article: SECTION 1. FINDINGS. The Congress finds that-- (1) lead is a naturally occurring element which has been used in a variety of industrial applications including radiation shields, storage batteries, paint, and gasoline; (2) 1 in 6 United States children are victims of lead poisoning, according to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry; (3) lead poses a significant environmental health problem since adverse effects have been conclusively demonstrated at relatively low exposures; (4) lead exposures to children under age 7 are of greatest concern because of its association with significant neurotoxic effects, including reduction in intelligence, attention span deficits, and reading and learning disabilities; (5) the quantity of lead in house dust appears to be the best single indicator of lead levels in the blood of an infant; (6) past efforts to abate lead-based paint have relied on methods which endangered workers and often resulted in more available lead dust for the occupants; (7) improving methods for testing and abating lead-based paint offers a highly cost effective means of reducing exposures and thus preventing childhood lead poisoning; and (8) the efforts of the Federal Government to develop and disseminate information on the most effective techniques to lower human exposure to lead should be improved. SEC. 2. DETECTION TECHNOLOGIES. (a) Emerging Technologies Research.--The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, in consultation with the heads of other appropriate Federal agencies, shall develop methods for conducting evaluations of lead detection products and techniques. The Administrator shall make available to the public the results of any evaluations conducted by such methods as the results of the evaluations become available. (b) Standardization.--Within 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, in consultation with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, shall establish protocols, criteria, and minimum performance standards to be used in the evaluations described in subsection (a) and to ensure reliable, accurate, and effective lead detection technologies. SEC. 3. LEAD EXPOSURE IN CHILDREN. The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, in consultation with the heads of other appropriate Federal agencies, shall conduct a long-term research study to establish the sources of lead exposure for children under the age of seven years. The research shall, to the greatest extent possible-- (1) establish profiles for the percentage of such children who have an exposure to a particular lead source (such as lead- based paint and dust from lead-based paint), and the particular route of such exposure (such as drinking water, food, air, and soil); (2) establish the percentage of each particular kind of exposure and route of exposure described in paragraph (1); and (3) be broken down by region, economic strata, and any other demographic feature the Administrator considers to be appropriate. SEC. 4. RESEARCH ON ABATEMENT AND IN-PLACE MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES. The Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, in consultation with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and the heads of other appropriate Federal agencies, shall carry out research studies to evaluate which practices and techniques are most effective in reducing human exposure to lead. The research studies shall emphasize the development of new technologies and shall address the cost effectiveness of such practices and techniques. The Administrator shall make available to the public the results of such studies as the results become available. SEC. 5. LEAD REMOVAL AND CONTAINMENT PRODUCTS. (a) Research.--The Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, in consultation with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and the heads of other appropriate Federal agencies, shall conduct research on the safety, efficacy, durability, and other relevant performance properties of lead removal and containment products. (b) Standardization.--Within 24 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology shall establish performance criteria and standards for lead removal and containment products. SEC. 6. PUBLIC EDUCATION. The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, in cooperation with other appropriate Federal agencies, shall sponsor public education and outreach efforts to increase awareness of the scope, severity, and sources of lead exposure. The Administrator shall focus such public education and efforts in a manner which provides, to the greatest extent possible, information to the children for whom profiles are established in section 3 about the particular kind and route of lead exposure of such children. SEC. 7. USE OF CLEARINGHOUSE AND TELEPHONE HOTLINE. The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency shall ensure that any information which is made available to the public pursuant to this Act is made available through the clearinghouse and hotline established pursuant to section 405(e) of the Toxic Control Substances Act (15 U.S.C. 2601 et seq.) in addition to any other means of availability the Administrator considers to be appropriate. SEC. 8. STATE PROGRAMS. (a) Grant Assistance.--The Governor of a State may apply to the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency for a grant to compile (particularly through the use of questionnaires) data on lead exposure in the State, to coordinate with other States the collection of such data in order to build a national data base on lead exposure, and to carry out public outreach programs on lead exposure. (b) Grant Management.-- (1) Criteria for selection.--In selecting States for grants under subsection (a) the Administrator shall review-- (A) the previous experience of the State in addressing lead exposure and lead exposure data collection issues; (B) the seriousness of the lead exposure issues identified by the State; and (C) the State standards for techniques and practices to reduce human exposure to lead. (2) Availability of sufficient funding.--In selecting States for grants under subsection (a), the Administrator shall focus resources to ensure that sufficient funds are available to selected States to provide for comprehensive collection and coordination of lead exposure data and for sufficient public outreach programs. (3) Federal share of funding.--The Federal share of grants under subsection (a) shall not exceed 75 percent of the costs incurred by the State to carry out the activities described in such subsection and shall be made on the condition that the non-Federal share is provided from non-Federal funds. (4) Availability of funds.--Funds granted pursuant to subsection (a) in a fiscal year shall remain available for obligation for that fiscal year and for the next following fiscal year. (5) Limitation on receipt of grant in following year.--No grant shall be made under this section in any fiscal year to a State which in the preceding year received a grant under this section unless the Administrator determines that such State satisfactorily implemented such grant activities in such preceding fiscal year. (6) Information required in grant application.--States shall provide such information in applications for grant assistance and pertaining to grant funded activities as the Administrator requires. (c) Coordination.--In carrying out this section, the Administrator shall coordinate with the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology. SEC. 9. REPORTS. Not later than 24 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency shall jointly submit to the Congress an initial report detailing the activities undertaken by the Director and the Administrator pursuant to this Act, including the results of studies conducted pursuant to this Act and any recommendations for administrative and legislative action that the Director and the Administrator consider appropriate. After submission of the initial report, the Director and the Administrator shall submit to the Congress an update of the initial report as often as the Director and the Administrator consider necessary.
summary: Requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to: (1) develop evaluation methods for lead detection products and techniques; (2) conduct long-term research to establish the sources of children's lead exposure; and (3) sponsor related public education and outreach efforts, including telephone hotline and clearinghouse systems. Requires the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology to conduct research on: (1) effective practices, techniques, and new technologies to reduce human exposure to lead; and (2) safety and effectiveness of lead removal and containment products. Authorizes State grants for compilation of lead exposure data.