Objective: 1.1

Reduce Children’s Exposure in Homes and Child-Occupied Facilities with Lead-Based Paint Hazards

Objective: 1.1

Reduce Children’s Exposure in Homes and Child-Occupied Facilities with Lead-Based Paint Hazards

EPA conducted 638 compliance assistance and 317 outreach activities that supported abatement, risk assessment and inspection components of the Lead-Based Paint Program.

Objective: 1.1

Reduce Children’s Exposure in Homes and Child-Occupied Facilities with Lead-Based Paint Hazards

Increase the number (or percentage) of certified renovation firms capable of providing lead-safe renovation, repair and painting services through targeted outreach campaigns to contractors; continue to provide a nationwide list of certified renovation firms on EPA’s website.

On track

EPA updated the list of certified renovation firms. A total of 1874 new RRP firms were certified and 9522 contractors received RRP training.

The EPA conducted 495 compliance assistance activities to increase the number of RRP certified firms.

Completed a pilot project in six cities to increase the number of RRP certified firms and trained contractors. During the project, EPA conducted outreach and education activities for 88 contractors to support the RRP Program.

Publish updated list of certified renovation firms on EPA’s website.

Report the total number of RRP firms certified and contractors trained. 

In 2016, the EPA targeted six cities across the U.S. for outreach, training for contractors and enforcement of the RRP rule during National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week (October 2016). In the third quarter of 2019, the EPA completed outreach events in each city. Events targeted contractors by working with building code officials, hardware stores and industry trade associations.

EPA provides annual funding to authorized states and tribal programs that administer training and certification programs for lead professionals and renovation contractors.

Objective 1.2

Reduce Exposure to Lead from Drinking Water

Revise the Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) based on input EPA recently received from state, tribal and local partners, as well as the best available peer reviewed science, to ensure the rule reflects the best ways to improve public health protection and reduce levels of lead in drinking water.

On track

Prepared a Federal Register Notice for proposed LCR revisions, accompanying technical support documents (including the Health Risk Reduction Cost Analysis) and the administrative record for submission by mid-August 2019.

Propose revisions to the LCR by summer 2019.

Objective 1.2

Reduce Exposure to Lead from Drinking water

Enhance implementation of the LCR by engaging with state, tribal, local and other stakeholders to identify implementation challenges, best practices and tools to address these challenges.

On track

Continued a series of webinars on lead service line replacement. June’s webinar included speakers from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to discuss each state’s program for lead service line identification and replacement, including how replacements are regulated and funded.

Throughout May and June, EPA hosted the National Lead and Copper Rule 101 Training Series for States and Water Utilities.

EPA hosted a training specifically discussing the LCR, lead public education, and other public information requirements. This training was provided to states and water utilities to help them better inform their consumers about lead in drinking water.

Released an updated version of the Optimal Corrosion Control Treatment Manual which incorporated feedback from states and technical updates to the previous version.

EPA HQ and EPA’s 10 Regional Offices met monthly to discuss LCR challenges and opportunities to strengthen implementation nationwide. This effort included quarterly reviews of lead exceedance data and system violations reported to the Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). 

Continue to host webinars on lead service line replacement. This series showcases best practices for states and utilities implementing a voluntary lead service line replacement program.

EPA HQ and the regions continue to meet regularly to discuss LCR challenges and strengthen implementation nationwide.

Continue to update the Leaders in Reducing Lead storymap by adding best practices that showcase how communities nationwide are removing lead service lines voluntarily.

The Leaders in Reducing Lead storymap is an interactive way to learn about programs across the country that are removing lead service lines and reducing lead in drinking water in schools and child care facilities. Users will find detailed case studies and will learn how the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund and EPA’s revision of the LCR support the efforts of communities in replacing their lead service lines.

Users will also find resources to test for and reduce lead in drinking water in schools and child care facilities, including the recently announced Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) grant and the new 3Ts Toolkit.

View Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) tools and resources

EPA’s Leaders in Reducing Lead in Drinking Water website

Objective 1.2

Reduce Exposure to Lead from Drinking Water

Assist schools and child care centers with the 3Ts approach (Training, Testing and Taking Action) to reduce lead in drinking water and increase the number of schools and child care centers that test and provide parents with information on how to minimize children’s exposure to lead in drinking water.

On track

Conducted 3Ts webinars in May and June 2019 and provided technical assistance to regions, states, utilities and the school community to encourage lead testing in schools and provide information regarding remediation actions.

Continue to work with states, utilities and local organizations to showcase efforts to reduce lead in drinking water within schools and child care centers across the country.

Continue to add case studies to the Leaders in Reducing Lead in Drinking Water map.
Update an existing Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), Reducing Lead Levels in Drinking Water in Schools and Child Care Facilities. The updated MOU will include current and new partners aimed to provide a more meaningful coordinated approach to help schools and child care programs. This will be done in conjunction with the recently revised 3Ts toolkit and the newly announced Lead Testing in Schools and Child Care Programs Drinking Water grant authorized by the WIIN Act.

The EPA is updating a resource guide to help schools and child care facilities implement programs and policies to reduce children's exposure to lead in drinking water. This document will include approximately 200 funding sources from federal programs, state programs, and foundations/companies.

View tools and resources to reduce lead in drinking water in schools and child care facilities

Objective 1.2

Reduce Exposure to Lead from Drinking Water

Finalize regulatory changes to the definition of lead-free plumbing products and make other conforming changes to implement the Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water Act and the Community Fire Safety Act enacted by Congress. The final regulation is expected to result in fewer sources of lead in drinking water by implementing new standards for lead content in plumbing materials used in new installations and repairs.

Delayed

Considered comments received from stakeholders on the proposed rule to inform the final rule, and conducted additional analysis to support the preparation of the final rule.

Objective 1.2

Reduce Exposure to Lead from Drinking Water

Collaborate with states and tribes to provide opportunities for low-interest loans and grants through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund and the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act loan program for updating and replacing drinking water infrastructure.

On track

Published a new factsheet on Addressing Lead in Drinking Water with the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund and case studies in April 2019.

Continue working with selected borrowers invited to apply for WIFIA financing in FY18. 12 of the selected projects address the reduction of lead or other drinking water contaminants.

https://19january2021snapshot.epa.gov/drinkingwatersrf/reports-and-fact-sheets-about-drinking-water-state-revolving-fund-dwsrf

WIFIA FY18 Selected Projects

Objective 1.2

Implement three newly authorized grant programs under the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act, for which Congress appropriated $50 million in FY 2018, to fund grants to small and disadvantaged communities for developing and maintaining infrastructure, for lead reduction projects and to support the voluntary testing of drinking water in schools and child care centers.

These programs decrease exposure to lead in drinking water by providing financial incentives to test, educate and replace infrastructure.   

On track

Notified all 50 states and the District of Columbia of their funding allotments for the Lead Testing in School and Child Care Programs Drinking Water Grant in April 2019. 

Hosted webinars in May and June 2019 for states on the new grant guidance.

Completed the tribal consultation for the Lead in Drinking Water Grant authorized by the WIIN Act through March 2019.

EPA released the State Lead Testing in School and Child Care Program Drinking Water Testing Grant Implementation Document. This document describes the programmatic requirements applicable to states and territories awarded through this Program. It also provides information to EPA regions and to participating states and territories on how the Agency intends to award and manage state Lead Testing in School and Child Care Program Drinking Water Grant Program funds.

EPA published a sample workplan to assist states with developing and finalizing their work plans. It includes agency priority goals, measurable outcomes, plan development elements, key roles, partners, and other important topics outlined in EPA’s 3Ts for Reducing Lead in Drinking Water in Schools and Child Care Facilities.

Develop and publish grant implementation materials.

Review state workplans for the Lead Testing in Schools and Child Care Programs Drinking Water Grant authorized by the WIIN Act and begin awarding grants to states.

Finalize and publish the Request For Application for the Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water Grant authorized by the WIIN Act.

View more information on the WIIN Grants

Objective 1.3

Reduce Exposure to Lead in Soil

Manage lead contamination at Superfund, RCRA Corrective Action and other sites to reduce exposure to community residents.

Continue to reduce childhood exposures to lead in soils through removal, remedial and corrective actions at contaminated sites and reduce lead soil exposures to the most sensitive community residents.

Continue to support the evaluation of lead exposure at contaminated sites and identify ways to protect the public’s health.

On track

In addressing sites where lead is reported to be a contaminant of concern at Superfund Remedial sites (includes both National Priorities List sites and Superfund Alternative Approach sites), the Superfund Remedial Program completed residential yard clean up for a site in Missouri and is continuing work on 145 sites. The Superfund Removal Program completed 10 removal actions (including emergency, time critical, and non-time critical actions) and continued work on 43 removal actions for sites where lead is a contaminant of concern. It should be noted that a site may have multiple cleanup actions.

Continue to manage lead contamination at Superfund, RCRA Corrective Action and other sites to reduce exposure to community residents. Efforts expected to include:

Continue to reduce childhood exposures to lead in soils through removal, remedial and corrective actions at contaminated sites and reduce lead soil exposures to the most sensitive community residents.

Continue to support the evaluation of lead exposure at contaminated sites and identify ways to protect the public’s health. Actions will include distributing outreach materials to regions gathered through the Interagency Task Force.

This work is important as the cleanup of lead-contaminated sites has been shown to reduce blood lead levels in children living on or near these sites.

Research is being conducted to improve the Agency’s understanding of the degree to which Superfund cleanups may lower blood lead levels at a wider range of lead contaminated sites. EPA’s National Center for Environmental Economics and Office of Land and Emergency Management have compiled a dataset that links two decades of blood lead level measurements from children in six states with EPA data on the location and characteristics of Superfund sites, as well as other determinants of lead exposure. The investigation uses advanced statistical methods to identify the relationship between proximity to Superfund cleanups and rates of elevated blood lead levels.
The research indicates that Superfund cleanup lowered the risk of elevated blood lead levels by roughly 8 to 18% for children living within 2 kilometers (1.24 miles) of a Superfund National Priorities List (NPL) site where lead is a contaminant of concern. Learn more at: https://19january2021snapshot.epa.gov/environmental-economics/superfund-cleanups-and-childrens-lead-exposure.

Objective 1.4

Reduce Exposure to Lead Associated with Emissions to Ambient Air

Continue to work with state and tribal air agencies to implement the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for lead and aim to reduce the number of areas violating the lead NAAQS.

On track

Conducted regional reviews of preliminary Design Values (2016-2018) for all 22 2008 NAAQS nonattainment areas and other violating areas.

Continue to work with states to monitor lead emissions and work towards taking action on 2008 Lead NAAQS redesignation requests and maintenance plans.

Eleven of the 22 initial areas designated nonattainment for the 2008 lead NAAQS are attaining. For the majority of the remaining nonattainment areas, lead emissions and monitored concentrations are declining due to implemented control measures and all nonattainment areas have fulfilled air quality implementation plan requirements.

https://19january2021snapshot.epa.gov/green-book/green-book-lead-2008-area-information

Objective 1.4

Reduce Exposure to Lead Associated with Emissions to Ambient Air

Evaluate the impacts of lead emissions from aircraft using leaded aviation fuel under the Clean Air Act.

On track

Finalizing two technical reports: Model-extrapolated Estimates of Airborne Lead Concentrations at U.S. Airports and National Analysis of Populations Residing Near or Attending School Near U.S. Airports.

Post the completed technical reports to EPA’s website.

https://19january2021snapshot.epa.gov/regulations-emissions-vehicles-and-engines/airport-lead-monitoring-and-modeling

Objective 3.1
 
Consolidate and Streamline Federal Lead-Related Communication and Messaging

Create an online portal to enhance, consolidate and streamline federal-wide communication to the public. Links will direct the public to agency-specific information. (Not everyone affected by lead exposures has access to the internet and therefore, agencies will continue to provide access to printed materials).

On track

Continued to refresh links, connect links, and add new content (e.g., information on the final dust-lead hazard standards, information on WINN Grant: Lead Testing School and Child Care Program, etc.), as EPA makes progress on its actions to increase transparency.

Continue to refresh links and connect links to web page as applicable. To honor EPA’s commitments, continue to provide periodic updates on EPA’s progress.

https://19january2021snapshot.epa.gov/lead

Provide periodic updates on the progress of implementing the Action Plan on the online portal.

On track

Updated the Implementation Status for EPA Actions Under the 2018 Federal Action Plan: To Reduce Childhood Lead Exposures and Associated Health Impacts web page with the Q3 Status Report.

Continue to update the web page periodically.

https://19january2021snapshot.epa.gov/leadactionplanimplementation

Objective 3.2

Improve Awareness of Lead Hazards, Prevention and Remediation among Diverse Populations, Especially Those Most at Risk

Utilize the Children’s Centers and PEHSUs to develop appropriate, evidence-based lead exposure prevention and intervention communication materials and disseminate them through the Centers’ established community partnerships.

On track

In New Orleans, EPA’s Region 6 PEHSU held a Children’s Environmental Health Symposium with extensive training on lead poisoning in children. 80 public health practitioners from across the Gulf Coast attended.

Continue to support the work of PEHSUs in providing expert
consultations to health care providers on prevention, diagnosis and treatment of lead exposure during pregnancy and childhood; addressing childhood lead exposure in grand rounds, medical and nursing educational settings and seminars; providing expertise to lay audiences through briefings, conferences and webinars; and, collaborating with research centers on research translation and messaging on a variety of children’s health issues, including lead.

PEHSUs are a twenty-year-old network of experts uniquely qualified to train health care providers on the prevention, diagnosis, management and treatment of lead exposure in children. There are 11 units around the country, several of which were originally lead clinics. EPA provides support to the PEHSU program that ATSDR designs, funds and manages.

Learn more at: https://www.pehsu.net/

Objective 3.2

Improve Awareness of Lead Hazards, Prevention and Remediation among Diverse Populations, Especially Those Most at Risk

Enhance partnerships with state, tribal and local governments and key stakeholders (e.g., media, community groups, faith-based groups, advocacy groups, departments of health, departments of environmental quality, medical providers, philanthropies, federal grantees and others) that represent or serve communities at risk for childhood lead exposure.

On track

Completed plans to conduct a pilot training of the tribal lead curriculum – Lead Awareness in Indian Country: Keeping our Children Healthy! at Oneida Nation.

Explored additional pilot training opportunities with tribal partners.

Conduct a pilot training of the tribal lead curriculum at Oneida Nation and with additional tribal partners.

The curriculum was developed in partnership with the National Tribal Toxics Council and the EPA-Tribal Science Council. The purpose of the curriculum is to increase understanding and awareness of childhood lead exposures, health effects and preventative actions. Four modules were created: 1) Understanding Lead; 2) Cleaning Techniques; 3) Personal Hygiene and Nutrition; and 4) Hiring Lead Professionals.

Key Priorities:

Prioritize and Address the Critical Research and Data Needs to Inform Lead Policies and Guide Decisions

Enhance and apply data and tools (e.g., models or approaches) and determine the key drivers of blood lead levels from multimedia exposures to inform lead regulatory decisions and site assessments.

On track

Continued to co-lead the development of a cross-agency research workshop with NIEHS, CDC and HUD.

Completed lead multimedia exposure and biokinetic models in support of the final dust-lead hazard standards.

Identified external panel members to conduct peer review of the All-Ages Lead Model (AALM) by the Science Advisory Board.

Provide materials for the All-Ages Lead Model (AALM) to EPA Science Advisory Board for external peer review.

EPA June 2019 Technical Support Document for Residential Dust-Lead Hazard Standards: Rulemaking Approach taken to Estimate Blood Lead Levels and Effects from Exposures to Dust-lead https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=EPA-HQ-OPPT-2018-0166-0360.
Docket ID: EPA-HQ-OPPT-2018-0166-0574.

Key Priorities:

Prioritize and Address the Critical Research and Data Needs to Inform Lead Policies and Guide Decisions

Generate data, maps and mapping tools to identify high exposure communities or locations and disparities for prioritization efforts to reduce children’s blood lead levels.

On track

Held EPA internal workshop on lead mapping coordination efforts.
Continued to co-lead the development of a cross-agency research workshop with NIEHS, CDC and HUD.

Provided technical assistance to EPA Regions 5 and 7 in support of their efforts to identify high exposure locations and presented draft results in interagency meetings with state and federal partners.

Provide technical assistance to other regional partners as they work on identifying high exposure locations.

Participate with CDC and HUD in EPA-led session at the National Environmental Health Association Conference on lead mapping efforts to identify high exposure locations.

Key Priorities:

Prioritize and Address the Critical Research and Data Needs to Inform Lead Policies and Guide Decisions

Generate data to address critical gaps for reducing uncertainty in lead modeling and mapping for exposure/risk analyses and for estimating population-wide health benefits of actions to reduce lead exposures.

On track

Continued to co-lead the development of a cross-agency research workshop with HHS and HUD.

Continued analysis of incoming multimedia samples from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development sponsored American Healthy Homes Survey II.

Continue receipt and analysis of incoming multimedia samples from the HUD sponsored American Healthy Homes Survey II.

For more information
on the HUD sponsored American Healthy Homes Survey II, visit: https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/healthy_homes/ahhs_ii

Key Priorities:

Prioritize and Address the Critical Research and Data Needs to Inform Lead Policies and Guide Decisions

Identify approaches to prevent, mitigate and communicate about lead exposures and risks in exposed communities.

On track

Continued to co-lead the development of a cross-agency research workshop with HHS and HUD.

Conducted EPA’s Office of Research and Development and Region 6 2019 Small Drinking Water Systems Workshop, held at EPA Region 6, May 21-22, 2019, with 129 participants.

Provided ongoing technical support to assess the effectiveness of corrosion control treatment in multiple cities applying innovative lead mitigation methods for addressing lead in drinking water.

Provide ongoing technical support to assess effectiveness of corrosion control treatment in multiple cities applying innovative lead mitigation methods for addressing lead in drinking water.

EPA Office of Research and Development and Region 6, in partnership with Region 6 states and the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators, held the May 21-22 workshop to provide information and training relevant to small drinking water systems. This meeting was an extension of EPA’s Annual Drinking Water Workshop, and the first designed to bring together EPA and regional experts to focus on small systems challenges that states in the region are facing. The objectives were:

1) Understand compliance issues faced by small drinking water systems in Region 6 states;

2) Address these technical challenges through ideas and information exchange; and

3) Provide a forum for networking. Region 6 has been receiving positive feedback from their respective States on the meeting content and the information that was brought back with the attendees.  

Key Priorities:

Prioritize and Address the Critical Research and Data Needs to Inform Lead Policies and Guide Decisions

Evaluate the effectiveness of actions (e.g., interventions, programs, policies, enforcement) to prevent lead exposure, mitigate health effects and communicate on lead exposures/risks.

On track

Continued to co-lead the development of a cross-agency research workshop with HHS and HUD.