[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 212 (Thursday, November 3, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Page 66302]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-23903]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-OLEM-2021-0762; FRL-9153-03-OLEM]
Strategy To Reduce Lead Exposures and Disparities in U.S.
Communities
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is releasing its
Strategy to Reduce Lead Exposures and Disparities in U.S. Communities.
The EPA developed this strategy to lay out the Agency's plan to
strengthen public health protections, address legacy lead contamination
for communities with the greatest exposures, and promote environmental
justice and equity.
DATES: November 3, 2022.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Matthew Lambert, Environmental
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Mail Code: 5204T,
Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (202) 566-1385; email address:
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is pleased to
announce the public release of its Strategy to Reduce Lead Exposures
and Disparities in U.S. Communities (Lead Strategy). The Lead Strategy
advances EPA's work to protect the public from lead with an emphasis on
high-risk communities and is part of the Agency's commitment to
fulfilling President Biden's Executive Order on Advancing Equity and
Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government. The
Lead Strategy also reflects EPA's commitment to fulfilling the Biden-
Harris Administration's historic commitment of resources to replace
lead pipes and support lead paint removal under the Lead Pipe and Paint
Action Plan.
Adverse effects on intellect, ability to pay attention, and
academic achievement have been linked to very low levels of lead in
children's blood. These effects may have later-in-life impacts on an
exposed individual's quality of life. Additionally, longer-term lead
exposure over a lifetime is associated with increased risk of other
effects, such as increased blood pressure and hypertension, which can
lead to coronary heart disease. The Lead Strategy describes specific
actions the Agency will take to prevent childhood lead exposures and
exposure inequities that could lead to lifelong health effects and
barriers to social and economic well-being
On October 28, 2021, EPA released a draft version of the Lead
Strategy and solicited feedback from the public through March of 2022.
During the public comment period, EPA hosted eleven public listening
sessions on the draft Lead Strategy, one in each of EPA's ten
geographic regions and an engagement session for tribes. The public
also submitted hundreds of substantive written comments about the draft
Lead Strategy and thousands of additional comments were submitted
through mass comment campaigns. As a result of this concerted outreach,
EPA received feedback from a wide array of stakeholders and community
members from around the country. Public commenters shared many ideas
and perspectives on how to improve the Lead Strategy and how EPA and
the whole of government can better address lead contamination in
communities. EPA has carefully considered the comments received on the
draft Lead Strategy.
Implementation of EPA's Lead Strategy will result in the Agency
taking more effective and efficient actions to minimize lead exposures
with an emphasis on overburdened communities and promoting
environmental justice and equity. The Lead Strategy includes
performance measures and milestones the Agency will use to track and
measure its progress in meeting the goals and objectives set forth in
the strategy. These performance measures and milestones demonstrate
EPA's commitment to addressing legacy lead contamination by
strengthening public health protections from all routes of lead
exposure.
Dated: October 27, 2022.
Carlton Waterhouse,
Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of Land and Emergency
Management.
[FR Doc. 2022-23903 Filed 11-2-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P