As part of EPA's efforts to reduce childhood lead exposure EPA is finalizing its proposal to lower the dust-lead hazard standards to any reportable level as analyzed by a laboratory recognized by EPA's NLLAP. EPA's LBP regulations do not compel property owners or occupants to evaluate their property for LBP hazards or to take control actions, but if a LBP activity such as an abatement is performed, then EPA's regulations set requirements for doing so. EPA is also finalizing changes to lower the post-abatement dust-lead clearance levels to 5 micrograms per square foot (µg/ft2), 40 µg/ft2, and 100 µg/ft2 for floors, window sills and troughs respectively. Due to feedback from public comments, EPA is also finalizing changes to adopt the terms dust-lead reportable levels (DLRL) and dust-lead action levels (DLAL). Given the decoupling of the action levels from the reportable levels, EPA is finalizing revisions to the definition of abatement so that the recommendation for action based on dust-lead applies when dust-lead loadings are at or above the action levels, rather than the hazard standards. The dust-lead hazard standards will be described as DLRL moving forward and the dust-lead clearance levels will be described as DLAL. This final rule is effective 13 January 2025. POC is Claire Brisse tele: (202) 564-9004; email: brisse.claire@epa.gov.
(Federal Register 12 November 2024 [Rule] Pages 89416-89461)