By Healthcare Facilities Today

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is exploring new regulations that would create lead abatement practices in commercial buildings, similar to those that exist for residential properties, says the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM).  

The EPA announced on December 31, 2012 that they will begin collecting information from property owners and managers, construction and real estate contractors, and other industry professionals.  This information will assist the EPA in the rule-making process with regard to lead-based paint (LBP) and commercial buildings, says IREM.

According to the EPA, in 2010 it issued an advance notice of proposed rulemaking  (2010 ANPRM) concerning renovation, repair, and painting activities on and in public and commercial buildings. The agency says it is in the process of determining whether these activities create lead-based paint hazards, and, for those that do, developing certification, training, and work practice requirements as directed by the Toxic Substances Control Act.

The EPA would like to receive information on the manufacture, sale, and use of LBP post-1978; use of LBP in/on public and commercial properties; how often renovations were done on public and commercial properties and the practices used in such renovations; and estimates of the amount of dust created and possibly transported from the outside of the building to the inside. Comments must be received by the EPA on or before April 1, 2013.

It is expected the EPA will move forward with the process of creating formal rules and will be releasing a proposed rule no later than July 1, 2015, says IREM.  Final rules are to be completed by December 31, 2016.

Read the full IREM comment.

Read the complete Federal Register announcement.