Bush said he has asked EPA Administrator Christie Whitman to provide technical assistance to affected small businesses to help them prepare their first reports. The EPA will assist companies in their compliance efforts between now and July 2002 when the first reports are due. Major industrial sources of lead emissions include waste oil and solid waste incineration, iron and steel production, and lead smelting, as well as battery manufacturing. Exposure occurs from lead's presence in air, food, water, soil, dust and paint. The Bush Administration today announced that it will proceed with a rule that will expand significantly the information available to the public about lead emissions in their towns and communities.
Lead poisoning can cause learning problems, brain damage and hyperactivity in our children.
Despite the significant progress we have made in reducing lead levels in children's blood, the President believes we can do more. Today's action will ensure that information on hundreds of thousands of pounds of lead emissions never previously reported will become publicly available. The new rule requires more companies to report on the lead they use and release into the air, water or land. Previously the rule required facilities report lead and lead compound emissions if they manufactured or processed more than 25,000 pounds annually or used more than 10,000 pounds annually. Under the new rule, the reporting threshold will be lowered to 100 pounds annually for each facility.