Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 9 (Friday, January 13, 2017)

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 9 (Friday, January 13, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 4151-4172]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-00261]

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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

24 CFR Part 35

[Docket No. FR-5816-F-02]
RIN 2501-AD77

Requirements for Notification, Evaluation and Reduction of Lead-
Based Paint Hazards in Federally Owned Residential Property and Housing
Receiving Federal Assistance; Response to Elevated Blood Lead Levels

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, HUD.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This final rule amends HUD's lead-based paint regulations to
reduce blood lead levels in children under age six (6) who reside in
federally-owned or -assisted pre-1978 housing, formally adopting a
revised definition of ``elevated blood lead level'' (EBLL) in children
under the age of six (6), in accordance with Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance. It also establishes more
comprehensive testing and evaluation procedures for the housing where
such children reside. This final rule also addresses certain additional
elements of the CDC guidance pertaining to assisted housing and makes
technical corrections and clarifications. This final rule, which
follows HUD's September 1, 2016, proposed rule, takes into
consideration public comments submitted in response to the proposed
rule.

DATES: Effective Date: February 13, 2017.
Compliance Date: July 13, 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Warren Friedman, Office of Lead
Hazard Control and Healthy Homes, Department of Housing and Urban
Development, 451 7th Street SW., Room 8236, Washington, DC 20410;
telephone number 202-402-7698 (this is not a toll-free number). Persons
with hearing or speech impairments may access this number through TTY
by calling the Federal Relay Service, toll-free at 800-877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Table of Contents

I. Background
A. HUD's Long-Term and Ongoing Efforts To Reduce Lead Poisoning
in Children
B. Authority for HUD's Lead-Based Paint Regulation
II. Regulatory Approach
A. Overview
B. Changes Made at the Final Rule Stage
C. Applicability of Civil Rights Laws
III. Public Comments Submitted on Proposed Rule and HUD's Responses
A. Overview of Public Comments
B. Significant Public Comments and HUD's Responses
1. Primary Prevention
2. Resources Available
3. Tenant Protections
4. Coordination Between the Involved Parties
5. Technical Concerns
6. Landlord Exemptions
7. Time Available To Complete Work
8. Penalties for Noncompliance
9. Future Changes in CDC Recommendations
10. Timing of Implementation
11. Other Issues
C. Public Comments in Response to HUD's Questions
III. Findings and Certifications
A. Regulatory Review--Executive Orders 12866 and 13563
B. Regulatory Impact Assessment
C. Paperwork Reduction Act Statement
D. Regulatory Flexibility Act
E. Environmental Impact
F. Executive Order 13132, Federalism
G. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

I. Background

A. HUD's Long-Term and Ongoing Efforts To Reduce Lead Poisoning in
Children

Childhood lead poisoning has long been documented as causing
reduced intelligence, low attention span, and reading and learning
disabilities; it has additionally been linked to juvenile delinquency,
behavioral problems, and many other adverse health effects.\1\ Despite
public health efforts successfully reducing toxic lead exposure in
children nationwide, blood lead monitoring continues to reveal children
with elevated blood lead levels due to exposure in their specific
housing environments. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) has consistently affirmed its position that lead-based paint and
lead-contaminated dust are the most hazardous sources of lead for U.S.
children.\2\ Over the past decade, HUD has dramatically reduced
housing-based lead exposure among children through lead paint abatement
and interim controls.\3\ Nevertheless, a considerable number of
children under age six (6) currently reside in HUD-assisted housing
units that contain lead-based paint.
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\1\ See HUD's proposed rule and the accompanying regulatory
impact assessment, available at www.regulations.gov/document?D=HUD-2016-0096.
\2\ See CDC, Lead: Prevention Tips, http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/tips.htm.
\3\ See, e.g., HUD's lead hazard control grant programs and the
lead hazard control work required of landlords under settlements HUD
has reached in enforcing the Lead Disclosure Statute and related
regulations at 42 U.S.C. 4852d and 24 CFR part 35, subpart A.

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[[Page 4152]]

To address this issue, HUD issued a proposed rule on September 1,
2016, at 81 FR 60304, to revise HUD's Lead Safe Housing Rule (LSHR) by
adopting the CDC's guidance on when an environmental intervention
should be conducted in response to a child's blood lead level, thereby
establishing HUD's definition of elevated blood lead level (EBLL) as
the level for which environmental intervention is required in certain
federally-owned and federally-assisted housing, among other changes.
This final rule considers public comments submitted on the September 1,
2016, proposed rule and defines ``elevated blood lead level'' (EBLL) as
the level at which the CDC recommends environmental intervention.

B. Authority for HUD's Lead-Based Paint Regulation

HUD's LSHR is codified in Title 24 of the Code of Federal
Regulations (CFR) part 35, subparts B through R. The LSHR implements
sections 1012 and 1013 of the Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard
Reduction Act of 1992, which is Title X of the Housing and Community
Development Act of 1992 (Pub. L. 102-550, approved October 28, 1992);
sections 1012 and 1013 are codified at 42 U.S.C. 4822.
Under Title X, HUD has specific authority to control lead-based
paint and lead-based paint hazards in HUD-assisted housing that may
have lead-based paint, called ``target housing.'' \4\ The LSHR aims in
part to ensure that federally-owned or federally-assisted target
housing is free of lead-based paint hazards. Lead-based paint hazards
are lead-based paint and all residential lead-containing dusts and
soils, regardless of the source of the lead, which, due to their
condition and location, would result in adverse human health effects.
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\4\ HUD's regulation at 24 CFR 35.110, based on the Title X
definition at 42 U.S.C. 4851b(27), defines ``target housing'' as any
housing constructed prior to 1978, but not including housing for the
elderly or persons with disabilities where no child less than 6
years of age resides or is expected to reside, or any zero-bedroom
dwelling.
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HUD recognizes that there is no safe level of lead exposure.
Consistent with Title X and the LSHR, HUD's primary focus is on
minimizing childhood lead exposures, rather than on waiting until
children have elevated blood lead levels to undertake actions to
eliminate lead-based paint hazards. HUD's Office of Lead Hazard Control
and Healthy Homes (OLHCHH) has spearheaded major efforts to that end by
taking actions feasible and authorized by law to reduce lead exposure
in children.\5\
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\5\ These actions include administering a successful Lead Hazard
Control program of grants, enforcement, research, and outreach, and
providing conditions of funding through the office's notices of
funding availability, updating guidelines and best practices, and
working collaboratively with other Federal agencies such as the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), particularly its CDC,
and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). See Advancing
Healthy Housing, a Strategy for Action, http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/documents/huddoc?id=stratplan_final_11_13.pdf.
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II. Regulatory Approach

A. Overview

This final rule revises HUD's criteria under the LSHR for
responding to the identification of children under age six (6) with
high blood lead levels residing in covered federally-assisted and
federally-owned target housing. The final rule also addresses lead
hazard evaluation and control for additional assisted housing units in
the same properties as those in which children under age six (6) with
high blood lead levels have been discovered. The final rule adopts an
approach based on the previously codified LSHR, the CDC's reference
range value for blood lead levels in children under age six (6),\6\ the
HUD Guidelines for the Evaluation and Control of Lead-Based Paint
Hazards in Housing (HUD Guidelines), HUD's experience implementing the
LSHR since its 1999 promulgation, and public comments received on the
September 1, 2016, proposed rule.
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\6\ CDC's ``reference range value'' method for defining EBLLs is
based on the blood lead level equaled or exceeded by 2.5 percent of
U.S. children aged 1-5 years as determined by CDC's most recent
National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey. Currently, CDC's
reference range value is 5 [mu]g/dL (5 micrograms of lead per
deciliter of blood).
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Specifically, under this final rule, when a child under age six (6)
with an EBLL is identified, the ``designated party'' and/or the housing
owner shall undertake certain actions.\7\ This protocol is the same for
each of the four applicable HUD subparts (H, I, L, M), and slightly
narrower for the subpart covering other agencies (D), under which those
agencies must decide how to treat housing units in multi-unit
properties other than the unit in which the child with an EBLL resides.
Figure 1 provides an overview of the protocol for addressing EBLL cases
in housing covered by the LSHR.
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\7\ The designated party is the owner or other entity (e.g.,
federal agency, state, local government, public housing agency,
tribally designated housing entity, sponsor, etc.) designated under
the LSHR as responsible for complying with applicable requirements
of the LSHR for the residential property or dwelling unit, as
applicable. See 24 CFR 35.110.

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[[Page 4153]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR13JA17.000

B. Changes Made at the Final Rule Stage
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\8\ ``Index Unit'' refers to the housing unit in which the child
who has an EBLL resides, with the terminology adapted from the
traditional epidemiology term, ``index case, the case that is first
reported to public health authorities.'' CDC, Guidelines for the
Control of Pertussis Outbreaks. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention: Atlanta, GA, 2000. Chapter 11, Definitions. www.cdc.gov/pertussis/outbreaks/guide/downloads/chapter-11.pdf.
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This final rule follows publication of, and takes into
consideration, public comments received on the September 1, 2016,
proposed rule. Based on that review, HUD makes the following changes to
the proposed rule at the final rule stage. For some of those changes,
the wording changes in multiple instances.
1. In Sec. Sec. 35.325(b)(2)(i), 35.730(f)(4)(i), 35.830(f)(3)(i),
35.1130(f)(4)(i), and 35.1225(f)(3)(i), HUD changes the requirements
for other assisted dwelling units covered by Sec. Sec. 35.325(b)(1),
35.730(f)(1), 35.830(f)(1), 35.1130(f)(1), and 35.1225(f)(1),
respectively, by clarifying that they do not apply if the owner both
conducted a risk assessment of those units and the common areas
servicing them and conducted interim controls of identified lead-based
paint hazards after the date the child's blood was last sampled.
2. In Sec. 35.730(f)(1), regarding assisted units, other than the
index unit, with a child or children under age six (6), in a project-
based assisted property with a child or children under age six (6) with
an EBLL in a household for which the project-based rental assistance is
up to $5,000 per year, and in Sec. 35.1225(f), regarding units, other
than the index unit, with a child or children under age six (6),
occupied by households receiving tenant-based rental assistance, in a
property with a child or children under age six (6) with an EBLL in a
household receiving tenant-based rental assistance, HUD revises the
proposed rule to require the designated party, i.e., the owner or, as
discussed in section III.B.10.h of this preamble, the public housing
agency, HOME grantee or subrecipient, or HOPWA grantee or sponsor, as
applicable, to conduct a risk assessment,\9\ in accordance with

[[Page 4154]]

methods and standards established either by a state or tribal program
authorized by the EPA, or by the EPA at 40 CFR 745.227(d) with
procedures defined by the EPA--rather than a visual assessment--of the
other units for which the household receives tenant-based rental
assistance in the property, and interim controls of the lead-based
paint hazards identified by the risk assessment, using the proposed
rule's schedule for completion of lead-based paint hazard reduction
activities.
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\9\ Throughout this Final Rule, ``risk assessment'' has the
meaning of the term as used in the LSHR (at 24 CFR 35.110,
Definitions), which is derived from the Title X definition (42
U.S.C. 4851b(25) (for HUD rules) and 15 U.S.C. 2681(16) (for EPA
rules); it does not have the meaning of the same term under
Superfund (the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation,
and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA)), or other statutes, regulations
or policies. See, e.g., https://www.epa.gov/risk/risk-assessment-guidelines.
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3. In Sec. 35.730(f)(2), HUD replaces the provision regarding
paint stabilization following a visual assessment with a provision
regarding interim controls following a risk assessment.
4. HUD is not including in this final rule proposed Sec. Sec.
35.730(g), 35.1130(g) and 35.1225(g), which contained language
encouraging owners to evaluate and control for sources of lead exposure
other than those covered by this subpart.
5. In Sec. 35.1225(f)(1), HUD changes the reference to a ``visual
assessment'' to ``risk assessment'' and changes the cross-reference to
the section that describes procedures for such an assessment.
6. In Sec. 35.1225(f)(2), HUD clarifies that the discussion
concerns ``lead-based paint hazards'' rather than ``deteriorated
paint'' to emphasize reduction of lead-based paint hazards rather than
paint stabilization.
7. In Sec. 35.1225(f)(3), HUD removes reference to visual
assessment and amends and adds language to clarify that the discussion
is of ``interim controls'' of ``lead-based paint'' rather than
``deteriorated paint'' and to emphasize reduction of lead-based paint
hazards rather than paint stabilization.
Additionally, HUD takes this opportunity to make the following
technical corrections and conforming changes.
1. In Sec. 35.105, HUD removes past effective dates and reserves
the section.
2. In Sec. 35.110, HUD makes a technical correction to indicate
the correct section number for the Definitions section, and revises the
definition of ``Certified''.
3. In Sec. 35.155(a), on minimum requirements for lead-based paint
hazard evaluation or reduction, HUD makes a technical correction by
changing both instances of ``designated party or occupant'' to
``designated party or owner,'' in order to identify correctly who may
be required to conduct additional lead-based paint hazard evaluation or
reduction, beyond the minimum under the LSHR.
4. In Sec. Sec. 35.325(b)(1), 35.830(f)(3)(i), 35.1225(f)(1), and
35.1225(f)(3)(i), HUD makes a technical correction to grammar by
replacing the verb ``serving'' with the verb ``servicing'' in the first
sentence.
5. In Sec. 35.325(b)(1), HUD replaces the auxiliary verb ``would''
with the auxiliary verb ``shall,'' in the second sentence.
6. In Sec. 35.325(b)(1), HUD adds language to clarify that the
hazards referenced in the third sentence are those identified in
accordance with Sec. 35.1325 or Sec. 35.1330. In Sec. 35.325(d), HUD
clarifies that the timetable referenced therein shall include provision
of documentation on the lead hazard evaluation and control activities
to the agency.
7. In Sec. Sec. 35.730(a), 35.830(a), 35.1130(a), and 35.1225(a),
the rule discusses the requirements that apply if a public health
department has already conducted an evaluation of the dwelling unit.
HUD revises the proposed rule to state explicitly that in order to
exempt the designated party from conducting an environmental
investigation, the public health department's evaluation must have been
conducted in response to the current case.
8. In Sec. Sec. 35.730(f)(2), 35.830(f)(2), 35.1130(f)(2), and
35.1225(f)(2), HUD clarifies when lead-based paint hazard reduction is
considered complete.
9. In Sec. 35.730(f)(4), HUD clarifies when the requirements of
paragraph (f) do not apply.
10. In Sec. 35.830(h), HUD clarifies that ``clearance'' is among
the deadline-driven activities covered by this section.
11. In Sec. 35.1330(a)(4)(iii) on training requirements for
interim control workers and supervisors, which are applicable to some
of the work conducted under this rule, HUD makes a technical correction
by replacing all references to the defunct HUD course approval process,
with references to the current EPA and EPA-authorized state renovator
course accreditation process.

C. Applicability of Civil Rights Laws

HUD notes that housing-based lead exposure has a disproportionate
impact on children of some racial and ethnic groups and those living in
older housing.\10\ Lead hazard evaluation and control activities in
federally-assisted and federally-owned target housing are subject to
the requirements of the applicable civil rights laws, including the
Fair Housing Act, as amended (and its prohibition of discrimination on
several bases, including, but not limited to, race, disability, and
familial status, including the presence of a child under age of 18, or
of a pregnant woman), Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
(prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, and national
origin), Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (prohibiting
discrimination on the basis of sex), and section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (prohibiting discrimination on the basis of
disability). Under this final rule, these and other applicable Federal
laws, and their associated HUD regulations and guidance, which were
incorporated into the current LSHR, continue to apply to these
activities without change.
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\10\ See CDC, Lead: Prevention Tips, http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/tips.htm; CDC, Recommendations for Blood Lead Screening of
Medicaid-Eligible Children Aged 1-5 Years: an Updated Approach to
Targeting a Group at High Risk (Aug. 2009), available at http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5809a1.htm.
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III. Public Comments Submitted on Proposed Rule and HUD's Responses

A. Overview of Public Comments

The public comment period for the September 1, 2016, proposed rule
closed on October 31, 2016. As of the close of the comment period, HUD
received 62 public comments, including one mass mailing. Comments and
HUD's responses are summarized below. All comments can be accessed at
http://www.regulations.gov.
The overwhelming majority of comments were supportive of the rule.
Some commenters, while supporting the rule, suggested ways that it
could be improved. In the comments received, the Department identified
378 distinct recommendations. The Department thanks the commenters for
their thoughtful insights, and their efforts to improve the current
LSHR. The commenters' recommendations fell into 11 broad categories,
discussed below. Many comments addressed the four specific questions
for comments HUD requested. Most commenters (53) also had concerns
about one or more technical issues in applying and administering the
LSHR.
Although they presented a range of foci and approaches, commenters
were nearly unanimous in expressing their support for increasing the
protection of America's children from lead hazards, and the importance
of aligning HUD's regulations with the current science from the CDC.
These sentiments are best summed up by a comment submitted on behalf of
the 13,765 individuals who signed a letter circulated by the commenter
that stated that they, ``fully support [HUD's] proposal to update the
Lead Safe Housing Rule by lowering the threshold of lead exposure to
align with

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the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's recommendations and
allow for HUD to move more quickly to protect children's health. Given
the risks, anything your agency can do to reduce lead exposure is
appreciated.''

B. Significant Public Comments and HUD's Responses

1. Primary Prevention
Comment: Almost half of the commenters (32) identified the
importance of primary prevention. Many recommended conducting a risk
assessment in a unit before a family with a child occupied the unit.
Other commenters noted that recent CDC-HUD research shows children in
HUD-assisted housing already have lower blood lead levels than children
in comparable low-income housing.\11\ However, as the article notes,
while the result provides a favorable assessment of the benefits of
HUD's assistance requirements and assistance monitoring programs, the
size of the study's filtered sample was not sufficiently large to
identify patterns within particular types of housing assistance.
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\11\ See Ahrens KA, Haley BA, Rossen LM, Lloyd PC, Aoki Y,
Housing Assistance and Blood Lead Levels: Children in the United
States, 2005-2012, American Journal of Public Health: November 2016,
Vol. 106, No. 11: 2049-2056, abstract available at https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=HUD-2016-0096-0027 (as part of
comment docket for this final rule); full text available with
subscription at http://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/abs/10.2105/AJPH.2016.303432.
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HUD Response: HUD has adopted the position of CDC and other federal
agencies that no amount of lead in a child's blood can be considered
safe,\12\ and that primary prevention is critical to protecting
America's children. However, it must be noted that the primary purposes
of this rulemaking are adopting the revised definition of ``elevated
blood lead level'' (EBLL) in children under the age of six (6), and
strengthening designated parties' or owners' responses in cases where
children with high blood lead levels reside in federally-assisted and
federally-owned target housing. Therefore, the currently codified
LSHR's primary prevention requirements associated with pre-occupancy
activities and ongoing lead-based maintenance programs not associated
with EBLL cases in federally-assisted and federally-owned target
housing are outside the scope of this rulemaking. The Department will
consider addressing pre-occupancy activities and ongoing lead-based
maintenance programs in future rulemaking.
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\12\ See President's Task Force on Environmental Health Risks
and Safety Risks to Children, Key Federal Programs to Reduce
Childhood Lead Exposures and Eliminate Associated Health Impacts, 2
(Nov. 30, 2016), https://ptfceh.niehs.nih.gov/.
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2. Resources Available
Comment: Almost half of the commenters (30) expressed a need for
appropriate resources for grantees to implement this rule correctly.
Resources mentioned included additional funding for environmental
investigation and appropriate training and technical assistance. Some
commenters stated that, without these additional resources, the rule
could not be properly implemented, and encouraged HUD to wait until
such resources were available before implementing the rule.
HUD Response: HUD is sensitive to the cost of implementation,
especially in an era of tightened budgets among grantees, state, local,
and tribal governments, and other federal assistance recipients-and in
the face of competing priorities, including those related to health of
vulnerable populations, such as young children. However, a delay in
implementation to wait for potential additionally appropriated
resources could result in avoidable long-term harm to children in
federally-assisted and federally-owned target housing. Furthermore, as
calculated in the Regulatory Impact Assessment accompanying this rule,
the benefits of the rule outweigh the costs. One commenter said,
regarding, ``the Regulatory Impact Assessment [that they] believe that
it is a reasonable estimate. If anything, we believe (as discussed in
the RIA) that the benefits of the proposed regulation are
underestimated, because some benefits cannot be quantified or
monetized, such as avoided stress on parents and children. We also
believe that some costs are likely to be lower than those estimated by
HUD,'' because, for example, HUD assumes the presence of only one child
with EBLL in each unit, when some units may have more.
HUD will work with grantees and owners to identify ways in which
this rule can be implemented with as little burden as feasible, and how
existing resources can be directed to implementation, particularly in
rural and underserved areas. HUD will also provide training
opportunities to assist in implementing the rule.
Comment: Two commenters requested that public housing agencies be
allowed to compete for lead hazard control grants from HUD's Office of
Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control.
HUD Response: Eligibility for that grant program is outside the
scope of this rulemaking However, HUD wishes to advise that public
housing agencies, per Title X, are eligible for those grants only if
they are an agency of a unit of state or local government. Similarly,
housing units are eligible for enrollment under a grant (and, thus for
lead-based paint inspection and risk assessment, and, if lead-based
paint hazards are found, lead hazard control) only if they are target
housing and meet certain other qualifications, e.g., the housing does
not receive any federal housing assistance, or the family is receiving
tenant-based rental assistance, such as a housing choice voucher. The
housing is ineligible for enrollment in a lead hazard control grant if
it is ``federally assisted housing, federally owned housing, or public
housing.'' \13\ The first of these includes housing receiving project-
based rental assistance, the second, housing for which the mortgagee
has defaulted on a federally-insured mortgage, and the third, housing
owned by a public housing agency.
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\13\ 42 U.S.C. 4852(a), regarding housing unit eligibility, and
(b), regarding grant applicant eligibility.
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HUD has been reaching out to public housing agencies to encourage
owners of housing units in which the families receive a Housing Choice
Voucher to enroll those units in the lead hazard control grant (funded
by the OLHCHH), whose target area includes the location of the units.
Because most families eligible for this type of voucher have incomes
which make them eligible for enrolling in a lead hazard control grant,
HUD has expedited the process for the grantees to enroll them. HUD will
continue to promote lead hazard control grantee-public housing agency
partnerships.
3. Tenant Protections
a. Anti-Retaliation Protections
Comment: Many commenters (36) remarked on the need for protections
for tenants. Generally, these commenters were worried about possible
``retaliation'' or ``reprisal'' against tenants and ``blame shifting.''
Retaliation or reprisal meant, as described by one commenter, the
``loss of benefits, lease violations, termination of assistance, or
reporting to a child-welfare agency.'' Several of these commenters
suggested specifying in the rule that this type of retaliation would be
prohibited. They also suggested that HUD revise the rule to include an
anti-retaliation clause that would prohibit penalties if a child with
an EBLL is identified who is not included on the occupant list of the
rental or assistance agreement or contract. In addition, commenters
proposed several family

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interview methods to provide further protection to households.
HUD Response: HUD already has regulations and policies in place
that protect families against retaliation by landlords and has
determined that these policies should be sufficient to protect tenants
from discrimination and retaliation. Under existing fair housing
regulations, interviewers will be required to abide by policies about
limited English proficiency, which require HUD, its grantees, and sub-
grantees to make reasonable efforts to provide language assistance to
ensure meaningful access for persons with limited English proficiency
to the recipient's programs and activities.
However, HUD cannot establish a policy that would negate
regulations requiring that every individual living in the household be
listed on the lease. These regulations are in place to prevent
overcrowding, which is associated with its own negative effects on
children's well-being, including their health.\14\ They are also in
place to ensure proper subsidy calculations and enforce lease
provisions. Ensuring these regulations and policies are appropriately
integrated with the implementation of the LSHR amendments will be
addressed through program management. Thus, in this rulemaking, HUD
declines to adopt a provision specifically prohibiting penalties if a
child with an EBLL is identified who is not included on the occupant
list of the rental or assistance agreement or contract.
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\14\ See Solari CD, Mare RD, Housing Crowding Effects on
Children's Wellbeing, Social Science Research (Mar. 2012), 41(2):
464-476, available at www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0049089X11001694.
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b. Relocation Protections
Comment: Many commenters (18) offered recommendations about tenant
relocation, either permanently or while work was being done in their
unit.
HUD Response: HUD understands that relocation may be necessary in
some circumstances but it can also be very expensive for the designated
party or owner. Existing HUD regulations, policies and guidance on when
relocation is appropriate, including those in the currently codified
LSHR, have already considered these issues, and HUD was not presented
with any evidence that requires reopening those discussions. Thus, in
this rulemaking, HUD declines to adopt a provision specifically
pertaining to tenant relocation.
4. Coordination Between the Involved Parties
a. Coordination Between HUD and Grantees
Comment: Many commenters (36) addressed the proposed rule's
reporting requirements for property owners--specifically their
requirements for reporting EBLL discovery and responsive activities to
their HUD field office and the OLHCHH--from a variety of viewpoints.
Some expressed concerns that reporting would impose difficult burdens
on public housing agencies and assisted private owners. Many of these
commenters provided helpful suggestions on methods to reduce that
burden. Some asked for increases in reporting. Others provided helpful
suggestions on mandates, penalties for noncompliance, and the
importance of public data profiles. One commenter asked HUD to clarify
why public housing authorities must contact both the field office and
OLHCHH, instead of having the field office contact OLHCHH.
HUD Response: HUD is mindful of the need to minimize burdens on
owners and public housing authorities, the necessity of having
appropriate information received timely in order to ensure efficient
and effective program administration and monitoring, and the public's
interest in open and transparent government information and operation.
HUD is also mindful that public health authorities, HUD Field Offices,
and the OLHCHH each have distinct roles in addressing an EBLL case, and
that time is often of the essence in fulfilling those roles.
The concurrent notification is necessary to ensure that the OLHCHH
is aware of the EBLL case timely and knows, upon receiving the
notification, the same information that has been provided to the Field
Office without having to conduct a verification, which would delay its
ability to respond effectively to requests for assistance from the
Field Office and monitor the case. HUD also notes that the concurrent
notification was proposed for all LSHR subparts in the proposed rule, a
scope retained in this final rule, so that public housing authorities
are not being subjected to a different requirement than are owners who
have this case notification responsibility under certain LSHR subparts.
Considering the necessary balancing of interests, potential future
changes in federal and local laws, and the rapid pace of technological
advances in sharing and reporting on data, HUD does not believe it is
appropriate to be prescriptive in codifying a particular notification
process in regulation. Instead, HUD retains the requirement as drafted
in the proposed rule. Specific processes for reporting EBLLs and
actions taken will be developed, including an electronic submission
pathway. In developing pathways for reporting, HUD will continue to
carefully balance these interests.
b. Coordination With Parents, Guardians, and Other Non-Medical
Professional Sources
Comment: Several commenters (5) recommended that designated parties
and owners accept notification of EBLLs from parents, guardians, and
other non-professional sources when notification is accompanied by
sufficient documentation such as a doctor's letter.
HUD Response: A letter or report from a medical health care
provider, such as a physician or nurse, or the public health
department, has always been acceptable notification under the LSHR
(because HUD has never required or expected that the provider would
come to the office of the designated party personally to deliver the
notification). This will continue to be the case under this final rule.
Similarly, in the absence of a medically reliable notification that a
child under age six (6) has an EBLL, it would be imprudent for HUD to
require the designated party and/or the owner to undertake an
environmental intervention. When presented with notification of an EBLL
from a non-medical-professional source, the designated party is
required to contact the local health department or another medical
health care provider to verify the notification. This rule details the
procedure (including contacting HUD) to be used when a public health
department or provider declines to verify a report from a non-medical
professional source.
c. Coordination With HIPAA and Local Data Privacy Laws
Comment: Several commenters (8) requested clarification of the
protocols for reporting, including the interaction with other federal
laws such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of
1996 (HIPAA) (Pub. L. 104-191), and state and local privacy laws.
HUD Response: For the purpose of preventing or controlling
childhood lead poisoning, in regard to lead hazard evaluation and
control activities, the OLHCHH and its lead hazard control grantees
acting on its behalf, are considered public health authorities under
HIPAA; thus, they may receive related private health information that
is minimally necessary to accomplish the intended purpose of the
disclosure,

[[Page 4157]]

including the addresses of housing units and vital information about
the children and their families, and must protect that information.
5. Technical Concerns
a. Environmental Investigations of Lead Hazards That Are Not Lead-Based
Paint Hazards
Comment: Many comments (18) expressed concerns about whether
federally-assisted housing providers should look for sources of lead
exposure that are not lead-based paint hazards, or would be responsible
for such sources of lead exposure if they were identified in the
environmental investigation. Some commenters raised concerns about the
responsibility for controlling lead exposure if the source of lead was
a non-lead-based paint hazard or at another property outside of the
control of the designated party or owner, as applicable. Additionally,
some commenters requested that HUD add safeguards to ensure that owners
are not penalized for missing other sources of exposure if a public
health department decides not to, or is unable to work with a
designated party or owner on the child's case.
HUD Response: This final rule requires that the owner or designated
party, as applicable, ensure that an environmental investigation of the
child's lead exposure is completed, which includes investigating
sources that are or are not lead-based paint hazards. Environmental
investigations must be performed by EPA, state, or tribally certified
risk assessors, and the contents of their report must meet EPA, state
or tribal requirements, as applicable. The rule also provides that, if
a public health department has already conducted an evaluation of the
dwelling unit in response to the case, the owner or designated party
does not need to conduct another one. HUD has clarified applicable
sections of the proposed rule \15\ to provide that the evaluation be in
response to the current case. This clarification eliminates the
potential confusion that a previous case in the same housing unit,
whether for an EBLL or other reason, that had prompted a public health
department evaluation, however long before the current EBLL case, might
allow an environmental investigation or public health department
evaluation not to be conducted for the current case. HUD is not aware
of this having occurred, but the technical clarification provides
transparency on this issue.
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\15\ 24 CFR 35.730(a), 35.830(a), 35.1130(a), and 35.1225(a)
have been revised to read: ``If a public health department has
already conducted an evaluation of the dwelling unit in regard to
the child's elevated blood lead level case, the requirements of this
paragraph shall not apply'' (emphasis added).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Because children can be exposed to lead by toys, dishes,
homeopathic remedies, certain cultural practices, and other non-paint-
related sources, the family interview portion of the environmental
investigation will include questions on these sources. The designated
party or owner is responsible for ensuring that an environmental
investigation in accordance with federal, state, and local requirements
is conducted timely, regardless of whether it is done by staff or
through contract, or that the public health department has conducted an
evaluation in response to the case.
In some areas of the country, the public health department will
perform the environmental investigation or a comparable evaluation, as
may be required by a public health department initiative or state,
tribal, or local law, the latter of which may also specify how the
environmental investigation is performed and what follow-up actions
must be taken by the designated party. In these cases, the most
stringent of the federal, State, tribal, or local requirements must be
followed.
Regardless of who performs the environmental investigation, HUD is
not establishing a requirement that the designated party or owner
address sources of exposure that are not lead-based paint hazards, or
sources from housing not controlled by the designated party or owner,
such as a relative's home, because HUD does not have authority to
require that those sources be addressed. As discussed elsewhere in this
preamble, risk assessments of certain other housing units in the
property may be conducted; as with the environmental investigation of
the index unit,\16\ these risk assessments may identify non-paint-
related sources of lead exposure. Indeed, the HUD Guidelines encourage
risk assessors to note other obvious sources of lead exposure, and many
risk assessors routinely test items other than paint for lead. The
Guidelines also explicitly include such testing as a part of
environmental investigations. Nevertheless, HUD does not believe that
such activities would subject property owners to expanded legal
vulnerability under this rule. In both the index unit and other units,
the designated party or owner is not responsible for controlling these
sources. In the 22 years since the Guidelines were first published,
this has not created a legal liability problem for risk assessors or
building owners and managers.
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\16\ Here, this refers to the housing unit in which the child
who has an EBLL resides, with the terminology adapted from the
traditional epidemiology term, ``index case, the case that is first
reported to public health authorities.'' CDC, Guidelines for the
Control of Pertussis Outbreaks. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention: Atlanta, GA, 2000. Chapter 11, Definitions. www.cdc.gov/pertussis/outbreaks/guide/downloads/chapter-11.pdf.
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HUD, such as through its OLHCHH, will continue to encourage
designated parties and owners to address such lead hazards as part of
its broader effort to ensure the safety and health of residents of its
assisted housing, but, for regulatory clarity, not do so through this
rulemaking.
Additionally, the EPA regulations at 40 CFR 745.235, 745.237, and
745.327 (or the equivalent regulations of an EPA authorized state or
tribal lead-based paint program as applicable) prescribe the training
and certification requirements for risk assessors as well as the work
practice standards for conduct of a risk assessment and the reporting
of the assessment results. This rule does not hold the designated party
or owner responsible for a certified risk assessor performing the
environmental investigation missing a source of exposure (except, of
course, in the case of collusion).
b. Lead in Water
Comment: Several comments (7) specifically addressed the issue of
lead-contaminated water, the desirability of testing and controlling
lead levels in water, and the responsibilities of owners if high lead
levels are found in the water supply.
HUD Response: Controlling exposures to lead from water is outside
of HUD's authority for this rulemaking, because Title X, which the LSHR
implements, does not authorize HUD to regulate lead in water. The HUD
Guidelines' chapter 16 on environmental investigations, discussed in
the preamble to the proposed rule, indicates when water testing as part
of the investigation is appropriate and provides guidance on how to
conduct such testing. Further information on lead in water testing is
available from EPA.\17\ Requiring control of drinking water lead levels
is outside the scope of this rule. Thus, HUD declines to specifically
address the issue of lead-contaminated water in this rulemaking.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

\17\ See, e.g., EPA, Protect Your Family from Exposures to Lead
(Drinking Water), www.epa.gov/lead/protect-your-family-exposures-lead#testdw; EPA, Basic Information about Lead in Drinking Water,
https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/basic-information-about-lead-drinking-water.

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[[Page 4158]]

c. Visual Assessment of Housing Units in the Tenant-Based Rental
Assistance Program
Comment: Many commenters (28) claimed that the visual assessment
protocol in the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program, which provides
tenant-based rental assistance, was insufficient to protect children
from lead, and that a more rigorous assessment protocol was needed when
children under age six (6) will be moving into a unit of target housing
with the family receiving assistance through an HCV. Several commenters
also recommended that evaluations should be conducted on every unit in
a building, regardless of subsidy.
HUD Response: As noted in this preamble, the primary purpose of
this rule is adopting the revised definition of ``elevated blood lead
level'' in children under the age of six (6), and the response in cases
of children with such a level who reside in federally-assisted target
housing. Therefore, pre-occupancy activities are outside the scope of
this rule, as are activities in non-federally-assisted units.
Comment: Many commenters (20) addressed the need for assessment of
other assisted units in the same property as that of a child under age
six (6) with an EBLL in which a child under age six (6) resides or is
expected to reside (``other units''), which is within the scope of this
rule, as part of the response to the child with an EBLL. Most
commenters (18) recommended that HUD strengthen the assessment in the
units of other households receiving tenant-based rental assistance to a
risk assessment, or, in the alternative, a lead hazard screen.\18\
Commenters noted both that the CDC strongly recommends a more stringent
risk assessment, and that lead hazards do not discriminate among
victims by the type of subsidy they receive.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

\18\ The EPA's work practice standards for conducting lead
hazard screens and lead risk assessments are provided at 40 CFR
745.227(c) and (d), respectively; both may be conducted only by a
person certified by EPA or an EPA-authorized state or tribal lead-
based activities program as a risk assessor.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

HUD Response: Under this final rule, risk assessments will be
required in other HUD-assisted units in which a child under age six (6)
resides or is expected to reside, and the common areas servicing those
units. HUD has always distinguished between pre-occupancy and post-
occupancy activities in assisted housing. Prior to this final rule, the
LSHR distinguished between general, pre-occupancy activities in tenant-
based rental assistance housing units and specific responses to the
identification of a child under age six (6) with an environmental
intervention blood lead level (EIBLL) \19\ who had a housing-related
lead exposure. It did so by going beyond the visual assessment and
paint stabilization requirement of pre-occupancy activities to
requiring risk assessments and interim controls for EIBLL cases.\20\
These measures are being extended by this final rule to the other
housing choice voucher units in properties where children under age six
(6) reside or are expected to reside.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

\19\ A confirmed concentration of lead in whole blood equal to
or greater than 20 [mu]g/dL (micrograms of lead per deciliter) for a
single test or 15-19 [mu]g/dL in two tests taken at least 3 months
apart, per 24 CFR 35.110.
\20\ See 24 CFR 35.730(a).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

HUD is basing this approach on the CDC guidance that other housing
units should receive the same evaluation and controls as the index
unit, while narrowing the application of that guidance by not requiring
action where statutory authority clearly does not support HUD require
action (e.g., in unassisted units), and reducing the overall costs and
increasing the effectiveness of the controls by requiring a risk
assessment to identify with specificity the lead-based paint hazards in
the other units before the controls are undertaken.
The increased burden on a landlord of a family receiving tenant-
based rental assistance is expected to be modest, because a certified
risk assessor will already be at the property to conduct the
environmental investigation in the index unit, and the cost of the risk
assessment will be borne by the designated party, i.e., the public
housing agency, or the HOME or HOPWA grantee, as applicable. Giving
that risk assessor an expanded scope of work to conduct a risk
assessment in other units will be an additional cost to the designated
party, as will the cost to the owner for control of any lead-based
paint hazards that would not have been detected by visual assessments
conducted as part of the initial and periodic inspections of the units,
but were detected by the risk assessment. These other units of an owner
who has been properly implementing the required ongoing lead-based
paint maintenance program are more likely not to have hazards and, if
they are present, for them to be fewer in number and less extensive.
This risk assessment, and the interim control of any lead-based paint
hazards found will provide substantial additional protection to the
other children under age six (6) residing or expected to reside in the
property, and increased liability protection for the owner as a result
of the more comprehensive evaluation of the housing and resulting lead
hazard control, in comparison to the otherwise routine use of the
visual assessment and paint stabilization process.
Similarly to how HUD considered commenters' arguments related to
other tenant-based rental assisted units and is responding by requiring
risk assessments and interim controls for such units in this final
rule--instead of visual assessment and paint stabilization, as
proposed--HUD is applying the commenters' logic to housing receiving
project-based assistance of up to $5,000 per unit per year by requiring
risk assessments and interim controls in this final rule, instead of
visual assessment and paint stabilization, as proposed.
The Regulatory Impact Assessment has been revised accordingly and
continues to show that the benefits of this regulation substantially
outweigh the costs.
d. Sampling of Other Units in Large Properties
Comment: Two commenters inquired if the sampling protocols for
larger properties (with over 20 housing units in properties built
before 1960, or over 10 units in properties build between 1960-1977) in
the existing HUD Guidelines' Chapter 7 would apply to buildings where a
child under age six (6) has developed an EBLL, and the child's unit was
found to have lead-based paint hazards, so that examinations of other
housing units in the property were required.
HUD Response: As noted in the preamble to the proposed rule, the
existing housing unit random sampling protocols for multi-family
housing would apply, because, procedurally, they are not being amended
by this rule, and substantively, because the statistical foundation for
the protocols applies to the EBLL situation just as it does to lead-
based paint inspections and risk assessments in general.
e. Interim Controls
Comment: Four commenters recommended that, for at least the types
of housing affected under this rule, if not all housing under the LSHR,
HUD require abatement, as opposed to mere interim controls, in a unit
in which lead-based paint hazards (or, for a visual assessment,
deteriorated painted surfaces) were found.
HUD Response: HUD is aware from its experience with its lead hazard
control grant program that there can be a substantial cost difference
between interim controls of lead-based paint

[[Page 4159]]

hazards and abatement of them. As noted in the RIA for the proposed
rule, the interim controls used under HUD's lead hazard control grant
programs were found to be effective for at least 6 years following the
intervention, with window replacement and lead hazard control effective
after 12 years. Thus, even if an owner did not implement an ongoing
lead-based paint management program after the interim control work
(such a program is not required under the grants), the duration of the
protection of the children's environment regarding lead in the housing
would extend beyond the child's sixth birthday. If the owner did
implement the management program, as the LSHR requires, the duration of
the protection would be at least as long as the period found for
protection resulting from work under the grants, and, HUD believes,
longer.
HUD also notes that, as described above, the evaluation activity in
the other assisted units with a child under age six (6) is being
changed from a visual assessment, as proposed, to a risk assessment.
Therefore, HUD declines to modify the proposed rule. However, the
designated party or owner may choose to require abatement in
circumstances when they do not believe interim controls will
sufficiently protect their resident children under age six (6).
f. Update the Standards for Lead Based Paint, Lead Based Paint Hazards
and Various Lead Hazard Control Protocols
Comment: Eight commenters requested that HUD, either alone or in
partnership with EPA, update various other lead regulations, standards
and protocols.
HUD Response: Such changes are beyond the scope of this rulemaking.
HUD will collaborate with EPA, as it considers any updates to revise
those standards. In the interim, HUD will continue to use existing
protocols, including paint-testing requirements,\21\ and lead-safe work
practices requirements that were of specific interest to some
commenters.
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\21\ E.g., by requiring the paint testing before interim
controls involving RRP work in assisted target housing covered by
the LSHR be conducted by a certified lead-based paint inspector or
risk assessor (24 CFR 35.110), versus a renovation contractor's
using a spot-test kit (40 CFR 745.82(a)(2)).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

HUD declines a commenter's request to further define the
responsibilities of particular owners of a building with multiple
owners as related to notices of lead-based paint hazard evaluation and
reduction, because its interest is in having the designated party
provide notices to occupants as required, not in establishing criteria
for which of the ownership partners within the designated party, which
is as a whole, responsible for complying with applicable requirements
(see Sec. 35.110), should carry out that responsibility. That is an
internal matter for the partners to decide.
g. Pregnant Women Under the LSHR
Comment: Two commenters requested that HUD extend the protections
of the LSHR in child-occupied units to units where a pregnant woman
resides.
HUD Response: The LSHR has always defined units occupied by
pregnant women as units where a child is expected to reside. The Title
X and LSHR definitions of ``target housing'' encompass units where a
child under age six (6) ``resides or is expected to reside,'' and, in
the LSHR, HUD further clarified the phrase ``expected to reside'' to
mean that ``there is actual knowledge that a child will reside in a
dwelling unit . . . If a resident is known to be pregnant, there is
actual knowledge that a child will reside in the dwelling unit.'' (See,
Sec. 35.110) That definition remains unchanged by the current rule.
h. Landlord Exemptions
Comment: Multiple commenters (16) made recommendations about the
provisions that would exempt landlords in certain cases from performing
additional risk assessments in their building once a child with an EBLL
had been identified. Some of these commenters (5) felt the exemptions
were too broad and would not sufficiently protect the other residents
of a building that had exposed at least one child to a lead hazard.
Most of these commenters (11) felt that the exemptions should be
expanded, either for work done in the last 24 months, for work done
while the same family occupied the unit, or until such time as the CDC
updated its EBLL guidance, or if a unit is scheduled to undergo
redevelopment.
HUD Response: HUD's rule provides that a lead risk assessment
remains applicable for 12 months. HUD will continue to use this period
(vs. the longer 24 months, or the indefinite period of a family's
continued occupancy in a unit, for which there is no reason to believe
that hazards would not form) in the exemption criteria for when the
owner has documentation, ``throughout the 12 months preceding the date
the owner received the environmental investigation report, of
compliance with evaluation, notification, lead disclosure, ongoing
lead-based paint maintenance, and lead-based paint management
requirements.'' Given that the LSHR requires retention of documentation
of the owner's compliance with these operational LSHR requirements for
the period when ongoing lead-based paint maintenance is required, and
for at least 3 years beyond that period, the absence of such
documentation for just the past 12 months allows for a reasonable
inference that the owner has not complied with the operational
requirements of the LSHR, so that a risk assessment is required in the
other units. Thus, HUD declines to change this implementation period.
HUD also declines to exempt units that are scheduled for
redevelopment. Redevelopment timelines are often uncertain by many
months, and it would violate the intent of the LSHR to leave a child
exposed to potential lead hazards for such an uncertain length of time.
If preliminary work on the redevelopment is sufficiently far advanced
that building occupant vacating and/or relocating is under way with
completion of vacating and/or relocating and the start of construction
both scheduled to be within 45 days (i.e., the sum of the 15-day period
for conducting the environmental investigation of the index child's
unit and common areas servicing that unit and the 30-day period for
conducting lead hazard control there) after the designated party was
notified of a child under age six (6) with EBLL, the lead activities
need not be conducted in one or more of the other assisted units with a
child under age six (6) by that due date if the family in each of those
un-assessed or uncontrolled units is relocated within 15 days after the
designated party received the environmental investigation report, with
the lead safety of the family's destination housing meeting the
criteria of the preface to Sec. 35.1345(a)(2), and with the family
continuing to receive housing assistance without interruption and
having their relocation costs covered. Making the original housing lead
safe is required by the LSHR (subparts H, J, and/or L, as applicable)
to be part of the redevelopment.
At the same time, HUD understands that evaluating additional units
poses a burden for owners, and there are some circumstances where
documented past performance makes the possibility of future lead
hazards substantially less likely. Therefore, HUD also declines to make
the exemptions more stringent.
6. Time Available To Complete Work
Comment: Multiple commenters (15) made recommendations about
timelines for investigating lead hazards,

[[Page 4160]]

completing hazard control work, and relocating families if necessary.
Most of these commenters (11) felt that the timelines were aggressive
and may be unrealistic for owners, particularly owners who operate
under complex procurement rules, or owners in communities without
adequate numbers of certified risk assessors, lead hazard control
workers, and firms who employ them. Other commenters (4) felt that the
timelines were too lax, and left families exposed to lead hazards in
their home longer than necessary.
HUD Response: None of the commenters provided data on lead hazard
control activity durations, temporary relocation costs, or the health
effects of lead exposure for the number of days they recommended versus
the number of days proposed to support their recommendations.
Accordingly, HUD determined that it would retain the timelines in the
currently codified LSHR, as proposed. If a designated party or owner
believes they will be unable to meet the timelines in a specific
circumstance, they should discuss their concerns with HUD when they
report the EBLL.
HUD also declines to apply a business day schedule instead of a
calendar day schedule to these evaluation and hazard control timelines.
The primary victims of lead poisoning are children, who are most likely
to be exposed to hazards in their home on non-business days, and many
risk assessors and lead hazard control contractors are available to
work on weekends for high priority projects, such as responding to the
case of a child under age six (6) with an EBLL. With respect to
providing notifications to HUD, for which the rule uses business day
schedules, HUD will adopt the practice already used by HUD for hearings
before hearing officers, that when the due date is a Saturday, Sunday,
national holiday, or other day on which the relevant HUD office is
closed, the due date is extended until the end of the next following
business day. (See, 24 CFR 26.11(a).)
7. Penalties for Noncompliance
Comment: Several commenters (11) recommended that this rule include
enforcement remedies and civil money penalties for non-compliance.
HUD Response: The Lead Disclosure Rule, also issued under Title X,
allows for violators to be subject to civil money penalties. (See, 24
CFR 35.96, implementing 42 U.S.C. 4852d(b)(1).) In contrast, as the
preamble to the original LSHR states (at 64 FR 50168), ``The Lead-Based
Paint Poisoning Prevention Act does not provide any independent
enforcement provisions. Remedies will vary based on which [assistance]
program's requirements have been violated.'' For example, a designated
party or owner not in compliance with the LSHR, including this rule,
may be considered in default of its regulatory agreement or annual
contributions contract, as applicable, with the Department.
Noncompliance may also result in the designated party or owner being
debarred from receiving assistance from the Department or denied future
participation in HUD or federal programs. A designated party or owner
in noncompliance may be forced to surrender grant funds, or may be
otherwise subject to civil money penalties or other sanctions. HUD
plans to enhance its monitoring for LSHR compliance, but does not have
the authority to create penalties under this rule or the currently
codified LSHR.
8. Future Changes in CDC Recommendations
Comment: Multiple commenters (20) recommended keeping the LSHR
synchronized with expected future CDC guidance that may further change
the blood lead level that triggers an investigation. A majority (10) of
these commenters recommended that future updates to CDC guidance
automatically cause HUD's guidance to change. The remainder recommended
variations on using CDC's current definition, including allowing the
level to decrease, but not increase; creating local levels based on the
data from a given geography; changing the terminology from CDC's
current usage; or simply waiting for the CDC to update their guidance
again before amending the LSHR.
HUD Response: The purpose of this rulemaking is to bring HUD's
requirements into alignment with CDC guidance in regard to
environmental investigations for cases of elevated blood lead levels in
children under age six (6), while placing the minimum necessary burden
on assisted property owners and other designated parties. To do so,
while also maximizing the effectiveness of environmental investigations
and remedial actions taken as a result of those investigations, HUD
proposed that the EBLL under this rule would be a confirmed blood lead
level at least that for which U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services recommends that an environmental intervention be conducted.
This level may be the CDC's reference range value, as it is at the
publication of this rule, or it could be higher, if CDC found
recommending environmental interventions to be appropriate only at a
higher level than the reference range value. Accordingly, HUD declines
to apply any of the recommended variations.
To respect the potential burden placed on assisted property owners
before adjusting its EBLL standard in the LSHR, and to provide
transparency in its decision-making, HUD will provide for public notice
and comment as described in the proposed rule so that potentially
affected parties, including designated parties, their property
management firms, risk assessment firms, renovation firms, and tenants,
and advocates for all of these parties will have the opportunity to
provide comments on proposed EBLL changes. Therefore, HUD declines to
modify the proposed process for revising the blood lead level in
children under age six (6).
9. Timing of Implementation
Comment: Half of the commenters (29) addressed the issue of the
rule's effective date or implementation date. Of these, some
recommended a longer implementation time to adequately prepare, and
some recommended a shorter implementation time to begin increasing the
protection of children's health more rapidly. A few commenters felt
that the initially proposed 6 months was appropriate.
HUD Response: HUD is mindful of the need to update policies and
procedures for planning purposes, and that, as one commenter noted,
``it is doubly important that the rule is implemented in such a way
that Housing Authorities will be able to comply.'' That commenter, and
others, noted that CDC has not yet revised its 2012 reference range
value, and recommended waiting until some period after CDC's update.
HUD believes it likely that CDC will issue its update in 2017, but it
does not want to delay for an indeterminate period the additional
protections for children with blood lead levels in the range between
the currently codified LSHR's EIBLL threshold and this rule's proposed
EBLL threshold. Therefore, HUD cannot agree with either the majority or
minority of commenters and declines to implement the rule faster than 6
months, nor after a longer period. Instead, the compliance date of the
rule will be 6 months from publication, as proposed.
10. Other Issues
a. Low Income Communities, Communities of Color, and Affirmatively
Furthering Fair Housing
Comment: Five commenters requested that HUD consider that lead
poisoning occurs more frequently in low-income communities and
communities of color,

[[Page 4161]]

and that, furthermore, this may have implications under its fair
housing rules.
HUD Response: HUD agrees that research clearly shows higher
incidence of EBLLs in low-income communities and in communities of
color.\22\ However, the fair housing implications of this information
are governed by fair housing statutes and regulations, and are
therefore beyond the scope of this rulemaking; this rule needs to be
issued with nationwide applicability. Nevertheless, such comments will
be considered as HUD develops future outreach and enforcement
strategies for implementing this rule.
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\22\ See, e.g., CDC, Lead: Prevention Tips, http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/tips.htm; CDC, Recommendations for Blood Lead Screening of
Medicaid-Eligible Children Aged 1-5 Years: an Updated Approach to
Targeting a Group at High Risk (Aug. 2009), available at http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5809a1.htm.
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b. EPA's Renovation, Repair, and Painting Rule
Comment: Five commenters recommended clarifying and making more
explicit the relationship between the LSHR and the EPA's Renovation,
Repair and Painting Rule (RRP Rule, 40 CFR part 745, especially
subparts E and Q; implementing 15 U.S.C. 2682(c), Renovation and
remodeling).
HUD Response: The original LSHR predated the RRP Rule, and
therefore could not reference it explicitly. The RRP Rule defines
``renovation'' broadly in the context of lead-based paint, saying in
essence that the term ``means the modification of any existing
structure, or portion thereof, that results in the disturbance of
painted surfaces, unless that activity is performed as part of an
abatement . . . [but not] minor repair and maintenance activities,''
(40 CFR 745.83) where ``abatement'' and ``minor repair and maintenance
activities'' are defined for purposes of that rule at 40 CFR 745.223
and 745.83, respectively. Accordingly, most of the lead-based paint
hazard reduction activities to be conducted as a result of the
environmental investigation of the index unit and the risk assessment
in other units, will be renovations covered by the RRP Rule, and must
be conducted by contractors and individual renovators who are certified
renovation firms or certified renovators. The relationship between this
rule and the RRP Rule needs to be made explicit for the sake of
transparency; doing so will have the additional benefit of making the
other portions of the LSHR that require the use of certified renovation
firms and certified renovators more transparent. Because this
requirement has been operationally in effect for the LSHR since the RRP
Rule went into full effect, clarifying this creates no change in the
burden or benefits of implementing the LSHR.
Accordingly, the relationship between the RRP rule and the LSHR is
being made explicit through this rulemaking.
First, for the sake of transparency, HUD is adding ``renovation''
to the list of ``activities'' within the scope of the definition of
``certified'' in 24 CFR 35.110, along with the current listing of
``risk assessment, lead-based paint inspection, or abatement
supervision.'' HUD notes that the scope of activities in its definition
of ``certified'' is broader than EPA's scope of ``Lead-based paint
activities,'' which they define at 40 CFR 745.223, because HUD's
definition uses the unmodified term ``activities'' and includes, in the
definition, the phrase ``such as'' the listed activities of ``risk
assessment, lead-based paint inspection, or abatement supervision,''
while the EPA definition is limited to the specific listed activities
of ``inspection, risk assessment, and abatement.'' Because HUD's
definition is broader, this clarification in the definition will have
no effect on the operations of HUD, owners, contractors or employees.
Second, the current LSHR language on interim controls training
requirements in Sec. 35.1330(a)(4)(iii), which allowed for approval of
certain lead-safe work practices courses by HUD after consultation with
the EPA, will be replaced with wording that recognizes renovator
courses accredited under the EPA's or by an EPA-authorized state or
tribe's renovation program.
HUD also notes that ``abatement'' of lead-based paint or lead-based
paint hazards as defined by EPA at 40 CFR 745.223, and by HUD in the
LSHR at 24 CFR 35.110, may be conducted under the LSHR when interim
controls are required, because the LSHR already allows conducting
additional lead-based paint hazard evaluation or reduction beyond the
minimum under the rule. Abatements must be conducted, in accordance
with the work practice standards developed by EPA at 40 CFR 745.227(e)
or by an EPA authorized state or tribal lead-based paint activities
program by certified abatement supervisors and certified abatement
workers. HUD encourages the use of abatement as a permanent (at least
20-year-long, or eternally, in the case of paint removal abatement)
method of addressing exposures from lead-based paint, dust, and soil in
a home, particularly where it may be cost-effective, such as during a
major rehabilitation (e.g., a ``gut rehab'').
c. Other Partnerships
Comment: Five commenters suggested partnerships, or approaches to
partnerships that would aid in the implementation of the LSHR.
HUD Response: HUD welcomes these suggestions and fully expects to
engage in numerous partnerships to fully implement the LSHR and protect
America's children from lead poisoning. However, codifying these
partnerships in regulation is unnecessary, so HUD declines to do so.
d. Other Sections of the LSHR Not Amended
Comment: Two commenters recommended that HUD amend the LSHR's
subparts C (Disposition of Residential Property Owned by a Federal
Agency Other Than HUD), E (which had been proposed in the original LSHR
to cover Single Family Insured Property,\23\ but was reserved in the
final LSHR rulemaking, with 24 CFR part 200, subpart O, being revised
at that time) and F (HUD-Owned Single Family Property).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

\23\ Proposed 24 CFR part 36, subpart E; 61 FR 29170-29232, at
29210 (see also 29180), June 7, 1996.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

HUD Response: HUD appreciates these suggestions and, while noting
that they are outside of the scope of the current rulemaking, will
consider future rulemaking to amend these subparts.
e. Accessibility of Inspection Reports
Comment: One commenter recommended protecting a renter's ability to
access inspection reports.
HUD Response: This issue is governed by the Lead Disclosure Rule
(24 CFR part 35, subpart A) and is therefore outside the scope of this
rule.
f. Uniform Physical Condition Standards for the Voucher Program (UPCS-
V) Demonstration
Comment: One commenter requested clarifying language on the
relationship between the LSHR and the UPCS-V pilot program.
HUD Response: As noted on HUD's Web site (http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/public_indian_housing/reac/oed/upcs-v), to help improve tenant safety and HUD's oversight of the HCV
program, HUD is introducing the UPCS-V inspection protocol with new
measures to enhance the consistency and objectivity of the inspection
process, and provide more information about the condition of individual
housing units. The UPCS-V Demonstration is HUD's formal mechanism to
test the protocol with up to 250 public housing agencies

[[Page 4162]]

(www.regulations.gov/document?D=HUD-2016-0044-0001).
Participation in the UPCS-V pilot program does not affect whether
or how a housing unit or property is covered under the LSHR or this
rule amending the LSHR, nor an owner's or designated party's
responsibilities under the LSHR. Questions on specific interactions
between the LSHR and the UPCS-V pilot, such as one commenter's
question, ``If a PHA does not complete the hazard reduction on a
voucher unit, would that dwelling be in violation of UPCS-V?'', are
outside the scope of this rulemaking, and should be directed to HUD's
Office of Public and Indian Housing.
g. Liability Safeguards
Comment: One commenter expressed concern that because of the lapse
in time between CDC issuing guidance and HUD issuing a proposed rule on
EBLLs, tenants of HUD-assisted housing may decide to take legal action
against PHAs once they learn that the PHA was not in compliance with
CDC guidelines. The commenter requested that the LSHR include,
``Safeguards that protect PHAs from any litigious behavior that may
result from HUD's delayed rulemaking process.''
HUD Response: HUD cannot speculate on the merits or costs of any
potential litigation, nor to address PHAs' compliance with other
federal agencies' guidance, as both are outside the scope of this
rulemaking.
h. Determining the Responsible Party
Comment: One commenter requested that, ``HUD clarify that there is
a single responsible party in areas of the proposed rule where there is
an option for one of two entities to assume responsibility. As
currently written, sections of the rule would assign responsibility to
either the PHA (the designated party) or the property owner.''
HUD Response: As defined by the LSHR, a designated party is an
entity responsible for complying with applicable requirements of the
rule.
This commenter does not identify which LSHR subparts are of concern
to it, but an examination of subpart H, L, and M, with which public
housing agencies may be involved, shows that subparts H and L each
specify only one such entity; so the concern must be for subpart M
(Tenant-Based Rental Assistance). Within that subpart, Sec. Sec.
35.1200(b)(2) through (6) identify the designated party for the
assistance programs covered by each of those regulatory paragraphs. In
the example of the HCV program, paragraph (2) has identified the public
housing agency as the designated party, with responsibilities under
certain provisions of that subpart (e.g., engaging an inspector on its
behalf to conduct the pre-occupancy visual assessment (see, Sec.
35.1215(a)(1))) and the owner has had certain responsibilities under
other provisions of that subpart (e.g., stabilizing the deteriorated
paint surfaces identified by the visual assessment (see, Sec.
35.1215(b))). Regarding EBLL cases under the HCV program, this rule as
proposed and made final here uses the same approach: The designated
party, i.e., the PHA, is responsible for the environmental
investigation and, if needed, verification of the case (see, Sec. Sec.
35.1225(a) and (b)), while the owner is, for the lead-based paint
hazard reduction (see, Sec. 35.1225(c)).
Similarly, in the example of tenant-based rental assistance under
the HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) (see, Sec. 92.209),
under which HUD's Office of Community Planning and Development (CPD)
awards grants to state and local governments (``participating
jurisdictions'') that provide rental assistance to households and
contract with owners of the units they rent, the designated party for
the unit occupied by a household receiving tenant-based rental
assistance is the participating jurisdiction, or if the tenant-based
rental assistance program is administered by a subrecipient, that
entity.
Also, the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA)
Program provides tenant-based rental assistance to households as an
eligible activity (see, Sec. 574.300(b)(5)). HUD's CPD office awards
HOPWA entitlement formula grant funds to state and local government
grantees (``eligible states and qualifying cities'') and HOPWA
competitive grant funds to state, local government and non-profit
grantees. In this example, if a grantee provides rental assistance to
households and contracts directly with owners of the units they rent,
the designated party for a unit in which the assisted household
occupies is the grantee. In another example, if the tenant-based rental
assistance program is administered by a project sponsor, the designated
party for a unit in which the assisted household occupies is the
project sponsor.
i. Ongoing Lead-Based Paint Maintenance Program
Comment: One commenter recommended that the written notice provided
to each dwelling unit asking occupants to report deteriorated paint
and, if applicable, failure of encapsulation or enclosure, along with
contact information, be provided to each individual tenant (see, Sec.
35.1355(a)(7)). The same commenter recommended adding ``and reporting
deteriorated paint'' to the heading of Sec. 35.130, Lead hazard
information pamphlet, because the reporting notification required by
Sec. 35.1355(a)(7) as discussed above, goes to the recipients of the
lead hazard information pamphlet provided under Sec. 35.130. The same
commenter suggested adding a paragraph (8) to Sec. 35.1355(a), to
require that each property covered by the ongoing lead-based paint
maintenance requirement must have a written maintenance plan on how to
address lead-based activities and who will be able to conduct the
activities.
HUD Response: As to the first suggestion, typical notification
practice is to provide one notification on a housing operations topic
to the dwelling unit, rather than multiple copies for each adult in the
unit. HUD will consider the effectiveness and burden of a change for
this notification as it develops future rulemaking. As to the second
suggestion, while Sec. 35.130 pertains to providing a pamphlet rather
than property-specific information, this comment raises the idea of
having the Lead Disclosure Rule disclosure form, for at least housing
covered by the LSHR, include a confirmation that the reporting
notification was provided. HUD will consider the feasibility of such an
addition in its implementation of the LSHR.
As to the third suggestion, this would implement the HUD Guidelines
Chapter 6, Ongoing Lead-Based Paint Maintenance, Step-by-Step Summary,
item 1, that ``owners should develop a written program [regarding]
lead-safe maintenance that apply to each pre-1978 property and should
assign responsibilities,'' and similarly at unit III.B, Assignment of
Responsibilities, of that chapter. HUD will consider this suggestion in
further rulemaking.
j. Technical Corrections
Comment: One commenter noted that the grammar of subpart D might be
incorrect.
HUD Response: The commenter's insight was accurate, and a technical
correction is necessary. The second sentence of proposed Sec. 35.325,
Child with an elevated blood lead level, paragraph (b), begins by
stating that, ``The risk assessments would be conducted within'' a
certain period, while the other requirements of the paragraph are
specified by using ``shall'' instead of the conditional ``would;'' in
addition, ``shall'' is used in the

[[Page 4163]]

corresponding provisions of other sections. HUD is replacing ``would''
in this instance with ``shall.''
Comment: One commenter noted that Sec. 35.155 implies that
occupants would conduct lead-based paint hazard evaluation or
reduction, a requirement which would not be supported by Title X.
HUD Response: HUD is also making a technical correction to Sec.
35.155 by changing both instances of ``designated party or occupant''
to ``designated party or owner,'' to correct the language regarding who
may be required to conduct additional lead-based paint hazard
evaluation or reduction beyond the minimum under the LSHR. While
occupants are mentioned in the LSHR many times, the LSHR does not
establish any requirements for them to conduct lead-based paint hazard
evaluations or reductions. (An assisted-property owner who resides in
one of the units of a property covered by the LSHR is subject to that
rule's requirements as the owner, not as an occupant.) This correction
is particularly timely because of the requirements being amended by
this rule for owners who are not designated parties.

C. Public Comments in Response to HUD's Questions

HUD is particularly grateful for the comments responding to
specific questions:
1. To facilitate effective HUD monitoring of responses to a case of
an elevated blood lead level, the proposed rule would have designated
parties provide documentation to HUD that the response actions have
been conducted in the child's unit and in all other assisted units with
a child under age six (6), or if there are such other units, that the
designated party has been complying with the LSHR for the past 12
months, and need not evaluate those other units.
a. Is this approach sufficient for HUD to effectively monitor
response actions in these cases, and why? Are there areas in which
reporting and oversight could be strengthened?
b. Can the approach to monitoring response actions in these cases
be streamlined while maintaining its effectiveness, and if so, how?
Comment: Many commenters provided input regarding the information
that needed to be shared to effectively monitor the responses to a case
of an elevated blood lead level.
HUD Response: Commenters took a wide variety of positions, which
are primarily summarized under comments section III.B.4 of this
preamble entitled, Coordination Between the Involved Parties. The sub-
issue of when a designated party need not evaluate other units was
discussed in comments and responses in section III.B.6 of this preamble
entitled, Landlord Exemptions.
2. Regarding the definition of elevated blood lead level in the
proposed rule, is the definition appropriately protective of the health
of children in assisted housing covered by the rule? Too protective?
Not protective enough? Why?
Comment: Commenters were nearly unanimous in expressing their
support for aligning HUD's regulations with the current definition of
elevated blood lead level from the CDC. Commenters did have concerns
that the LSHR as proposed was not protective enough, as discussed in
comments and responses provided in section III.B.1, Primary Prevention,
and section III.B.5, Technical Concerns. No commenters felt that the
rule was too protective of America's children, however, some commenters
worried that they would not have sufficient resources available to meet
their obligations under the rule.
HUD Response: HUD responds to these concerns in section III.B.2,
Resources Available.
3. Regarding the set of types of housing assistance covered by the
proposed rule (i.e., in the covered subparts D, H, I, L, and M), is
this set appropriately protective of the health of children in assisted
housing?
a. If it is too protective, why, and which types of housing
assistance should be removed from the proposed rule?
b. If it is not protective enough, why, which additional type or
types of housing assistance should be included, and how would
sufficient resources be provided to ensure implementation and
monitoring of the rule in that additional assisted housing?
Comment: No commenters felt that certain types of housing
assistance should be removed from the proposed rule, although several
commenters recommended that Public Housing's history of superior
performance entitled it to a lower standard of monitoring. (As
discussed in commenting subsection 1, Primary Prevention, the study did
not have the capacity to address the performance of particular housing
assistance programs.) A few commenters felt that additional HUD
programs should be included in the rule.
HUD Response: HUD response to these comments are provided in
section III.B.11.d of this preamble entitled, Other Sections of the
LSHR Not Amended.
Comment: Two commenters also suggested the LSHR should be extended
to the Low-Income Housing Credit program administered by the United
States Treasury.
HUD Response: According to the Low Income Housing Credit
regulations, 26 CFR 1.42-5(d), the state allocating agency may opt to
use HUD's Uniform Physical Condition Standards as the compliance
standard, in which case the LSHR applies.
4. If interim controls or abatement in a housing unit takes longer
than 5 calendar days, or if other occupant protection requirements of
24 CFR 35.1345(a)(2) are not met, the occupants of the unit shall be
temporarily relocated before and during lead-based paint hazard
reduction activities.
a. HUD is seeking data on the fraction of lead hazard control
activities that take longer than 5 calendar days, including the type of
activity (e.g., interim control or abatement; the hazard control method
used (e.g., if abatement, component removal, paint stripping,
enclosure, encapsulation, etc.), the extent of the work, the reason
that the activities cannot be completed within 5 calendar days, whether
the housing is a single family, duplex, triplex, quad, or multifamily
housing, whether it is located in an urban, suburban, or rural area,
whether the EPA has authorized the state to administer the applicable
lead certification program (i.e., renovation or abatement), and other
factors that are causing temporary relocation to be required under the
rule.
b. HUD is seeking information on the costs of temporary relocation,
on a per day basis (average amount or day-specific amounts, as is
available), including breakouts of expenses for such categories as
lodging, transportation, meals, and incidental expense amounts, if the
information is available that way, or as lump sum per-day or per
relocation period amounts.
Comment: HUD did not receive any data (let alone data supported by
robust quality assurance) on either the time work took, or the costs of
relocation. A few anecdotal comments were provided, e.g., that it can
be hard to find good lead professionals and contractors in rural
portions of the country, and that the costs of temporary stays in
Manhattan can be quite high.
HUD Response: In the absence of actionable data, HUD left the
current standards unchanged. As HUD stated in responding to comments in
subsection 2, Resources Available, of this preamble, HUD is encouraging
designated parties and owners in remote rural areas to contact HUD if
they encounter difficulty

[[Page 4164]]

in finding lead professionals and contractors, to see if the Department
can help find them, and will keep these comments in mind as it
implements this rule.

III. Findings and Certifications

A. Regulatory Review--Executive Orders 12866 and 13563

Under Executive Order 12866 (Regulatory Planning and Review), a
determination must be made whether a regulatory action is significant
and, therefore, subject to review by the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) in accordance with the requirements of the order.
Executive Order 13563 (Improving Regulations and Regulatory Review)
directs executive agencies to analyze regulations that are ``outmoded,
ineffective, insufficient, or excessively burdensome, and to modify,
streamline, expand, or repeal them in accordance with what has been
learned. Executive Order 13563 also directs that, where relevant,
feasible, and consistent with regulatory objectives, and to the extent
permitted by law, agencies are to identify and consider regulatory
approaches that reduce burdens and maintain flexibility and freedom of
choice for the public. OMB reviewed this final rule under Executive
Order 12866 (entitled ``Regulatory Planning and Review''). This rule
was determined to be a ``significant regulatory action,'' (but not
economically significant) as defined in 3(f) of the order. The docket
file is available for public inspection electronically at Federal
eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov under the title and
docket number of this rule, HUD-2016-0096.

B. Regulatory Impact Assessment

HUD is publishing, concurrently with this final rule, its final
Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA) that examines the costs and benefits
of the final regulatory action in conjunction with this final rule,
organized into three sections: Cost-Benefit Analysis; Sensitivity
Analysis; and Economic Impacts. The RIA is available on-line at: http://www.regulations.gov. The major findings in the RIA are presented in
this summary.
The analysis of net benefits reflects costs and benefits associated
with the first year of hazard evaluation and reduction activities under
the final rule. These costs and benefits, however, include the present
value of future costs and benefits associated with first year lead-
based paint hazard reduction activities. Similarly, the benefits of
first year activities include the present value of lifetime earnings
benefits for children living in the affected unit during that first
year, and for children living in that unit during the second and
subsequent years after lead-based paint hazard reduction activities.
In regard to the discount rate used for this regulatory analysis,
HUD is using both the 3 percent, and the 7 percent discount rates in
accordance with OMB guidance in OMB Circulars A-4, Regulatory Analysis
(https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/circulars_a004_a-4/), and A-94,
Guidelines and Discount Rates for Benefit-Cost Analysis of Federal
Programs (https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/circulars_a094). By presenting
results using both 3 and 7 percent discount rates, HUD is providing a
broad view of costs and benefits.
Employing a 3 percent discount rate of the lifetime earnings
estimates, the RIA concludes that monetized benefits of activities have
a present value of $98.96 million; while first-year costs are $29.04
million. Thus the estimated net benefit is $69.92 million using a 3
percent discount rate. If a 7 percent discount rate is used for
lifetime earnings benefits, the monetized present value of the benefits
of the final rule are estimated to be $32.15 million, with estimated
first year costs remaining at $29.04 million. The final rule would
therefore be seen as having a net benefit of $3.11 million using the 7
percent discount rate.
Further, the monetized benefit estimates represent a lower bound on
benefits, as they only account for lifetime earnings resulting from
cognitive impacts on children under age six. Reductions in lead
exposure would be expected to result in additional health benefits for
these children, as well as older children and adults living in or
visiting the housing units addressed by the rule. Such additional
benefits include avoidance of harmful symptoms of lead poisoning such
as: Decreased attention, increased impulsivity, hyperactivity, impaired
hearing, slowed growth, and delayed menarche.\24\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

\24\ See, e.g., CDC, Educational Interventions for Children
Affected by Lead (Apr. 2015), available at https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/publications/educational_interventions_children_affected_by_lead.pdf; Selevan SG,
Rice DC, Hogan KA, Euling SY, Pfahles-Hutchens A, Bethel J, Blood
lead concentration and delayed puberty in girls, N Engl J Med.
17;348(16):1527-36, (Apr. 17, 2003), available at www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa020880; Mayo Clinic, Lead Poisoning: Symptoms and
Causes, http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/lead-poisoning/symptoms-causes/dxc-20275054.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Costs are overestimated, such as by assuming that only one
environmental investigation is conducted in a property at a time, that
that each housing unit has at most one child with an EBLL. The analysis
also assumes that no designated parties are eligible for (nor take, if
they are eligible) the exemptions from conducting a risk assessment of
other housing units covered by this rule, and that each index unit has
lead-based paint hazards, whether or not the environmental
investigation identifies non-lead-based paint lead hazards. These
assumptions would tend to overestimate both the costs and benefits of
the regulation.
That the benefit-cost calculation giving lower weight to future
generations shows a smaller net benefit is not surprising, given that
the monetized benefits of the rule pertain to the future earnings of
children under age six (6), while the costs pertain to the designated
parties of the housing in which the young children currently reside. As
noted above, the calculation included monetized benefits but not non-
monetized quality of life factors associated with children's lower
intelligence, fewer skills, and reduced education and job potential,
and adults' cognitive function decrements, psychopathological effects
(self-reported symptoms of depression and anxiety), hypertension,
coronary heart disease, blood system effects (decreased red blood cell
survival and function, and altered heme synthesis), male reproductive
function decrements, among other effects.\25\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

\25\ See, e.g., CDC, Educational Interventions for Children
Affected by Lead (Apr. 2015), available at https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/publications/educational_interventions_children_affected_by_lead.pdf; Mayo
Clinic, Lead Poisoning: Symptoms and Causes, http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/lead-poisoning/symptoms-causes/dxc-20275054.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

C. Paperwork Reduction Act Statement

The information collection requirements contained in this rule have
been approved by or are pending with the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-
3520) and assigned OMB control number 2539-0009. In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, an agency may not conduct or sponsor,
and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of
information, unless the collection displays a currently valid OMB
control number.

D. Regulatory Flexibility Act

In accordance with the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C.
605(b)), HUD has reviewed this final rule before publication and by
approving it for publication, certifies that the regulatory

[[Page 4165]]

requirements would not have a significant economic impact on a
substantial number of small entities, other than those impacts
specifically required to be applied universally by the statute. As
discussed below, the requirements of the final rule are applicable only
to a limited and specifically defined portion of the nation's housing
stock. To the extent that the requirements affect small entities, the
impact is generally discussed in the economic analysis that accompanies
this final rule. Specifically, the economic analysis estimated the
number of small entities and voucher owners that would be impacted by
the rule, as well as the number of index units and other assisted units
to be evaluated and, possibly, based on the evaluation, having lead
hazard control work done.
HUD has estimated that this final rule affects two types of small
entities, Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) and private lessors and
owners. There are 2,334 small PHAs, defined as PHAs with fewer than 250
units, which make up for 75 percent of the public housing stock across
the country. HUD has estimated that there are approximately 42,618
private landlords/lessors of residential real estate, or approximately
99 percent of the 42,911 lessors of residential real estate counted in
the 2012 Economic Census, where SBA defines a ``small'' business as one
that earns annual revenues (sales receipts) of less than $27.5 million.
Finally, HUD has estimated the number of owners who participate in the
housing choice voucher program. It is noted that based on HUD data, the
overwhelming proportion of owners rent to very few voucher tenants.
Approximately two-thirds of owners who rent to voucher tenants rent to
only one voucher tenant household. Many of these are likely owners of
single-family homes for whom the rental income is not the primary
source of income. Approximately 90 percent rent to no more than 4
voucher tenant households, which could be housed in a large two-story
building. Very few owners rent to enough voucher tenants to occupy
multiple buildings. Fewer than 0.6 percent of voucher tenant owners
will be affected by this rule (out of the 647,956 owners with voucher
tenant households, at most, an estimated 3,383 such owners, assuming
that each EBLL case occurs in a housing unit owned by an owner none of
whose other properties with voucher tenant households have children
with an EBLL.
HUD has determined, for each type of assistance and for all types
of assistance together, the economic analysis also estimated:
The cost per unit of the evaluation (environmental
investigation for index units, and risk assessments for other units
that are assisted and have a child under age six (6) residing, as per
the current LSHR);
The total cost of the evaluation and hazard control (for
index units, other units, and both); and
The percentage of units evaluated and possibly, based on
the evaluation results, hazard controlled (again, for index units,
other units, and both).
The annual estimates are summarized in the table below.

Table 1--Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HUD project- USDA project-
Unit cost activity Public housing based Tenant-based based Total
assistance assistance assistance
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unit cost of evaluation, and $2,890.33 $2,890.33 $2,890.33 $2,890.33 ..............
weighted hazard control and
temporary relocation for index
units..........................
Est. no. buildings/complexes 1,899 1,494 3,383 112 6,887
with child having EBLL.........
Presume LBP hazard prevalence in 100% 100% 100% 100% ..............
index units....................
Cost of evaluation, hazard $5,488,724 $4,318,158 $9,776,541 $323,720 $19,907,143
control and temporary
relocation in index units......
Unit cost of evaluation, and $611.37 $611.37 $611.37 $611.37 ..............
weighted hazard control and
temporary relocation for other
units..........................
Est. no. other units with 8,014 3,783 2,855 284 14,936
assisted rental units having
child under age 6..............
Total number of units evaluated. 9,913 5,277 6,238 396 21,823
Estimated LBP hazard prevalence 12.30% 12.30% 12.30% 12.30% ..............
in other units, per the
American Healthy Homes Survey..
Estimated no. other units with 986 465 351 35 1,837
LBP hazards identified and
controlled.....................
Cost for other assisted rental $4,899,521 $2,312,806 $1,745,456 $173,629 $9,131,412
units having child under age 6.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total cost.................. $10,388,245 $6,630,964 $11,521,998 $497,349 $29,038,556
Total number of units evaluated 2,885 1,959 3,734 147 8,725
and having hazards controlled..
Program assistance per unit..... $5,849.09 $9,013.33 $9,329.09 $4,911.00 ..............
Total number of assisted units.. 1,100,000 1,200,000 2,200,000 286,108 $4,786,108
Percent of assisted units 0.90% 0.44% 0.28% 0.14% 0.46%
evaluated......................
Percent of assisted units 0.26% 0.16% 0.17% 0.05% 0.18%
evaluated and having hazards
controlled.....................
# assisted units that would be 1,776 736 1,235 101 3,848
forgone if funding were from
funding agency with no
appropriation increase.........
% assisted units that would be 0.161% 0.061% 0.056% 0.035% 0.080%
forgone if funding were from
funding agency with no
appropriation increase.........
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Among the key results are that, in each year:
About 6,887 housing units are estimated to have a child
under age six (6) with a blood lead level that is elevated but not an
environmental intervention blood lead level; these units would be
required to have an environmental investigation and have any lead-based
paint hazards controlled. An additional 152 housing units would have a
child under age six (6) with a

[[Page 4166]]

blood lead level that is an environmental intervention blood lead
level; these units would be required to have an environmental
investigation, rather than a risk assessment, as under the current
rule, and have any lead-based paint hazards controlled.
About 14,936 other housing units would have a risk
assessment, of which about 1,837 are estimated to have lead-based paint
hazards, and to have these hazards controlled by certified firms and
workers using lead-safe work practices and clearance (i.e.,
conservatively, all of the lead-based paint hazards are assumed to be
significant, that is, above the de minimis levels of Sec. 35.1350(d)).
About 0.46 percent of the assisted housing stock covered
by this rulemaking would be evaluated (i.e., have an environmental
investigation or a risk assessment), specifically, 0.90 percent of the
public housing stock, 0.44 percent of the HUD project-based rental
assisted housing stock, 0.28 percent of the tenant-based rental
assisted housing stock, and 0.14 percent of the U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA) project-based rental assisted housing stock.
About 0.18 percent of the assisted housing stock covered
by this rulemaking would have lead-based paint hazards controlled,
specifically, 0.26 percent of the public housing stock, 0.16 percent of
the HUD project-based rental assisted housing stock, 0.17 percent of
the tenant-based rental assisted housing stock, and 0.05 percent of the
USDA project-based rental assisted housing stock.
The total cost of evaluation and control (and the small
amount of temporary relocation of occupants) would be $29.04 million,
including $10.39 million for public housing, $6.63 million for HUD
project-based rental assisted housing, $11.52 million for tenant-based
rental assisted housing, and $497 thousand for USDA project-based
rental assisted housing.
Using the 3 percent discount rate, benefits are estimated
at $98.96 million, with net benefits (i.e., benefits less the $29.04
million in costs) estimated at $69.92 million. Using the OMB's 7
percent discount rate, benefits are estimated at $32.15 million, with
costs remaining at $29.04 million, so the net benefits would be $3.11
million.
Regarding index units, for FY 2017, an estimated 1,899
units of public housing, 1,494 units of HUD project-based rental
assisted housing, 3,383 units of tenant-based rental assisted housing,
and 112 units of USDA project-based rental assisted housing have
children under age 6 with EBLLs that are not EIBLLs, that is, children
for whom an environmental investigation and possible (i.e., if hazards
are found) interim control of their housing unit and common area
servicing it would be newly required under the final rule.
Regarding other units in the same property to have risk
assessments conducted because they have children under age six (6)
residing, there would be an estimated 8,014 units of public housing,
3,783 units of HUD project-based rental assisted housing, 2,855 units
of tenant-based rental assisted housing, and 284 units of USDA project-
based rental assisted housing.
Regarding these other units having interim controls
conducted based on the risk assessments finding lead-based paint
hazards, there would be an estimated 986 units of public housing, 465
units of HUD project-based rental assisted housing, 351 units of
tenant-based rental assisted housing, and 35 units of USDA project-
based rental assisted housing that would have such controls.
The conservative (i.e., intentionally high, in this
instance) assumption about the properties in which these children
reside is that each of them is a different property (vs. there being
more than one such child in a property); a similarly conservative
assumption about the private entities (i.e., the ones that lease units
receiving project-based rental assistance to the families of these
children, or that lease units occupied by households receiving tenant-
based rental assistance to their families) is that all of them are
small entities and all have just one such child (vs. an entity having
more than one property with such a child), and that all index units in
such properties have lead-based paint hazards. The economic analysis
used the FY 2017 Congressional Justifications of the estimated number
of housing units assisted by the several programs, recognizing that the
actual numbers assisted vary over time: 1,100,000 public housing units,
1,200,000 HUD project-based rental assistance units, 2,200,000 tenant-
based rental assistance units, and 286,108 USDA project-based rental
assistance units.

E. Environmental Impact

A Finding of No Significant Impact with respect to the environment
has been made in accordance with HUD regulations at 24 CFR part 50,
which implements section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy
Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C)). The Finding of No Significant
Impact is available for public inspection electronically at Federal
eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov under the title and
docket number of this rule.

F. Executive Order 13132, Federalism

Executive Order 13132 (entitled ``Federalism'') prohibits an agency
from publishing any rule that has federalism implications if the rule
either imposes substantial direct compliance costs on State and local
governments or is not required by statute, or the rule preempts State
law, unless the agency meets the consultation and funding requirements
of section 6 of the Executive Order. This rule will not have federalism
implications and would not impose substantial direct compliance costs
on State and local governments or preempt State law within the meaning
of the Executive Order.

G. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

Title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C.
1531-1538) (UMRA) establishes requirements for federal agencies to
assess the effects of their regulatory actions on State, local, and
tribal governments, and on the private sector. This rule does not
impose any federal mandates on any State, local, or tribal governments,
or on the private sector, within the meaning of UMRA.

List of Subjects in 24 CFR Part 35

Grant programs--housing and community development, Lead poisoning,
Mortgage insurance, Rent subsidies, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements.

Accordingly, for the reasons stated in the preamble, HUD amends 24
CFR part 35 to read as follows:

PART 35--LEAD-BASED PAINT POISONING PREVENTION IN CERTAIN
RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURES

0
1. The authority citation for 24 CFR part 35 continues to read as
follows:

Authority: 42 U.S.C. 3535(d), 4821, and 4851.

Sec. 35.105 [Removed and Reserved]

0
2. Remove and reserve Sec. 35.105.

0
3. In Sec. 35.110, add, in alphabetical order the definitions of
``Elevated blood lead level'' and ``Environmental investigation'',
revise the definitions of ``Certified'', ``Evaluation'' and ``Expected
to reside'' and remove the definition of ``Environmental intervention
blood lead level'', to read as follows:

Sec. 35.110 Definitions.

* * * * *
Certified means certified to perform such activities as risk
assessment, lead-

[[Page 4167]]

based paint inspection, abatement supervision, or renovation, either by
a State or Indian tribe with a lead-based paint certification program
authorized by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in accordance
with 40 CFR part 745, subpart Q, or by the EPA, in accordance with 40
CFR part 745, subparts E or L.
* * * * *
Elevated blood lead level means a confirmed concentration of lead
in whole blood of a child under age 6 equal to or greater than the
concentration in the most recent guidance published by the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on recommending that an
environmental intervention be conducted. (When HHS changes the value,
HUD will publish a notice in the Federal Register, with the opportunity
for public comment, on its intent to apply the changed value to this
part, and, after considering comments, publish a notice on its applying
the changed value to this part.)
* * * * *
Environmental investigation means the process of determining the
source of lead exposure for a child under age 6 with an elevated blood
lead level, consisting of administration of a questionnaire,
comprehensive environmental sampling, case management, and other
measures, in accordance with chapter 16 of the HUD Guidelines for the
Evaluation and Control of Lead-Based Paint Hazards in Housing
(``Guidelines'').
Evaluation means a risk assessment, a lead hazard screen, a lead-
based paint inspection, paint testing, or a combination of these to
determine the presence of lead-based paint hazards or lead-based paint,
or an environmental investigation.
Expected to reside means there is actual knowledge that a child
will reside in a dwelling unit reserved or designated exclusively for
the elderly or reserved or designated exclusively for persons with
disabilities. If a resident woman is known to be pregnant, there is
actual knowledge that a child will reside in the dwelling unit.
* * * * *

0
4. Amend Sec. 35.125 by adding paragraph (c)(4)(iii) to read as
follows:

Sec. 35.125 Notice of evaluation and hazard reduction activities.

* * * * *
(c) * * *
(4) * * *
(iii) However, for the protection of the privacy of the child and
the child's family or guardians, no notice of environmental
investigation shall be posted to any centrally located common area.

Sec. 35.155 [Amended]

0
5. Amend Sec. 35.155(a) by removing the phrase ``designated party or
occupant'' wherever it appears and adding in its place the phrase
``designated party or owner''.

Sec. 35.165 [Amended]

0
6. Amend Sec. 35.165(b)(4) by removing the term ``environmental
intervention blood lead level'' wherever it appears and adding its
place the term ``elevated blood lead level''.

0
7. Revise Sec. 35.325 to read as follows:

Sec. 35.325 Child with an elevated blood lead level.

(a) If a child less than 6 years of age living in a federally
assisted dwelling unit has an elevated blood lead level, the owner
shall immediately conduct an environmental investigation. Interim
controls of identified lead-based paint hazards shall be conducted in
accordance with Sec. 35.1330.
(b) Other assisted dwelling units in the property. (1) If the
environmental investigation conducted under paragraph (a) of this
section identifies lead-based paint hazards, the owner shall conduct a
risk assessment for other assisted dwelling units covered by this
subpart in which a child under age 6 resides or is expected to reside
on the date interim controls are complete, and for the common areas
servicing those units. The risk assessments shall be conducted within
30 calendar days after receipt of the environmental investigation
report on the index unit if there are 20 or fewer such units, or 60
calendar days for risk assessments if there are more than 20 such
units. If the risk assessment identifies lead-based paint hazards, the
owner shall control identified hazards in accordance with Sec. 35.1325
or Sec. 35.1330 in those units and common areas within 30 calendar
days, or within 90 calendar days if more than 20 units have lead-based
paint hazards such that the control work would disturb painted surfaces
that total more than the de minimis threshold of Sec. 35.1350(d).
(2) The requirements for other assisted dwelling units covered by
paragraph (b)(1) of this section do not apply if:
(i) The owner both conducted a risk assessment of the other
assisted dwelling units covered by paragraph (b)(1), and the common
areas servicing those units, and conducted reduction of identified
lead-based paint hazards in accordance with Sec. 35.1325 or Sec.
35.1330 between the date the child's blood was last sampled and the
date the owner received the notification of the elevated blood lead
level; or
(ii) The owner provides the Federal agency documentation of
compliance with evaluation, notification, lead disclosure, ongoing
lead-based paint maintenance, and lead-based paint management
requirements under this part throughout the 12 months preceding the
date the owner received the environmental investigation report.
(c) Interim controls are complete when clearance is achieved in
accordance with Sec. 35.1340.
(d) The Federal agency shall establish a timetable for completing,
and providing documentation to the agency on the environmental
investigation, risk assessments, and lead-based paint hazard reduction
when a child is identified as having an elevated blood lead level.

Sec. 35.715 [Amended]

0
8. Amend Sec. 35.715 by:
0
a. Redesignating paragraph (d)(4) as paragraph (e); and
0
b. In newly redesignated paragraph (e), remove the term
``environmental intervention blood lead level'' wherever it appears and
adding in its place ``elevated blood lead level''.

Sec. 35.720 [Amended]

0
9. Amend Sec. 35.720(c) by removing the term ``environmental
intervention blood lead level'' wherever it appears and adding in its
place ``elevated blood lead level''.

0
10. Revise Sec. 35.730 to read as follows:

Sec. 35.730 Child with an elevated blood lead level.

(a) Environmental investigation. Within 15 calendar days after
being notified by a public health department or other medical health
care provider that a child of less than 6 years of age living in a
dwelling unit to which this subpart applies has been identified as
having an elevated blood lead level, the owner shall complete an
environmental investigation of the dwelling unit in which the child
lived at the time the blood was last sampled and of common areas
servicing the dwelling unit. The requirements of this paragraph apply
regardless of whether the child is or is not still living in the unit
when the owner receives the notification of the elevated blood lead
level. The requirements of this paragraph shall not apply if the owner
conducted an environmental investigation of the unit and common areas
servicing the unit between the date the child's blood was last sampled
and the date when the

[[Page 4168]]

owner received the notification of the elevated blood lead level. If
the owner conducted a risk assessment of the unit and common areas
servicing the unit during that period, the owner need not conduct
another risk assessment there but shall conduct the elements of an
environmental investigation not already conducted during the risk
assessment. If a public health department has already conducted an
evaluation of the dwelling unit in regard to the child's elevated blood
lead level case, the requirements of this paragraph shall not apply.
(b) Verification. After receiving information from a person who is
not a medical health care provider that a child of less than 6 years of
age living in a dwelling unit covered by this subpart may have an
elevated blood lead level, the owner shall immediately verify the
information with the public health department or other medical health
care provider. If the public health department or provider denies the
request, such as because it does not have the capacity to verify that
information, the owner shall send documentation of the denial to the
HUD rental assistance program manager, who shall make an effort to
verify the information. If the public health department or provider
verifies that the child has an elevated blood lead level, such
verification shall constitute notification, and the owner shall take
the action required in paragraphs (a) and (c) of this section.
(c) Lead-based paint hazard reduction. Within 30 calendar days
after receiving the report of the environmental investigation conducted
pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section or the evaluation from the
public health department, the owner shall complete the reduction of
identified lead-based paint hazards in accordance with Sec. 35.1325 or
Sec. 35.1330. Lead-based paint hazard reduction is considered complete
when clearance is achieved in accordance with Sec. 35.1340 and the
clearance report states that all lead-based paint hazards identified in
the environmental investigation have been treated with interim controls
or abatement or the public health department certifies that the lead-
based paint hazard reduction is complete. The requirements of this
paragraph do not apply if the owner, between the date the child's blood
was last sampled and the date the owner received the notification of
the elevated blood lead level, already conducted an environmental
investigation of the unit and common areas servicing the unit and
completed reduction of identified lead-based paint hazards. If the
owner conducted a risk assessment of the unit and common areas
servicing the unit during that period, the owner is not required to
conduct another risk assessment there but shall conduct the elements of
an environmental investigation not already conducted during the risk
assessment.
(d) If an environmental investigation or lead-based paint hazard
evaluation or reduction is undertaken, each owner shall provide notice
to occupants in accordance with Sec. 35.125.
(e) Reporting requirement. (1) The owner shall report the name and
address of a child identified as having an elevated blood lead level to
the public health department within 5 business days of being so
notified by any other medical health care professional.
(2) The owner shall also report each confirmed case of a child with
an elevated blood lead level to the HUD field office and HUD Office of
Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes within 5 business days of being
so notified.
(3) The owner shall provide to the HUD field office documentation
that the designated party has conducted the activities of paragraphs
(a) through (d) of this section, within 10 business days of the
deadline for each activity.
(f) Other assisted dwelling units in the property. (1) If the
environmental investigation conducted pursuant to paragraph (a) of this
section identifies lead-based paint hazards, the owner shall, for other
assisted dwelling units covered by this part in which a child under age
6 resides or is expected to reside on the date lead-based paint hazard
reduction under paragraph (c) of this section is complete, and for the
common areas servicing those units, conduct a risk assessment within 30
calendar days after receipt of the environmental investigation report
if there are 20 or fewer such other units, or 60 calendar days if there
are more than 20 such other units.
(2) Control measures. If the risk assessment conducted under
paragraph (f)(1) of this section identifies lead-based paint hazards,
the owner shall complete the reduction of identified lead-based paint
hazards in accordance with Sec. 35.1325 or Sec. 35.1330 in those
units and common areas within 30 calendar days, or within 90 calendar
days if more than 20 units have lead-based paint hazards such that the
control work would disturb painted surfaces that total more than the de
minimis threshold of Sec. 35.1350(d). Lead-based paint hazard
reduction is considered complete when clearance is achieved in
accordance with Sec. 35.1340 and the clearance report states that all
lead-based paint hazards identified in the risk assessment have been
treated with interim controls or abatement.
(3) The owner shall provide to the HUD field office documentation
that the designated party has conducted the activities of paragraph
(f)(1) and (f)(2) of this section, within 10 business days of the
deadline for each activity.
(4) The requirements of this paragraph (f) do not apply if:
(i) The owner both conducted a risk assessment of the other
assisted dwelling units covered by paragraph (f)(1) of this section and
the common areas servicing those units, and conducted reduction of
identified lead-based paint hazards in accordance with Sec. 35.1325 or
Sec. 35.1330 between the date the child's blood was last sampled and
the date the owner received the notification of the elevated blood lead
level; or
(ii) The owner has documentation of compliance with evaluation,
notification, lead disclosure, ongoing lead-based paint maintenance,
and lead-based paint management requirements under this part throughout
the 12 months preceding the date the owner received the environmental
investigation report pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section; and
(iii) In either case, the owner provides to the HUD field office
documentation that it has conducted the activities of paragraphs
(f)(4)(i) and (ii) of this section, within 10 business days of the
deadline for each activity.

0
11. Revise Sec. 35.830 to read as follows:

Sec. 35.830 Child with an elevated blood lead level.

(a) Environmental investigation. Within 15 calendar days after
being notified by a public health department or other medical health
care provider that a child of less than 6 years of age living in a
dwelling unit owned by HUD (or where HUD is mortgagee-in-possession)
has been identified as having an elevated blood lead level, HUD shall
complete an environmental investigation of the dwelling unit in which
the child lived at the time the blood was last sampled and of common
areas servicing the dwelling unit. The requirements of this paragraph
apply regardless of whether the child is or is not still living in the
unit when HUD receives the notification of the elevated blood lead
level. The requirements of this paragraph shall not apply if HUD
conducted an environmental investigation of the unit and common areas
servicing the unit between the date the child's blood was last sampled
and the date when HUD received the notification of the elevated blood
lead level. If HUD conducted a risk

[[Page 4169]]

assessment of the unit and common areas servicing the unit during that
period, HUD is not required to conduct another risk assessment there
but it shall conduct the elements of an environmental investigation not
already conducted during the risk assessment. If a public health
department has already conducted an evaluation of the dwelling unit in
regard to the child's elevated blood lead level case, the requirements
of this paragraph shall not apply.
(b) Verification. After receiving information from a person who is
not a medical health care provider that a child of less than 6 years of
age living in a dwelling unit covered by this subpart may have an
elevated blood lead level, HUD shall immediately verify the information
with the public health department or other medical health care
provider. If the public health department or provider denies the
request, such as because it does not have the capacity to verify that
information, the HUD Realty Specialist assigned to that property shall
send documentation of the denial to the HUD Office of Lead Hazard
Control and Healthy Homes, which shall make an effort to verify the
information. If the public health department or provider verifies that
the child has an elevated blood lead level, such verification shall
constitute notification, and HUD shall take the action required in
paragraphs (a) and (c) of this section.
(c) Lead-based paint hazard reduction. Within 30 calendar days
after receiving the report of the environmental investigation conducted
pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section or the evaluation from the
public health department, HUD shall complete the reduction of
identified lead-based paint hazards in accordance with Sec. 35.1325 or
Sec. 35.1330. Lead-based paint hazard reduction is considered complete
when clearance is achieved in accordance with Sec. 35.1340 and the
clearance report states that all lead-based paint hazards identified in
the environmental investigation have been treated with interim controls
or abatement or the public health department certifies that the lead-
based paint hazard reduction is complete. The requirements of this
paragraph do not apply if HUD, between the date the child's blood was
last sampled and the date HUD received the notification of the elevated
blood lead level, already conducted an environmental investigation of
the unit and common areas servicing the unit and completed reduction of
identified lead-based paint hazards. If HUD conducted a risk assessment
of the unit and common areas servicing the unit during that period, it
is not required to conduct another risk assessment there but it shall
conduct the elements of an environmental investigation not already
conducted during the risk assessment.
(d) Notice. If lead-based paint hazard evaluation or reduction is
undertaken, each owner shall provide a notice to occupants in
accordance with Sec. 35.125.
(e) Reporting requirement. (1) HUD shall report the name and
address of a child identified as having an elevated blood lead level to
the public health department within 5 business days of being so
notified by any other medical health care professional.
(2) HUD shall also report each confirmed case of a child with an
elevated blood lead level to the HUD Office of Lead Hazard Control and
Healthy Homes within 5 business days of being so notified.
(3) HUD shall provide to the HUD Office of Lead Hazard Control and
Healthy Homes documentation that it has conducted the activities of
paragraphs (a) through (d) of this section, within 10 business days of
the deadline for each activity.
(f) Other assisted dwelling units in the property. (1) If the
environmental investigation conducted pursuant to paragraph (a) of this
section identifies lead-based paint hazards, HUD shall, for other
assisted dwelling units covered by this part in which a child under age
6 resides or is expected to reside on the date lead-based paint hazard
reduction under paragraph (c) of this section, and the common areas
servicing those units, is complete, conduct a risk assessment in
accordance with Sec. 35.815 within 30 calendar days after receipt of
the environmental investigation report if there are 20 or fewer such
other units, or 60 calendar days if there are more than 20 such other
units.
(2) If the risk assessment conducted under paragraph (f)(1) of this
section identifies lead-based paint hazards, HUD shall complete the
reduction of identified lead-based paint hazards in accordance with
Sec. 35.1325 or Sec. 35.1330 in those units and common areas within
30 calendar days, or within 90 calendar days if more than 20 units have
lead-based paint hazards such that the control work would disturb
painted surfaces that total more than the de minimis threshold of Sec.
35.1350(d). Lead-based paint hazard reduction is considered complete
when clearance is achieved in accordance with Sec. 35.1340 and the
clearance report states that all lead-based paint hazards identified in
the risk assessment have been treated with interim controls or
abatement.
(3) The requirements of this paragraph (f) do not apply if:
(i) HUD, between the date the child's blood was last sampled and
the date HUD received the notification of the elevated blood lead
level, both conducted a risk assessment in the other assisted dwelling
units covered by paragraph (f)(1) of this section and the common areas
servicing those units, and conducted interim controls of identified
lead-based paint hazards in accordance with Sec. 35.820; or
(ii) HUD has documentation of compliance with evaluation,
notification, lead disclosure, ongoing lead-based paint maintenance,
and lead-based paint management requirements under this part throughout
the 12 months preceding the date HUD received the environmental
investigation report pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section.
(4) HUD shall provide to the HUD Office of Lead Hazard Control and
Healthy Homes documentation that it has conducted the activities of
paragraph (f)(1) through (2) of this section, or that it has complied
with the requirements in paragraph (f)(3) of this section, within 10
business days of the deadline for each activity.
(g) Closing. If the closing of a sale is scheduled during the
period when HUD is responding to a case of a child with an elevated
blood lead level, HUD may arrange for the completion of the procedures
required by paragraphs (a) through (d) of this section by the purchaser
within a reasonable period of time.
(h) Extensions. The Assistant Secretary for Housing-Federal Housing
Commissioner or designee may consider and approve a request for an
extension of deadlines established by this section for lead-based paint
inspection, risk assessment, environmental investigation, lead-based
paint hazard reduction, clearance, and reporting. Such a request may be
considered, however, only during the first six months during which HUD
is owner or mortgagee-in-possession of a multifamily property.

0
12. Revise Sec. 35.1130 to read as follows:

Sec. 35.1130 Child with an elevated blood lead level.

[[Page 4170]]

blood was last sampled and of common areas servicing the dwelling unit.
The environmental investigation is considered complete when the PHA
receives the environmental investigation report. The requirements of
this paragraph apply regardless of whether the child is or is not still
living in the unit when the PHA receives the notification of the
elevated blood lead level. The requirements of this paragraph shall not
apply if the PHA conducted an environmental investigation of the unit
and common areas servicing the unit between the date the child's blood
was last sampled and the date when the PHA received the notification of
the elevated blood lead level. If the PHA conducted a risk assessment
of the unit and common areas servicing the unit during that period, the
PHA need not conduct another risk assessment there but shall conduct
the elements of an environmental investigation not already conducted
during the risk assessment. If a public health department has already
conducted an evaluation of the dwelling unit in regard to the child's
elevated blood lead level case, the requirements of this paragraph
shall not apply.
(b) Verification. After receiving information from a person who is
not a medical health care provider that a child of less than 6 years of
age living in a dwelling unit covered by this subpart may have an
elevated blood lead level, the PHA shall immediately verify the
information with the public health department or other medical health
care provider. If that department or provider denies the request, such
as because it does not have the capacity to verify that information,
the PHA shall send documentation of the denial to its HUD field office,
who shall make an effort to verify the information. If that department
or provider verifies that the child has an elevated blood lead level,
such verification shall constitute notification, and the housing agency
shall take the action required in paragraphs (a) and (c) of this
section.
(c) Lead-based paint hazard reduction. Within 30 calendar days
after receiving the report of the environmental investigation conducted
pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section or the evaluation from the
public health department, the PHA shall complete the reduction of
identified lead-based paint hazards in accordance with Sec. 35.1325 or
Sec. 35.1330. Lead-based paint hazard reduction is considered complete
when clearance is achieved in accordance with Sec. 35.1340 and the
clearance report states that all lead-based paint hazards identified in
the environmental investigation have been treated with interim controls
or abatement or the local or State health department certifies that the
lead-based paint hazard reduction is complete. The requirements of this
paragraph do not apply if the PHA, between the date the child's blood
was last sampled and the date the PHA received the notification of the
elevated blood lead level, already conducted an environmental
investigation of the unit and common areas servicing the unit and
completed reduction of identified lead-based paint hazards. If the PHA
conducted a risk assessment of the unit and common areas servicing the
unit during that period, it is not required to conduct another risk
assessment there but it shall conduct the elements of an environmental
investigation not already conducted during the risk assessment. If the
PHA does not complete the lead-based paint hazard reduction required by
this section, the dwelling unit is in violation of the standards of 24
CFR 965.601, which incorporates the uniform physical condition
standards of Sec. 5.703(f), including that it be free of lead-based
paint hazards.
(d) Notice of lead-based paint hazard evaluation and reduction. The
PHA shall notify building residents of any lead-based paint hazard
evaluation or reduction activities in accordance with Sec. 35.125.
(e) Reporting requirement. (1) The PHA shall report the name and
address of a child identified as having an elevated blood lead level to
the public health department within 5 business days of being so
notified by any other medical health care professional.
(2) The PHA shall report each confirmed case of a child with an
elevated blood lead level to the HUD field office and the HUD Office of
Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes within 5 business days of being
so notified.
(3) The PHA shall provide to the HUD field office documentation
that it has conducted the activities of paragraphs (a) through (d) of
this section, within 10 business days of the deadline for each
activity.
(f) Other units in the property. (1) If the environmental
investigation conducted pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section
identifies lead-based paint hazards, the PHA shall conduct a risk
assessment of other units of the building in which a child under age 6
resides or is expected to reside on the date lead-based paint hazard
reduction under paragraph (c) of this section is complete, and the
common areas servicing those units within 30 calendar days after
receipt of the environmental investigation report if there are 20 or
fewer such other units, or 60 calendar days if there are more such
units.
(2) If the risk assessment conducted under paragraph (f)(1) of this
section identifies lead-based paint hazards, the PHA shall control the
hazards, in accordance with Sec. 35.1325 or Sec. 35.1330, in those
units and common areas within 30 calendar days, or within 90 calendar
days if more than 20 units have lead-based paint hazards such that the
control work would disturb painted surfaces that total more than the de
minimis threshold of Sec. 35.1350(d). Lead-based paint hazard
reduction is considered complete when clearance is achieved in
accordance with Sec. 35.1340 and the clearance report states that all
lead-based paint hazards identified in the risk assessment have been
treated with interim controls or abatement.
(3) The PHA shall provide to the HUD field office documentation
that it has conducted the activities of paragraphs (f)(1) and (2) of
this section, within 10 business days of the deadline for each
activity.
(4) The requirements of this paragraph (f) of this section do not
apply if:
(i) The PHA, between the date the child's blood was last sampled
and the date the PHA received the notification of the elevated blood
lead level, both conducted a risk assessment of the other assisted
dwelling units covered by paragraph (f)(1) of this section and the
common areas servicing those units, and conducted interim controls of
identified hazards in accordance with Sec. 35.1120(b); or
(ii) If the PHA has documentation of compliance with evaluation,
notification, lead disclosure, ongoing lead-based paint maintenance,
and lead-based paint management requirements under this part throughout
the 12 months preceding the date the PHA received the environmental
investigation report pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section; and,
(iii) In either case, the PHA provided the HUD field office, within
10 business days after receiving the notification of the elevated blood
lead level, documentation that it has conducted the activities
described in this paragraph (f)(4) of this section.

Sec. 35.1135 [Amended]

0
13. Amend Sec. 35.1135(d) by removing the term ``Environmental
intervention blood lead level'' and adding in its place the term
``Elevated blood lead level''.

0
14. In Sec. 35.1215, amend paragraph (b) by adding a sentence to the
end of the paragraph to read as follows:

[[Page 4171]]

Sec. 35.1215 Activities at initial and periodic inspection.

* * * * *
(b) * * * For the unit subsequently to come under a HAP contract
with the housing agency for occupancy by a family with a child under
age 6, paint stabilization must be completed, including clearance being
achieved in accordance with Sec. 35.1340.
* * * * *

0
15. Revise Sec. 35.1225 to read as follows:

Sec. 35.1225 Child with an elevated blood lead level.

(a) Within 15 calendar days after being notified by a public health
department or other medical health care provider that a child of less
than 6 years of age living in a dwelling unit to which this subpart
applies has been identified as having an elevated blood lead level, the
designated party shall complete an environmental investigation of the
dwelling unit in which the child lived at the time the blood was last
sampled and of common areas servicing the dwelling unit. When the
environmental investigation is complete, the designated party shall
immediately provide the report of the environmental investigation to
the owner of the dwelling unit. If the child identified as having an
elevated blood lead level is no longer living in the unit when the
designated party receives notification from the public health
department or other medical health care provider, but another household
receiving tenant-based rental assistance is living in the unit or is
planning to live there, the requirements of this section apply just as
they do if the child still lives in the unit. If a public health
department has already conducted an evaluation of the dwelling unit in
regard to the child's elevated blood lead level case, or the designated
party conducted an environmental investigation of the unit and common
areas servicing the unit between the date the child's blood was last
sampled and the date when the designated party received the
notification of the elevated blood lead level, the requirements of this
paragraph shall not apply. If the designated party or the owner
conducted a risk assessment of the unit and common areas servicing the
unit during that period, the designated party need not conduct another
risk assessment there but shall conduct the elements of an
environmental investigation not already conducted during the risk
assessment.
(b) Verification. After receiving information from a person who is
not a medical health care provider that a child of less than 6 years of
age living in a dwelling unit covered by this subpart may have an
elevated blood lead level, the designated party shall immediately
verify the information with the public health department or other
medical health care provider. If the public health department or
provider denies the request, such as because it does not have the
capacity to verify that information, the designated party shall send
documentation of the denial to the HUD rental assistance program
manager, who shall make an effort to verify the information. If that
department or provider verifies that the child has an elevated blood
lead level, such verification shall constitute notification, and the
designated party shall take the action required in paragraphs (a) and
(c) of this section.
(c) Lead-based paint hazard reduction. Within 30 calendar days
after receiving the report of the environmental investigation from the
designated party or the evaluation from the public health department,
the owner shall complete the reduction of identified lead-based paint
hazards in accordance with Sec. 35.1325 or Sec. 35.1330. Lead-based
paint hazard reduction is considered complete when clearance is
achieved in accordance with Sec. 35.1340 and the clearance report
states that all lead-based paint hazards identified in the
environmental investigation have been treated with interim controls or
abatement or the public health department certifies that the lead-based
paint hazard reduction is complete. The requirements of this paragraph
do not apply if the designated party or the owner, between the date the
child's blood was last sampled and the date the designated party
received the notification of the elevated blood lead level, already
conducted an environmental investigation of the unit and common areas
servicing the unit and the owner completed reduction of identified
lead-based paint hazards. If the owner does not complete the lead-based
paint hazard reduction required by this section, the dwelling unit is
in violation of the standards of 24 CFR 982.401.
(d) Notice of lead-based paint hazard evaluation and reduction. The
owner shall notify building residents of any lead-based paint hazard
evaluation or reduction activities in accordance with Sec. 35.125.
(e) Reporting requirement. (1) The owner shall report the name and
address of a child identified as having an elevated blood lead level to
the public health department within 5 business days of being so
notified by any other medical health care professional.
(2) The owner shall also report each confirmed case of a child with
an elevated blood lead level to the HUD field office and the HUD Office
of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes within 5 business days of
being so notified.
(3) The owner shall provide to the HUD field office documentation
that it has conducted the activities of paragraphs (a) through (d) of
this section, within 10 business days of the deadline for each
activity.
(f) Other assisted dwelling units in the property. (1) If the
environmental investigation conducted pursuant to paragraph (a) of this
section identifies lead-based paint hazards, the designated party or
the owner shall, for other assisted dwelling units covered by this part
in which a child under age 6 resides or is expected to reside on the
date lead-based paint hazard reduction under paragraph (c) of this
section is complete, and the common areas servicing those units,
conduct a risk assessment in accordance with Sec. 35.1320(b) within 30
calendar days after receipt of the environmental investigation report
if there are 20 or fewer such units, or 60 calendar days if there are
more such units.
(2) If the risk assessment conducted under paragraph (f)(1) of this
section identifies lead-based paint hazards, the owner shall complete
the reduction of the lead-based paint hazards in accordance with Sec.
35.1325 or Sec. 35.1330 within 30 calendar days, or within 90 calendar
days if more than 20 units have lead-based paint hazards such that the
control work would disturb painted surfaces that total more than the de
minimis threshold of Sec. 35.1350(d). Lead-based paint hazard
reduction is considered complete when clearance is achieved in
accordance with Sec. 35.1340 and the clearance report states that all
lead-based paint hazards identified in the risk assessment have been
treated with interim controls or abatement.
(3) The requirements of this paragraph (f) of this section do not
apply if:
(i) The designated party or the owner, between the date the child's
blood was last sampled and the date the owner received the notification
of the elevated blood lead level, both conducted a risk assessment of
the other assisted dwelling units covered by paragraph (f)(1) of this
section and the common areas servicing those units, and the owner
conducted interim controls of identified lead-based paint hazards in
accordance with Sec. 35.1225(c); or
(ii) The owner has documentation of compliance with evaluation,
notification, lead disclosure, ongoing lead-based paint maintenance,
and lead-

[[Page 4172]]

based paint management requirements under this part throughout the 12
months preceding the date the owner received the environmental
investigation report pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section; and,
(iii) In either case, the owner provided the HUD field office,
within 10 business days after receiving the notification of the
elevated blood lead level, documentation that it has conducted the
activities described in this paragraph (f)(3).
(g) Data collection and record keeping responsibilities. At least
quarterly, the designated party shall attempt to obtain from the public
health department(s) with area(s) of jurisdiction similar to that of
the designated party the names and/or addresses of children of less
than 6 years of age with an identified elevated blood lead level. At
least quarterly, the designated party shall also report an updated list
of the addresses of units receiving assistance under a tenant-based
rental assistance program to the same public health department(s),
except that the report(s) to the public health department(s) is not
required if the health department states that it does not wish to
receive such report. If it obtains names and addresses of elevated
blood lead level children from the public health department(s), the
designated party shall match information on cases of elevated blood
lead levels with the names and addresses of families receiving tenant-
based rental assistance, unless the public health department performs
such a matching procedure.
If a match occurs, the designated party shall carry out the
requirements of this section.

0
16. Revise Sec. 35.1330(a)(4)(iii) to read as follows:

Sec. 35.1330 Interim controls.

(a) * * *
(4) * * *
(iii) A renovator course accredited in accordance with 40 CFR
745.225.
* * * * *

Dated: December 14, 2016.
Nani Coloretti,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017-00261 Filed 1-12-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-67-P