 
are available for inspection in the EPA Region I Office from 7:30 a.m. 
to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The docket 
is located at the EPA Region I Library, Suite 1100, One Congress 
Street, Boston, MA 02114-2023. Commenters are encouraged not to include 
CBI in their comments. However, any information submitted and claimed 
as CBI must be clearly identified as such and marked ``confidential,'' 
``CBI,'' or with some other appropriate designation. In addition, a 
commenter submitting such information must 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-NH/RI.'' Electronic comments on 
this document may be filed online at many Federal Depository Libraries. 
Information claimed as CBI should not be submitted electronically.

IV. 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 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: July 19, 1999.
John P. DeVillars,

Regional Administrator, Region I.

[FR Doc. 99-19592 Filed 7-29-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F