[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