Indiana Lead-Safe & Healthy Homes Newsletter

June 2006 Edition

Version in pdf

Improving Kids’ Environment (IKE) and the Indiana Lead-Safe Task Force publish this newsletter

poisoning prevention and healthy homes in Indiana.   Distribution is by email or fax – preferably by

e-mail.   Contact the editor, Janet G. McCabe, at mccabe@ikecoalition.org or 317-902-3610 if you

want to contribute articles, edit the draft newsletter, contribute an article, or want to get on or off

the distribution list.  All editions are available on IKE’s web page at

http://www.ikecoalition.org/publications.htm.

Please consider supporting IKE

IKE has been fortunate in the past to receive funds from government agencies,

foundations and other donors to support its work, but has also relied on

thousands of hours of donated time.  As IKE moves forward to establish a more

firm and stable funding base, we need to ask for financial support from those

who believe in what we do.  Please consider making a donation, either through

www.Justgive.com  (click on button on IKE homepage) or by sending a contribution

directly to IKE, 1201 N. Central Ave, #9, Indianapolis, IN 46202.

On the National Scene

Sierra Club and IKE Ask USEPA and the Consumer Product Safety

Commission to Address Lead in Toy Jewelry;  EPA Wants Comment by

June 15!

The tragic and inexcusable death of a four year old boy in Minnesota this year who

swallowed a charm containing lead that came with a pair of Reebok sneakers prompted

the Sierra Club to petition both the USEPA and the CPSC to regulate lead in toy jewelry. 

The petition asks the CSPC to ban lead in toy jewelry and USEPA to take a number of

actions intended to eliminate lead from these products.  On May 16, Page Falk (General

Counsel of the Consumer Product Safety Commission) replied that the request to regulate

lead in toy jewelry met the requirements to be forwarded to the Commission for

consideration.  On May 19, EPA’s Director of the Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics

responded that EPA would make a decision whether or not to grant two of the four requests

in the petition under TSCA by July 21, 2006 and would consider the other two on a separate

schedule.  That’s success at the first step! 

On May 31, USEPA published a notice in the Federal Register, asking for comment on the

petition by June 15.  EPA is particularly asking for information on studies or incidences of

children being poisoned by toy jewelry and similar products.  Please consider commenting

in support of the petition.

USEPA Reviewing Health Standard for Airborne Lead

USEPA established the federal air quality health standard for airborne lead in 1978.  The

agency reviewed it in 1986 and 1990 in light of new health and environmental data, but did

not change the standard.  In 2004, as a result of a lawsuit and Consent Decree, USEPA

began another review.  (The Clean Air Act requires a review every five years, but USEPA

rarely meets this schedule.) The review process is lengthy, with many steps and numerous

opportunities for public comment along the way.  The Consent Decree requires that USEPA

make a decision about whether or not to revise the standard by September 2008. More

information is available at http://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/cfm/recordisplay.cfm?deid=141779.

Indiana monitors airborne lead at 6 locations (in Northwest Indiana, Indianapolis and Evansville), mostly close to industrial facilities that process lead.  (Since the phase out of leaded gasoline in the 1980s, ambient lead levels have dropped substantially in most

areas and industry is the chief source of airborne lead.)  Lead levels at the Indiana monitors are well below the current health standard of 1.5 µg/m³.  IKE and a number of other organizations have filed comments with USEPA noting CDC’s recent statements

that there is no safe level of lead in blood.

Hundreds Comment on Proposed Renovation, Remodeling and Painting

Rule

USEPA has received literally thousands of pages of comments on its proposed rule covering renovation, remodeling and painting.  The rule requires contractors who disturb more than two square feet of old paint to comply with specific work practice and cleaning requirements.  Contractors must also get their project managers trained and licensed.  The rule is much needed as renovation, repair and paint work is a significant cause of lead hazards, but the proposed rule has many shortcomings. Read IKE’s comment.  The Environmental Management Institute’s extensive comments are posted at http://www.envtlmgmt.org/docslead.htm.  The Alliance for Healthy Housing has

comments posted at http://www.afhh.org/aa/aa_hh_policy_national_policy_eparandr.htm.  USEPA expects to finalize the rule by January 2007.

American Public Health Association Adopts Policy Statement on Lead Poisoning

In December 2005, the American Public Health Association adopted a strongly worded Policy Statement calling upon the federal government to ban lead in candy and candy wrappers, strictly enforce restrictions on the importation of candy containing lead into the US and asking CDC to substantially lower its current "blood lead level of concern" because the current action level is set too high and does not adequately protect children from the toxic effects of lead. 

Back Home in Indiana

ISDH Issues First Report Under State Law Passed in 2004

On March 16, 2006, ISDH issued the first annual report required by IC 16-41-39.4-5.  The Report provides vital statistics – statewide and county-by-county -- to assess Indiana’s efforts to protect children from lead poisoning.  Key statewide numbers contained in the report are:

·                     43,120 children were screened for blood lead;

·                     1244 children had an initial elevated blood lead level (greater than 10 ug/dL);

·                     548 children were confirmed as lead poisoned;

·                     437 children with a high initial test never got a follow-up test.

·                     259 false positives.

Based on the data in the report, IKE is concerned that 30% of children did not receive a follow-up test and that 20% of the tests were false positives.  ISDH also reports that the average time between a confirmed elevated blood lead level and a risk assessment was a troubling 70 days.  CDC guidelines require that intervention begin within 30 days for a child with a blood lead level of 10-14 µg/dL and sooner when the lead levels are higher.

The last three items required by the statute address the number of housing units where risk assessments were performed, orders were issued, and where lead hazards were eliminated during the reporting year.  ISDH states that it does not have complete data to report these items for 2005, but that changes to the Lead Prevention rules (see item below) will provide the needed data for 2006. 

IKE commends ISDH for this first report, but cautions that ISDH and the local Health Departments will need to work together to assure the accuracy of the reported data.  Compiling the data required about housing is also essential.  Even though a work in progress, the report provides the kind of information needed to track progress and assess needs on lead poisoning.  It already shows serious information gaps and areas where improvement is needed.  The more complete and accurate information we have, the more we will be able to see where effort is needed and where we are making progress.

Changes to ISDH Lead Rules Move to Final Stage

On May 9, ISDH held a public hearing on proposed changes to 410 IAC 29, the lead poisoning prevention program rules.  Several commenters from Local Health Departments and IKE spoke in support of the rule, or urged ISDH to go further.  Representatives of the Indiana Apartment Association questioned ISDH’s authority to require inspection and remediation of homes.  ISDH expects to publish final rules by fall 2006. 

The rule changes are very important and positive.  They include: 

• establishing comprehensive requirements for case management when a child is found to be lead poisoned,

• clarification of local health departments’ authority and responsibility to conduct risk assessments in housing where lead poisoned children reside and to order remediation if lead hazards are found. 

EPAC Housing Committee Working to Complete Several Initiatives

At the upcoming Lead Elimination Plan Advisory Committee meeting, the Housing Committee will report on its progress with several initiatives:

• Development of a standardized Risk Assessment report form to help assessors complete reports efficiently and in a way that assures compliance with all IDEM requirements

• Development of a web-based system that will use the standardized forms to summarize key information about residential properties

• Addition of information about known lead hazards in rental property to Indiana Housing Now, a webpage that lists affordable rental housing across Indiana (www.indianahousingnow.org). 

• Review of statutes and rules from other cities and states to identify options for programs to proactively identify homes with lead hazards before children become poisoned.

Local Agencies Applying for HUD Grants

June 6 is the deadline for submission of proposals for HUD’s Lead Hazard Control Grants, and several Indiana agencies are planning to apply, including the City of Gary and the Gary Health Department, the Allen County Health Department and the City of Fort Wayne, the St. Joseph County Health Department and the City of Evansville with the Vanderburgh County Health Department.  Indiana Black Expo is also preparing a proposal for a Lead Outreach grant, which will focus on education in minority communities, increasing training in lead safe work practices among contractors who work in minority communities, and outreach to retailers who sell paint and give advice to contractors and homeowners.  It takes a tremendous amount of work to put these proposals together and we will all keep our fingers crossed for their success.

Bloomington Lead Coalition offers Lead-Safe Cleaning Class for Homeowners

The Monroe County Lead-Safe Coalition will be providing three classes for homeowners on proper home cleaning techniques.  Classes can accommodate 20 students and free cleaning supplies will be given.  All classes will be held at Lowe’s Home Improvement Store, 350 N. Gates Drive, Bloomington, Indiana 47403 on the following dates:

• June 7 7-8:30 PM

• July 19 7-8:30 PM

• September TBA

Contact Gina Forrest at gforrest@bloomhealth.org or 812-353-5704 for more information or to register.  The next Lead Coalition meeting is on June 21 at 11:00 AM.

And keep an eye out for three Lead Safe billboards in the Bloomington area!

Marion County Health Department and Environmental Management Institute Pilot Comprehensive Lead Safe and Healthy Homes Work Practices Training 

A new training class developed by the National Center for Healthy Housing was recently piloted in Indianapolis in cooperation with the Marion County Health Department and Environmental Management Institute.  Lead-Safe and Healthy Homes Work Practices is a 1.5 day course designed for contractors, supervisors, and workers. It takes the EPA-HUD Lead-Safe Renovation and Remodeling Course and expands it to include crucial healthy homes construction concepts such as moisture control, combustion devices.  The goal is to get away from treating lead-safe work practices as an add-on practice that is done only when the client demands it.  The course is designed to help the small contractors:

·         Integrate lead-safe and healthy homes work practices into a cohesive and efficient project design that is safer for workers and residents;

·         Learn how to more effectively market these services; and

·         Plan projects to work safely in occupied housing.  

Contact Tom Neltner at 410.772.2776 or tneltner@nchh.org for more information.

2006 Indiana Lead-Safe and Healthy Homes Conference 

Be sure to mark your calendar for this year’s conference on October 24 and 25, again at the Marten House in Indianapolis.  The Indiana Lead Safe and Healthy Homes Task Force is beginning to flesh out the agenda and programs, so send us your ideas for topics for breakout sessions or speakers.  Send any suggestions to mccabe@ikecoalition.org.  We hope and expect again this year to be able to keep fees at last year’s level ($125 for the first person and $95 for additional people from the same agency with early registration; $150 and $125 for regular registration) and provide scholarship support to local and non-profit agencies.  We welcome conference sponsors.  Contact Janet for questions about the conference and sponsorship opportunities.

Pending approval by IDEM, Lead Inspector and Risk Assessor Refresher Training provided by the Environmental Management Institute will be coordinated with this year’s conference.  If your license is due to expire before October 2007, you will be able to combine attendance at this year’s conference with your refresher training.  The eight hour Lead Inspector refresher will be offered on Monday, October 23.  The eight hour Risk Assessor refresher will be provided through specially designated conference sessions.  More information on fees and sessions will be available this summer.  Contact Janet or Joan Ketterman at Joan.Ketterman@envtlmgmt.org for more information.

Marion County Health Department Begins Implementation of  $2.9 Million Grant from HUD to Clean Up Rental Housing 

The Marion County Health Department received the green light from HUD to proceed with lead hazard control activities in late March 2006.  Since that time, MCHD has been actively working with area landlords and contractors to make a difference.  The first lead hazard control project is underway at 4317 E. Washington Street.  Forty-eight (48) units should be completed by June 15, 2006 with another 73 units completed by the end of September.   

Marion County Health Department Will Offer Comprehensive Healthy Housing Training to Staff, Members of the Community, in Fall 2006

The Marion County Health Department will be providing a two-day training for its staff on Sept 19 and 20 and again on Sept 21 and 22 in Indianapolis.  In an effort to increase awareness of the issues surrounding healthy homes, limited spaces are being offered to members of the community.  The course, entitled “Essentials for Healthy Homes Practitioners,”  will help anyone in the health or housing fields understand the connection between health and housing and how to take a holistic approach to identify and resolve problems that threaten the health and well-being of residents. See www.healthyhomestraining.org for more information, or contact Dave McCormick at MCHD (dmccormi@hhcorp.org). 

Changing Faces

        Wayne Syvinski leaves ISDH.  We will surely miss Wayne Syvinski at ISDH.  Anyone who worked with Wayne on the EPAC Housing subcommittee knows how committed he is to elimination of lead poisoning in Indiana and how smart he is about computer and data systems.  Wayne now runs SOHO Indy, a business that provides data analysis, website and database design services and general computer troubleshooting and repair.  You can reach him at wmsyvinski@sohoindy.com.  

      ISDH welcomes Tom Reel to the Lead Program.  Many of us know Tom from his work at FSSA in the Energy Assistance and Section 8 programs.  His housing background will help advance ISDH’s efforts in primary prevention.  You can reach Tom at treel@isdh.in.gov and 317-233-1294.

Mark Your Calendars

     Lead-Safe Indiana Task Force Meeting in Indy.  All are welcome to attend these meetings to discuss lead poisoning and healthy homes issues across Indiana.  It is a great networking and planning opportunity.  Contact Janet at mccabe@ikecoalition.org or at 317-902-3610 for details.  All meetings will be at the Environmental Management Institute, 5610 Crawfordsville Road, Suite 15.  We usually coordinate the meetings with Indiana EPAC’s Housing Subcommittee meetings.

      ○    June 29 – 10:00 – 12:00  Meeting to plan 2006 Conference

o        September 12 – 10:00 to 12:00

o        December 5 – 10:00 to 12:00

     Indiana Lead Elimination Plan Advisory Committee (EPAC) in Indy.  The committee is charged with advising ISDH on the state’s implementation of the state lead elimination plan.  The meetings are open to the public.  The 2006 meetings are as follows, all at HUD’s Offices at 151 N. Delaware St., Suite 1200, unless otherwise noted in future newsletters.

o        Thursday, October 19 – 10:00 to 12:00

         Training

o      Free EPA & HUD-Approved Lead Safe Work Practices Course.  Contact Masimax at leadsafetraininginfo@masimax.com or go on-line at www.leadsafetraining.org 

         Grand Rapids, MI on June 9

o      Accredited Lead Training at the Environmental Management Institute in Indy.  Contact EMI at 800-488-8842 or www.envtlmgmt.org.

         Mold Remediation –  August 23-25

         Lead Abatement Supervisor Initial – August 14-17

         Lead Inspector / Risk Assessor Initial – June 19-22 and October 2-6

         Mold Awareness – August 10

         Lead Inspector / Risk Assessor Refresher – October 23 and December 5-6

□       Lead Abatement Supervisor Refresher – December 7

         Conferences

• 2006 Indiana Lead Safe and Healthy Homes Conference—October 24 and 25, Indianapolis

Thanks for improving kids' environment!  If you have any questions or comments about this newsletter, IKE, or the Indiana Lead Safe and Healthy Homes Task Force, contact Janet G. McCabe at mccabe@ikecoalition.org, 317-902-3610 or 1201 N. Central Ave, #9, Indianapolis, IN  46202.  If you need more information on national events, check out the Alliance Alert Newsletter at www.afhh.org and click on newsletter.

IKE publishes a newsletter on a regular basis that describes IKE’s efforts beyond healthy homes and lead hazard control.  Contact Janet G. McCabe at mccabe@ikecoalition.org if you want to subscribe to either of those newsletters.