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EPA PROPOSES TO EXPAND THE PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO KNOW ABOUT LEAD
Release Date: 07/29/99
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FOR RELEASE: THURSDAY, JULY 29, 1999
EPA PROPOSES TO EXPAND THE PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO KNOW ABOUT LEAD
In another step to expand the public's right to know about toxic chemicals released into local communities, EPA is proposing to require significantly more public reporting by industry on lead emissions.
EPA Administrator Carol Browner said, "Increasing the public’s right to know about toxic releases into the environment and protecting this nation’s children are among the Clinton Administration’s top priorities. Childhood lead poisoning still adversely affects the health of almost one million children a year in this country. Today’s action is another step in our efforts to combat lead poisoning by ensuring that the public has access to critical information about toxic chemicals in their comminutes."
EPA is proposing to lower the threshold for reporting on lead under its Toxic Release Inventory because lead remains in the environment for long periods of time and is toxic to humans, especially children. Children and developing fetuses are known to absorb lead more readily than adults, and, once in the body, lead is distributed to the blood, soft tissue and bone. Children exposed to lead can suffer from damage to the brain and central nervous system, slow growth, hyperactivity, and behavior and learning problems. Adults exposed to lead can suffer difficulties during pregnancy, high blood pressure, nervous disorders and memory concentration problems.
Currently, facilities are not required to report their lead and lead compound releases to the air, water and land unless they manufacture or process more than 25,000 pounds annually or use more than 10,000 pounds annually. These high thresholds severely limit the reporting of lead and lead compounds. Under today's proposal the reporting thresholds would be lowered to 10 pounds per facility per year and substantially increase the amount of information made available to the public. This action would potentially increase reporting of public information under the Toxic Release Inventory Program by about 13 percent, or about 15,000 reports.
A 45-day comment period will begin upon publication of the proposed rule in the Federal Register on or about Aug. 2, 1999. A copy will also be available at: https://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr or by calling 1-800-553-0202. General information about lead is available at: https://www.epa.gov/lead. General information about the Toxics Release Inventory is available at: https://www.epa.gov/opptintr/tri.
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