[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 53 (Friday, March 18, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-6576]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: March 18, 1994]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[OPPTS-62138; FRL-4765-6]
Lead Renovation and Remodeling Guidelines; Notice of Availability
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice of Availability and Request for Comment.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability for review and comment
of EPA's draft renovation and remodeling (R&R) guidelines document
entitled ``Reducing Lead Hazards When Remodeling Your Home.'' This
document is being developed pursuant to Title IV, section 402(c)(1) of
the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). Section 402(c)(1)
specifically, mandates that EPA develop guidelines for homeowners and
other persons who may engage in renovation and remodeling activities.
EPA is developing the R&R guidelines in response to Congressional
concerns about the public's knowledge of lead hazards when conducting
R&R activities in homes.
DATES: Written comments in response to the draft R&R guidelines
document must be received on or before April 18, 1994.
ADDRESSES: Please submit three copies of all written comments on the
draft R&R guideline document to: TSCA Document Receipts (7407), Room G-
99, Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Environmental Protection
Agency, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460. All comments on the draft
Guideline document should be identified by Docket Number OPPTS-62138.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For technical information, contact
Darlene Watford, Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Chemical
Management Division, Technical Programs Branch [7404], 401 M St., SW.,
Washington, DC 20460, Telephone: 202-260-3989, Fax: 202-260-0001. For a
copy of the draft R&R guideline document, ``Reducing Lead Hazards When
Remodeling Your Home,'' contact: the TSCA Assistance Information
Service at 202-554-1404, TDD: 202-554-0551 or fax your request to 202-
554-5603.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The draft R&R guidelines text is available
as an electronic file on the Federal Bulletin Board at 9 a.m. on the
date of publication in the Federal Register. By modem dial 202-512-1387
or call 202-512-1530 for disks or paper copies. The document is
available in WordPerfect and ASCII formats.
Under the Congressional mandate in section 402(c)(1) of TSCA, EPA
has developed guidance for homeowners and building occupants to alert
them to potential lead hazards associated with renovation and
remodeling activities (which may create a risk of exposure to dangerous
levels of lead). Congress specifically required that these guidelines
be developed for homes and buildings constructed prior to 1978. It is
further mandated that these guidelines are to be distributed through
paint and hardware stores, employee organizations and trade groups,
State and local agencies, and through other appropriate means.
The Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics is seeking public
comment on all aspects of the content and design of the R&R Guidelines
document.
In particular, EPA requests comment on the tone of the document,
and the extent to which the current wording and design tend to support
(or undermine) its effectiveness as an informational tool. One issue
that EPA has considered is the need to balance technical accuracy with
clarity and freedom from overly technical jargon. The extent to which
the current draft is clear and understandable is of primary concern to
the Agency, given the broad distribution that the document will have.
In addition to soliciting public input through this notice, EPA
will conduct a series of focus group reviews on the draft R&R
guidelines document to evaluate the effectiveness of the current
reading level, content, and graphic presentation. EPA will include a
summary of the focus groups' test results when it announces the
availability of the final R&R guidelines document in the Federal
Register.
EPA also recognizes that this lead hazard information may be
important in some communities that may have a limited ability to
utilize information provided in English. For that reason, EPA is
developing a Spanish language version of the Guidelines document as
well. The Spanish-language R&R guidelines document will be available
after the English version has been completed.
Dated: March 15, 1994.
Mark Greenwood,
Director, Office of Prevention and Toxic Substances.
[FR Doc. 94-6576 Filed 3-16-94; 2:20 pm]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F
