EPA’s Proposed Reconsideration of the Dust-Lead Hazard Standards and Dust-Lead Post-Abatement Clearance Levels

By Office of Advocacy On Aug 22, 2023

On August 1^st, 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a proposed rule to address health concerns for children who have high blood lead levels. The proposed rule would lower the dust-lead hazard standards (DLHS) from 10 micrograms per square foot (µg/ft²) and 100 µg/ft²for floors and windowsills to require testing by an EPA-accredited program if any traces greater than zero of lead are found in the dust of floors or windowsills. Also, this proposed rule would change the Dust-Lead Clearance Levels (DLCL) from 10 µg/ft², 100 µg/ft², and 400 µg/ft² for floors, window sills, and window troughs, respectively, to 3 µg/ft², 20 µg/ft², and 25 µg/ft². This new DLCL will reflect EPA’s considerations of reliability, effectiveness, and safety, including non-health factors such as laboratory capabilities/capacity and achievability after an abatement. This proposed rule is a change from the EPA’s longstanding policy to set the DLHS and DLCL standards at the same level.

Comments are due on October 2, 2023.

Read the proposed rule and submit comments.

Advocacy contact: Send an email to Tabby Zeb at tayyaba.zeb@sba.gov or call 202-798-7405.

EPA