EPA Seeks Public Comment on Draft Strategy to Reduce Lead Exposures and Disparities in U.S. Communities
(The information below was provided by the EPA, excepting the sections in italics which include added detail provided by Oregon Aviation Watch.)
For more information on this topic, see the EPA website and the Public Comment Lead Strategy Draft.
On 10/28/2021 Earthjustice issued a Press Release, EPA's Draft Lead Strategy is a Positive Start But Lacks Concrete Commitments. In the words of Earthjustice Senior Attorney, Jonathan Smith:
"This draft plan is disappointing because EPA does not commit to adopting health-based lead paint standards and makes no commitment at all about an endangerment finding for aviation gasoline, EPA's first step to regulate leaded aviation gas."
An Earthjustice Action Alert: Tell the EPA to Strengthen its Draft Lead Strategy is available here.
As part of EPA's outreach and public comment effort on its draft lead strategy, the Agency is hosting Zoom virtual public comment sessions in each of its ten geographic regional office areas from early February to early March 2022. The sessions will be an opportunity for the public to provide verbal input on the draft Lead Strategy to EPA. We encourage the public to share with the Agency thoughts on how to address lead issues in their communities during these regional sessions (e.g., Northeast, Southwest, Mid-Atlantic, etc.).
The session for EPA Region 10, which serves the Pacific NW including Oregon, Washington Alaska, Idaho and 271 Tribal Nations, is scheduled for 2/08/2022.
The EPA Region 9 meeting, which includes Arizona, California, Nevada, Hawaii, the Pacific Islands, and 148 Tribal nations, is slated for 2/22/2022.
EPA will use the feedback received during this public comment period to determine if additional revisions need to be incorporated into the Lead Strategy before it is finalized.
- EPA will accept public comments until March 16, 2022.
- Comments can be submitted in writing to docket EPA-HQ-OLEM-2021-0762 at Regulations.gov.
Register Here: https://www.epa.gov/lead/draft-strategy-reduce-lead-exposures-and-disparities-us-communities
If you are unable to attend the session that is specific to your geographic area, EPA encourages you to register for another regional session.
Background:
Ongoing exposures to lead in the environment present a health risk to too many people nationwide. Very low levels of lead in children's blood have been linked to adverse effects on intellect, concentration, and academic achievement. The U.S. has made substantial progress in reducing lead exposure, but significant disparities remain along racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic lines.
EPA developed and is seeking public comment on a draft Strategy to Reduce Lead Exposures and Disparities in U.S. Communities (Lead Strategy).
The draft Lead Strategy lays out approaches to strengthen public health protections, address legacy lead contamination for communities with the greatest exposures and promote environmental justice.
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