Source: http://studyres.com/doc/48038/
Timestamp: 2018-03-19 06:49:52
Document Index: 319772718

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 4851', 'art 35', 'art 745', '§ 4852', 'art 35', 'art 745', 'art 745', 'art 745', '§ 7003', 'art 745', '§ 7003', '§ 745', '§ 745', 'art 745', 'art 745', 'art 35', 'art 745']

Document 48038
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This Guidebook is designed to help lead poisoning prevention professionals and others develop “bench
books” (legal reference manuals) for judges who adjudicate state and local enforcement cases involving
The purpose of such a bench book is to promote enforcement aimed at eliminating lead-based paint
 Increasing judges’ awareness about lead poisoning and lead-based paint hazards;
 Sensitizing them to the importance of enforcing cases involving lead-based paint; and
 Identifying the variety of laws that can be applied to compel risk reduction work.
This Guidebook does not tell which laws apply in a particular state, county, or city. Rather, it tells the
reader what laws to look for; how to find them; and how to compile the laws, and other information, into
A separate publication, The Federal Lead-Based Paint Enforcement Bench Book, also published by the
National Center for Healthy Housing, discusses federal lead-based paint laws and enforcement programs.
Guidebook for Developing
Lead-based Paint Enforcement Bench Books
A. Lead Poisoning and Lead-based Paint ................................................................................................. 1
B. National Commitment to Eliminate Lead-based Paint Hazards........................................................... 2
C. Enforcement’s Contribution to Eliminating Lead-based Paint Hazards .............................................. 3
1. Federal Lead-based Paint Laws ........................................................................................................ 3
2. State and Local Housing and Lead-based Paint Laws ...................................................................... 4
D. Guidebook for Developing State and Local Lead-based Paint Enforcement Bench Books ................. 5
1. Purpose of this Guidebook ................................................................................................................ 5
2. The Contents of Your Bench Book ................................................................................................... 6
3. How to Use this Guidebook to Create Your Bench Book ................................................................. 7
4. Terms in this Guidebook ................................................................................................................... 7
2. Problem Statement for Your Bench Book
A. Overview............................................................................................................................................ 10
B. National Problem Statement............................................................................................................... 10
C. State and Local Problem Statement.................................................................................................... 11
3. State and Local laws for Your Bench Book
A. Overview............................................................................................................................................ 12
B. Finding the Law ................................................................................................................................. 12
1. Which Version of the Law to Use................................................................................................... 12
2. Legal Resources .............................................................................................................................. 13
3. Case Law......................................................................................................................................... 13
C. Lead-based Paint Laws....................................................................................................................... 14
1. Advantages and Limitations of Lead-based Paint Laws ................................................................. 14
2. State and Local Disclosure Laws .................................................................................................... 14
3. Noteworthy Provisions in Lead-based Paint Laws ......................................................................... 15
D. Housing Laws .................................................................................................................................... 16
1. The Variety of Laws to Address Lead-based Paint Hazards........................................................... 16
2. Approaches to Locating Multiple Housing Laws ........................................................................... 16
3. Advantages and Limitations of Housing Laws ............................................................................... 17
4. Noteworthy Provisions in Housing Laws ....................................................................................... 18
E. Compiling the Law for Your Bench Book .......................................................................................... 18
1. What Provisions of Each Law to Include........................................................................................ 18
2. When to Include an Entire Code ..................................................................................................... 19
3. What Not to Include........................................................................................................................ 19
4. Maximize the Effectiveness of Your Bench Book
A. Organize Your Bench Book to be a Handy Reference ....................................................................... 21
B. Distribute Your Bench Book Widely.................................................................................................. 21
C. Use Your Bench Book ........................................................................................................................ 22
D. Keep Your Bench Book up to Date .................................................................................................... 22
Fig. 1: Authority to Compel Work to Address LBP Hazards or Other Deleterious Conditions ................... 4
Fig. 2: Authority to Enforce Federal LBP Statutes and Regulations ............................................................ 7
Fig. 3: Commonly Used Acronyms .............................................................................................................. 9
Appendix 1- Guidebook Action Items ........................................................................................................ 23
Appendix 2 - National Problem Statements................................................................................................ 24
Appendix 3 - Tips on Understanding the Law ............................................................................................ 34
Appendix 4 - How to Find State and Local Laws To Address Lead-based Paint and Lead-based Paint
Appendix 5 - Enforcement Interview Questions......................................................................................... 36
This Guidebook responds to a need initially identified by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention for a template to help personnel in childhood lead poisoning prevention programs create bench
books for judges about lead-based paint enforcement.
The following people in particular have given generously of their time and expertise to help ensure that
this Guidebook is informative, accurate and useful: Cheryl Barr, Chris Bloom, Samantha Harrykissoon,
Carol Kawecki, Patrick MacRoy, Janet McCabe, Jane Malone, Rebecca Morley, Tom Neltner, Ralph
Scott, Laura Titus, and Teresa M. Willis.
Also, the author gratefully acknowledges Janet McCabe, Executive Director of Improving Kids
Environment, Inc., for granting permission to reprint Overview of Lead Paint and Children’s Health,
which is included in Appendix 2 of this Guidebook.
This book is intended solely as a reference. Nothing herein is intended to constitute or substitute for legal
A. Lead Poisoning and Lead-based Paint
Lead is a poison to the human body. Lead poisoning continues to be a major environmental health
problem in the United States, although it is completely preventable.1 The most common source of
childhood lead poisoning is lead-based paint (LBP) in older homes and buildings. The primary exposure
pathway is the ingestion of lead-contaminated dust.2
The serious and potentially lethal effects of lead poisoning are undisputed.3 Lead persists and accumulates
in the body. While lead is potentially harmful to individuals at any age, it is particularly dangerous to
children under the age of six, due to their normal hand-to-mouth behavior (which increases exposure by
ingestion) and increased physiological ability to absorb lead.
Lead exerts a broad array of deleterious effects on multiple organ systems.4 It causes neurological
damage, thus contributing to intellectual impairment, developmental delays, learning disabilities, memory
loss, hearing problems, attention deficits, hyperactivity, and behavioral disorders. Severe cases of
childhood lead poisoning can result in organ failure, convulsions, coma, and death. Exposure to lead
before or during pregnancy can alter fetal development and cause miscarriages. The damage from lead
poisoning is irreversible. Studies have linked lead poisoning to aggression, juvenile delinquency, and
adult criminal behavior.5 Also, exposure to lead in adults has been associated with reproductive problems
in males and females, memory and concentration problems, hypertension, nerve disorders, cardiovascular
damage, and other maladies.6
An estimated 310,000 children in the United States have elevated blood-lead levels (EBLLs)7 – and
millions of people have the continuing adverse effects of prior lead poisoning. Even children who appear
See e.g., U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Basic Information.
www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/leadinfo.htm#health.
See e.g., 73 Fed. Reg. 21692, 21694 (Apr. 22, 2008) (Preamble to EPA’s final Renovation, Repair and Painting
Rule). This preamble provides an excellent summary of current knowledge regarding lead poisoning.
See e.g., EPA, Basic Information, supra note 1. See also U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),
General Lead Information: Questions and Answers. www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/faq/about.htm. See also Appendix 2,
Overview of Lead and Children’s Health, and references therein.
73 Fed. Reg. 21692, 21693, supra note 2.
Wright, J.P., Dietrich, K.N., et al., Association of Prenatal and Childhood Blood Lead Concentrations with
Criminal Arrests in Early Adulthood, 5 PLoS Medicine 5, e101 (May 2008).
http://medicine.plosjournals.org/archive/1549-1676/5/5/pdf/10.1371_journal.pmed.0050101-L.pdf.
See EPA, Basic Information, supra note 1; 73 Fed. Reg. 21692, 21693, supra note 2.
See CDC, General Lead Information: Questions and Answers, supra note 3. CDC defines an elevated blood-lead
level to be equal to or more than 10 micrograms per deciliter (>10µg/dL). www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/surv/stats.htm.
There is no safe exposure level.
healthy can have dangerous levels of lead in their bodies.8 The costs to communities to address the effects
of lead poisoning – for medical intervention; special education; and juvenile, criminal justice, social, and
other services – is staggering.9
Although there are numerous sources of lead poisoning,10 the major source is lead-contaminated dust,
paint, and soil in pre-1978 homes, schools, or other locations that children frequent. The use of lead in
residential paint and certain other consumer products became illegal in 1978.11 LBP, however, is
pervasive in buildings across the nation constructed prior to that time.12 Approximately 38 million pre1978 dwellings in the nation have LBP.13 Approximately 24 million of these have deteriorated (chipping,
peeling, flaking) LBP, and elevated levels of lead-contaminated dust.14 More than 4 million of these
dwellings are homes to one or more young children.15
Like any paint, LBP does not just disappear. It persists and chips, flakes, powders into dust and soil over
time, or otherwise deteriorates if not properly maintained. The lead content makes deteriorated paint a
hazard. LBP must be eliminated, or properly maintained, using lead-safe work practices.
B. National Commitment to Eliminate Lead-based Paint Hazards
In 2000, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD), U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and other federal entities
established the national goal to “eliminate lead paint hazards in housing where children under six live” by
2010, through “enforcement of lead safety laws and regulations” and other means.16 Even after 2010,
continuing effort will be needed to maintain (or improve upon) success achieved by that time, since LBP
will be present in millions of pre-1978 properties for the foreseeable future.
See EPA, Basic Information, supra note 1.
One study estimates that lead poisoning costs $43.4 billion in the United States. See Landrigan, P.J, Schechter,
C.B., et al., Environmental Pollutants and Disease in American Children: Estimates of Morbidity, Mortality, and
Costs for Lead Poisoning, Asthma, Cancer, and Developmental Disabilities, 110 Environmental Health Perspectives
7, 721-728. http://ehpnet1.niehs.nih.gov/docs/2002/110p721-728landrigan/abstract.html or
www.ehponline.org/docs/2002/110p721-728landrigan/abstract.html.
Other sources of lead include toys, toy jewelry, candies, candy wrappers, cosmetics, mini-blinds, and other
consumer products; hobbies (e.g., pottery making, stained-glass, refinishing furniture); older furniture and items
with lead-containing surface material; lead from work (e.g., from automobile batteries), which can be brought into
the home on hands or clothing; drinking water (lead pipes, solder, brass fixtures, valves which leach lead); food and
liquids stored in lead crystal or lead-glazed porcelain or pottery; and so-called “folk” home health remedies (azarcon
and greta, used for indigestion; and pay-loo-ah, used for rash or fever). See e.g., CDC, General Lead Information:
Questions and Answers, supra note 3. Recently, artificial turf also has been found to contain lead.
See e.g., www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/faq/tips.htm.
See e.g., 73 Fed. Reg. 21692, 21790, supra note 2.
See CDC, General Lead Information: Questions and Answers, supra note 3.
President’s Task Force on Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks to Children, Eliminating Childhood Lead
Poisoning: A Federal Strategy Targeting Lead Paint Hazards (Feb. 2000).
www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/about/fedstrategy2000.pdf.
C. Enforcement’s Contribution to Eliminating Lead-based Paint
1. Federal Lead-based Paint Laws
The federal government has several legal authorities pertaining to LBP and LBP hazards:
 The Residential Lead-based Paint Hazard Reduction Act of 1992,17 enacted as Title X of the Housing
and Community Development Act of 1992 (Title X)18;
 The Disclosure Rule, pursuant to Title X19;
 The Lead Safe Housing Rule, pursuant to Title X20;
 The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA),21 and regulations thereunder:
- The Pre-renovation Education Rule,22
- The Renovation, Repair, and Painting Rule,23
- The Lead-based Paint Activities, Certification, and Training Rule (LBP Activities Rule)24; and
 The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Section 7003 imminent hazard authority.25
The Federal Lead-Based Paint Enforcement Bench Book examines these laws.26
But for two exceptions, these federal laws do not impose an affirmative obligation to perform LBP “risk
reduction” work (any project to prevent or eliminate LBP hazards27), and do not empower federal
authorities to demand such work.28 Instead, federal LBP laws generally establish disclosure obligations,
and performance standards for activities that disturb LBP. See Fig. 1, Authority to Compel Work to
Address LBP Hazards or Other Deleterious Conditions.
The two exceptions are the Lead Safe Housing Rule, and RCRA Section 7003. The Lead Safe Housing
Rule applies only to federally owned or assisted pre-1978 housing, which accounts for approximately 3%
(1.3 million) of the 38 million pre-1978 housing units with LBP.29 RCRA Section 7003 applies to an
“imminent and substantial endangerment” involving the handling, storage, treatment, transport, or
disposal of solid waste (or hazardous waste). EPA has invoked Section 7003 to respond to LBP hazards
42 U.S.C. §§ 4851-4853a.
Pub.L. 102-550 (Oct. 28, 1992).
24 C.F.R. Part 35, Subpart A (HUD) and 40 C.F.R. Part 745, Subpart F (EPA), pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 4852d
(Section 1018 of Title X).
24 C.F.R. Part 35, Subparts B-R, pursuant to Sections 1012 and 1013 of Title X.
40 C.F.R. Part 745, Subpart E.
73 Fed. Reg. 21692 (Apr. 22, 2008), supra note 2, to be codified at 40 C.F.R. Part 745, Subpart E.
40 C.F.R. Part 745, Subpart L.
See www.nchh.org.
“Risk reduction” and other generic terms used in this Guidebook are explained in section I.D.4, below.
Violators may commit to perform voluntary risk reduction work in settlement agreements that resolve federal
enforcement actions against them.
See e.g., Exhibit 4-3 in HUD’s economic analysis for the final Lead Safe Housing Rule (Sept. 7, 1999).
www.hud.gov/offices/lead/library/enforcement/completeRIA1012.pdf.
2. State and Local Housing and Lead-based Paint Laws
State and local laws can be powerful tools in preventing and eliminating LBP hazards. Virtually every
sizeable jurisdiction has a housing code, health code, nuisance law, or other law that imposes generic
maintenance or safety requirements. Many such laws also empower authorities to demand that property
owners correct deleterious conditions. Furthermore, an increasing number of jurisdictions have laws
specifically to make property owners perform LBP risk reduction work. Consequently, vigorous
enforcement of state and local laws offers greater potential to eliminate LBP hazards than does federal
enforcement alone.
Fig. 1: Authority to Compel Work to Address LBP Hazards or Other Deleterious
Federal LBP Laws
LBP Law
LBP Activities Rule
(For federally owned/assisted
Health Code, or Sanitary/Sanitation
RCRA § 7003
(For an “imminent and substantial
endangerment”)
Laws for buildings or conditions that
are “unsafe,” “unfit,” “dangerous,”
“uninhabitable,” “hazardous,” et
in the state or
Rental property laws, such as:
- Multiple Dwelling Laws;
- Certificate of Occupancy laws;
- Rental Registry laws;
- Rental Housing Quality laws;
- Landlord-tenant statutes; and
- the Uniform Residential Landlord
and Tenant Act (URLTA).
D. Guidebook for Developing State and Local Lead-based Paint
Enforcement Bench Books
1. Purpose of this Guidebook
This Guidebook is essentially a book about creating a book: your own, jurisdiction-specific “bench book”
- a legal reference manual for judges (and others) – to promote enforcement of cases involving LBP in
your community.30
In many communities, judges preside over courts of general jurisdiction, and only occasionally adjudicate
lead or housing cases. In such jurisdictions, judges may have little exposure to the issues and laws
associated with cases that involve LBP. They may be unaware of the effects of lead poisoning, its relation
to LBP hazards, and the importance of enforcing existing laws as a means to eradicate this health
problem. A bench book that educates judges about such matters would promote enforcement aimed at
eliminating LBP hazards and preventing lead poisoning.31
“Law” is a generic term which includes and may refer to:
 A legislative enactment (statute, act, ordinance, code, et cetera);
 An agency regulation (rule);
 A court decision (ruling or opinion); or
 A constitution or local charter.
“Code.” A code organizes the law on a common topic (e.g., housing) and presents it in a
sequence of numbered provisions (paragraphs). A local housing code, state health code, and the
Code of Federal Regulations are examples.
“Ordinance.” A local statute typically is called an “ordinance.”
For more information, see the generic terms in section I.D.4, below – and see Appendix 3, Tips
on Understanding the Law.
A bench book provides background information, and an objective recitation and analysis of a particular
law or group of laws. Due to the great diversity of state and local laws (statutes, regulations, codes, et
For examples of jurisdiction-specific bench books, see Lead-based Paint: The Law in Indiana, published by
Improving Kids’ Environment in Indiana, Inc. www.ikecoalition.org/Lead/index.htm. Also, see Benchbook on Lead
Paint Poisoning for the Circuit Court of Cook County Municipal Division Housing Court, published by the Civitas
ChildLaw Center, Loyola University Chicago School of Law.
www.luc.edu/law/academics/special/center/child/special_programs.html or
www.luc.edu/law/academics/special/pdfs/leadpaint_benchbook.pdf.
CDC and the lead poisoning prevention community encourage projects to compile and disseminate information
about state and local laws, as a means to promote lead safety. See CDC, Building Blocks for Primary Prevention:
Protecting Children from Lead-Based Paint Hazards (Oct. 2005), at 125.
www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/publications/pub_Reas.htm or
www.afhh.org/buildingblocks/BB%20Intro%20Level%20One.asp.
cetera), no single bench book on LBP enforcement would be accurate or relevant for every jurisdiction.
Therefore, this Guidebook is designed to help non-lawyer “lead professionals,” advocates, and others
create state and local LBP enforcement bench books (Bench Books) for their own jurisdictions. Lead
professionals include staff in childhood lead poisoning prevention programs (CLPPPs), health educators,
inspectors, and other health department personnel.
2. The Contents of Your Bench Book
The Bench Book that you create will consist of two components:
 Part One will provide a “Problem Statement,” which is a discussion of the problem of lead poisoning
from the national, state, and local perspectives; and
 Part Two will provide copies of each relevant state and “local” (e.g., city, county32) law in your
The laws in Part Two of your Bench Book should include all:
 “LBP laws,” meaning any law that explicitly addresses LBP and/or LBP hazards33; and
 “Housing laws,” meaning any law that addresses housing conditions or maintenance, such as a
housing code, health code, or nuisance law.34
These are the laws that state and local courts have authority to enforce. State and local courts do not
enforce federal LBP laws; however, they have jurisdiction over state and local laws that administer EPAauthorized LBP programs,35 incorporate federal LBP requirements into their own state/local code,36 or
otherwise address LBP and housing.37 See Fig. 2: Authority to Enforce Federal LBP Statutes and
See the generic terms in section I.D.4, below.
States and Tribes, but not local governments, may enact laws to administer and enforce EPA-authorized programs
under TSCA’s Pre-renovation Education Rule; Renovation, Repair, and Painting Rule; and Lead-based Paint
Activities Rule. 40 C.F.R. Part 745 Subparts E, L and Q. These programs need not be identical to EPA’s program,
but must be at least as protective and provide for adequate enforcement. So far, EPA has authorized 44 such
programs. See www.epa./gov/lead/pubs/authstatus.pdf or www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/traincert.htm.
A state or local government may “adopt” federal LBP requirements by enacting legislation to “incorporate by
reference” a federal regulation. No federal approval is needed. Also, state and local governments may incorporate
“uniform” or model laws, such as the International Property Maintenance Code or Uniform Residential Landlord
and Tenant Act. See section III.D, below, State and Local Laws for Your Bench Book – Housing Laws.
A State or local government may enact its own LBP (and other) laws, which may or may not complement the
federal LBP regulatory scheme. For example, state and local governments cannot enforce the federal Disclosure
Rule. They, however, can enact their own disclosure laws, which would be enforceable by state and local courts.
Furthermore, state and local disclosure laws may impose more and/or different requirements and sanctions than in
Fig. 2: Authority to Enforce Federal LBP Statutes and Regulations
X EPA or HUD
TSCA LBP Rules:
X EPA only
RCRA § 7003 Imminent Hazard Authority
X HUD only
*Requires EPA-authorized program.
Blank space means no authority.
3. How to Use this Guidebook to Create Your Bench Book
Subsequent chapters of this Guidebook provide background information, advice, and specific “Action
Items” to guide you in developing your Bench Book.
 Chapter II tells how to create the Problem Statement using available information;
 Chapter III discusses how to find and compile the laws for your state and locality; and
 Chapter IV suggests ways to maximize the effectiveness of your Bench Book.
 A summary of the Action Items (Appendix 1);
 Sample Problem Statements (Appendix 2);
 Information to help non-lawyers locate and understand the law (Appendices 3 and 4); and
 Enforcement interview questions (Appendix 5) to help focus conversations you may have with local
judges and enforcement personnel about LBP enforcement in your community.
4. Terms in this Guidebook
The nomenclature used in state and local laws varies widely. Also, the meaning of terms in state and local
laws may or may not be the same as under federal law. Therefore, this Guidebook uses generic terms,
below. Translate these generic terms to the nomenclature used in your state and local laws.
Child-occupied property means a place that young children frequent, such as childcare centers and
preschools. It includes, but is not necessarily limited to, “child-occupied facilities” within the meaning of
federal LBP law.38
Housing law means any state or local law that applies to housing conditions or maintenance, such as a
housing code, property maintenance code, health or sanitation code, building law, nuisance law, et cetera.
(Section III.D, below, suggests a dozen such types of law.)
LBP hazard means any housing hazard associated with LBP, such as deteriorated paint (chipping,
peeling, flaking, et cetera), lead-contaminated dust, and lead-contaminated soil. This term is not
necessarily limited to hazards as defined by the federal lead hazard standard.39
LBP law means any state or local law that explicitly addresses LBP and/or LBP hazards, including but not
limited to laws that govern abatement and other activities subject to federal regulation.40
Local and locality refer to jurisdictions such as counties, cities, and towns.
Local law refers to laws enacted by a county, city, or town government; or by a regional authority, such as
a regional health district.
Risk reduction means any type of work or project to control, minimize, or eliminate risks from LBP or
LBP hazards, including activities which may be called “abatement,” “hazard reduction,” or “interim
controls”; or the “correction,” “removal,” or “remediation” of a housing violation.
Under federal LBP regulations, for a property to be a “child-occupied facility,” a child must be present two days a
week for at least three hours each day, and for at least six hours a week and 60 hours a year. See 40 C.F.R. § 745.83,
§ 745.223.
40 C.F.R. Part 745, Subpart D.
EPA’s LBP Activities Rule regulates LBP abatements, risk assessments, inspections, and related activities. 40
C.F.R. Part 745, Subpart L.
Fig. 3: Commonly Used Acronyms
Elevated blood-lead level
(a.k.a. Title X of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992)
(a.k.a. Residential Lead-based Paint Hazard Reduction Act of 1992)
The purpose of the Problem Statement in your Bench Book;
What information to include in the Problem Statement; and
Complete the Action Items in this chapter to produce Part One of your Bench Book: the “Problem
Statement.” The Problem Statement should be objective and based on information from reliable sources.
The primary purpose of the Problem Statement is to educate judges about lead poisoning from a national,
state, and local perspective. Include information about the effects of lead poisoning, its link to LBP
hazards, and the relation between risk reduction work and lead poisoning prevention. CDC is a premiere
resource for such information. EPA also has extensive, authoritative information.
A second purpose of the Problem Statement is to sensitize judges (and others) to the importance of
enforcing LBP cases. Therefore, do more than recite statistics. Include information of interest to a court,
such as the link between lead poisoning and juvenile delinquency and criminal behavior. Furthermore,
 Prompt enforcement to compel risk reduction work avoids the “irreparable harm” of lead poisoning
caused by exposure to LBP hazards.
 Affordable and low-cost risk reduction projects exist, so that compelling performance of risk
reduction work does not necessarily impose an onerous burden on a property owner.
 LPB hazards cause lead poisoning, not “poor housekeeping” or “negligent” parenting.
B. National Problem Statement
A wealth of information about lead poisoning and LBP is available on the internet. For your convenience,
Appendix 2 provides three alternative national problem statements (each progressively more detailed),
along with the internet address for each:
 CDC’s basic explanation of the problem;
 EPA’s more detailed statement; and
 The Overview of Lead Paint and Children’s Health from the Indiana LBP bench book.41
Use the version that you prefer for your Bench Book.
Lead-based Paint: The Law in Indiana, supra note 30.
Select the national Problem Statement from among the alternatives in Appendix 2, National
Problem Statements. Either photocopy the version in the Appendix, or download the
original from the Internet.
Insert this Problem Statement into your Bench Book.
C. State and Local Problem Statement
Create a state and local Problem Statement, using available resources from your CLPPP, local media,
state/local agency’s internet sites, et cetera. Include information about the following:
 Lead poisoning in the community, such as incidence rates, the population affected, and geographical
distribution of the population;
 The housing stock in the community, such as the age and condition of housing, the percent of rental
housing, and the rate and geographical distribution of housing code violations; and
 Local “case studies,” such as stories about lead-poisoned children and successful interventions.
Compile the state and local Problem Statement for your community, using information available
from your CLPPP and other local resources.
3. State and Local Laws for Your Bench
Which laws to include in your Bench Book;
How to find them; and
How to analyze and compile them.
Complete the Action Items in this chapter to produce Part Two of your Bench Book: a compilation of the
laws in your state and locality that can be used to obtain LBP risk reduction work.
The purpose of this part of your book is to present the array of available legal authorities. Those
authorities include any laws that pertain specifically to LBP or LBP hazards and any housing laws that
apply to property maintenance, deteriorated paint, building hazards, and other deleterious conditions.
Since each law applies only to a particular situation, you need to include all of the relevant laws in your
book. Also, remember that more than one governmental entity may have enforcement authority for
housing matters, such as a health department, housing code enforcement agency, fire marshal, building
commissioner, et cetera.
Noteworthy aspects of a law may be overlooked if seldom enforced. Therefore, review each law that you
place in your Bench Book. The information in sections C and D below is designed to help you spot
important aspects of both LBP and housing laws.
B. Finding the Law
1. Which Version of the Law to Use
Be certain to include only the current, official version of each law in your Bench Book. Unofficial
versions may have been “superseded” (replaced), and may omit or misstate words, punctuation, and other
important elements. Caution: Providing an outdated or inaccurate version of the law will undermine the
judge’s confidence in the reliability of your information as a whole.
An authoritative source will state whether the law posted on its internet site is an official version, and
when that version was last updated. Proprietary legal services such as Lexis/Nexis® (www.lexis.com) and
Westlaw®42 (www.westlaw.com) are quite reliable, although they generally charge fees for use. The
official internet site of a state, county or local government may or may not provide the official version of
the jurisdiction’s law.
No endorsement of any database or service is intended or implied.
State laws usually are available via a state government’s official internet site. The statutory code may be
posted on the state legislature’s home page. The administrative (regulatory) code also may be on this
page, or on the home page of the state’s Attorney General. Some states also have a legislative legal library
reference service. Law schools and universities in the state also may post the state’s statutes and
regulations on their respective Internet home pages. Use Google® (www.google.com), Yahoo®
(www.yahoo.com), or another search engine to find these sites. Proprietary services also provide
extensive state law resources.
Some non-governmental organizations also provide information about state laws. For example, several
states have enacted comprehensive property maintenance codes, and the National Healthy Homes
Training Network posts some of these laws: www.healthyhomestraining.org/Codes. In addition, the
National Conference of State Legislatures provides a national database of state lead laws:
www.ncsl.org/programs/environ/envHealth/LEADDES.htm or
www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/Legislation%20&%20Policy/Legislation.htm.
Local laws tend to be more difficult to locate, since they are less likely to be posted online. Therefore, you
may need to obtain hard paper copies of the law, and work to keep abreast of enactments that amend (or
repeal) a law. Also, local laws may not be organized into a code, which means that you may have to look
at several ordinances to find all of the relevant provisions. Nonetheless, a few no-cost online databases
specialize in county and municipal codes: www.generalcode.com/, http://gcp.esub.net/,
http://municipalcodes.lexisnexis.com/, and www.municode.com.43
If your local ordinances are not available online, then you may need to obtain copies from the local
prosecutor, clerk of the court, or the librarian of the local law school, university, or public library.
Alternatively, the office of the city or county attorney should be able to provide or direct you to a source
for official copies of the law. Also, you could contact the legal counsel or enforcement manager for each
agency responsible for enforcing LBP and housing laws.
Locating and interpreting case law (court opinions) is a fairly sophisticated task. If a court ruling has
impacted the interpretation or effect of a state statute or regulation, then the case probably will be
identified on an “annotated” version of the state code, usually at the end of the affected section of the law.
An “annotated” version of a law sets forth both the law, and reference information such as historical notes
and citations to significant cases.
Annotated versions usually are not available for local codes. Therefore, once you have located the text of
the law, you should ask the local prosecutor and each enforcement agency whether any judicial rulings
have affected the laws they enforce.
Caveat: be certain to confirm that no-fee (non-proprietary) databases have the most recent version of the law.
Action Item #3 (Recommended)
See Appendix 3, Tips on Understanding the Law, for general background information.
C. Lead-based Paint Laws
Many states and localities have laws that explicitly govern LBP and/or LBP hazards. Approximately 40
states have laws that implement EPA-authorized LBP programs for pre-renovation education; and LBP
abatements, risk assessments, and inspections.44 Your state’s LBP law, if one exists, may govern activities
beyond those regulated by federal law.
1. Advantages and Limitations of Lead-based Paint Laws
Typically, LBP laws address the common pathways for lead exposure (dust, paint, and soil), and require
risk reduction work under certain circumstances. Probably no jurisdiction has the full complement of laws
needed to prevent lead poisoning and address LBP hazards.45 An “ideal” LBP law would require
permanent elimination of all LBP using lead-safe work practices; however, such a law is viewed as
impracticable, since the cost of such work would exceed the value of many lead-contaminated properties.
LBP laws (like laws in general) tend to be narrowly crafted, with prerequisites and “gaps,” so that they
apply under limited circumstances. For instance, your state/local LBP laws may:
 Authorize inspections for LBP hazards after a child has been poisoned (a prerequisite);
 Require disclosure of known LBP hazards, but not mandate proactive inspections to detect such
hazards (gap); or
 Authorize complaint-based inspections, but not protect tenants against landlord retaliation (gap).
Be aware of such omissions, and determine whether they are addressed by any state or local housing laws.
2. State and Local Disclosure Laws
Disclosure of information about actual or potential hazards is an important tool in the effort to eliminate
lead poisoning. Therefore, add to your Bench Book any state and local laws that require disclosure
concerning LBP, LBP hazards, and/or non-LBP conditions such as housing code violations.
The federal Disclosure Rule requires that a landlord disclose information about LBP and LBP hazards to a
tenant before the tenant is obligated under a contact to lease pre-1978 housing.46 State and local
governments cannot enforce (or waive) the federal Disclosure Rule. Several jurisdictions have enacted
their own disclosure laws, or incorporated the federal rule by reference into their state or local code.
State/local disclosure requirements may be broader than those in the federal rule, and the sanctions for
See discussion in Section I.C.1 and note 35, supra. See also Federal Lead-Based Paint Enforcement Bench Book.
www.nchh.org.
San Diego, California’s LBP law, however, is noteworthy: Lead Hazard Prevention and Control Ordinance
(Chapter 5, Article 4, Division 10). www.sandiego.gov/directories/government.shtml.
24 C.F.R. Part 35, Subpart A; 40 C.F.R. Part 745, Subpart F. The rule also requires sellers of pre-1978 housing to
make comparable disclosures to prospective purchasers. For a detailed discussion of the Disclosure Rule, see the
Federal Lead-Based Paint Enforcement Bench Book. www.nchh.org.
violation may be more stringent. State and local courts have authority to enforce the disclosure laws of
their respective jurisdictions. Be certain to include these laws, if any, in your Bench Book.
Read closely. Laws are fairly straightforward, but should be read carefully. Each word matters.
 “Shall” and “may” are not interchangeable. “Shall” and “must” are commands (obligations)
-- whereas “may” or “can” are permissive (they indicate an authority to act, but not an
obligation to act).
 Qualifying terms, such as “if,” “but,” and “provided that,” create prerequisites, exceptions,
See Appendix 3, Tips on Understanding the Law.
3. Noteworthy Provisions in Lead-based Paint Laws
When reviewing your state and local LBP laws, pay attention to any prerequisites and gaps. Also, be
aware of other important aspects and limitations, such as:
The types of property subject to (or excluded from) the law, such as whether the law covers only
housing, or also child-occupied properties;
The types of lead-containing substances covered by the law (e.g., paint only, or also other surface
coatings such as plaster);
The types of lead hazards covered by the law (e.g., paint, soil, and/or dust; or other housing
components containing lead, such as glazed tile);
Any property maintenance requirements;
Any requirements that an owner identify, disclose, prevent, and/or eliminate LBP hazards;
Any recordkeeping requirements imposed upon an owner;
The circumstances under which the enforcement agency may (or must) conduct inspections;
Whether the agency may (or must) order risk reduction work, and under what circumstances;
Any performance standards for risk reduction work;
Whether the agency may (or must) perform risk reduction work itself if the owner (or other
responsible person) fails to do so; and
Any protection for tenants, such as anti-retaliation provisions or the right to relocate during certain
risk reduction work.
Locate any state and local LBP laws applicable in your jurisdiction. Use the information in
section B, Finding the Law, above (or in Appendix 4, How to Find State and Local Laws) to
Review each law, paying special attention to noteworthy provisions.
Insert a copy of the official version of each law into your Bench Book.
D. Housing Laws
1. The Variety of Laws to Address Lead-based Paint Hazards
A jurisdiction may have several laws that are not LBP-specific, but which pertain to housing and cover
deteriorated paint, LBP, or other housing-related hazards. Include each relevant housing law in your
Bench Book, because each presents an enforcement alternative.
Housing laws vary by name, but generally include:
 Housing Codes;
 Property Maintenance Codes, which might be your jurisdiction’s version of the International Property
Maintenance Code (IPMC) if adopted;47
 Building Codes, which typically pertain to new construction, but also may include safety standards
for all buildings and structures (Also look at the International Existing Building Code, which applies
to renovations of existing buildings, if adopted by your jurisdiction);
 Health or Sanitary/Sanitation Codes;
 Nuisance codes or provisions;
 Provisions in any codes or the local charter (constitution) which discuss buildings that are “unsafe,”
“unfit,” “uninhabitable,” “substandard,” “dangerous,” or otherwise problematic or hazardous to
human health or safety (Do not overlook the fire code);
 Rental property laws, which may impose maintenance requirements, as well as establish conditions
for lawful rental, such as:
- Landlord-tenant statutes;
- Your jurisdiction’s adoption of the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (URLTA)48;
- Rental Registry laws; and
- Rental Housing Quality laws.
2. Approaches to Locating Multiple Housing Laws
The relevant laws in your jurisdiction may be:
 Located within a single code, such as a chapter of the housing code;
 Scattered across several codes, such as multiple provisions in the housing, health, and fire codes;
 A single paragraph in the local charter, such as a declaration of the building commissioner’s powers,
including authority to order removal of a hazard.
There are several ways to simplify the task of searching multiple bodies of law. If your jurisdiction’s laws
are available online, then search for general terms, such as “paint,” “deteriorated,” “walls,” “hazard,”
The current (2007) version IPMC does not explicitly address LBP hazards. It addresses deteriorated (peeling,
flaking, chipping) paint. Adopting jurisdictions, however, may have added their own LBP provisions.
URLTA requires that landlords comply with health and safety codes and keep premises in a fit and habitable
condition. www.law.upenn.edu/bll/archives/ulc/fnact99/1970s/urlta72.htm or
www.law.upenn.edu/bll/archives/ulc/ulc_final.htm#final Twenty-one (21) states have adopted URLTA. See
www.nccusl.org/Update/uniformact_factsheets/uniformacts-fs-urlta.asp.
“nuisance,” “unfit,” or “rodent.”49 Such a search should retrieve all of the relevant provisions, and the
codes within which each such provision is located. Alternatively, ask each state and local enforcement
agency responsible for property and health matters to identify the laws they enforce – and then obtain and
review copies of each of those laws.
3. Advantages and Limitations of Housing Laws
Three types of provisions in housing laws apply, or can reasonably be construed to apply, to LBP hazards.
 First, many codes have provisions that apply explicitly to paint (not necessarily limited to LBP), such
as prohibitions against deteriorated paint, or against sandblasting and other abrasive paint removal
 Second, some laws impose maintenance obligations to prevent or address paint deterioration, such as
requirements to repaint periodically, or avoid moisture and leaks.
 Third, many laws contain “generic” provisions. These may vary in specificity, but often can
reasonably be interpreted to cover LBP and LBP hazards. For example:
- Some laws impose broad requirements (e.g., to keep property “in good repair”), and define
those requirements in a manner that covers deteriorated paint (e.g., “good repair” means “free
from breaks, loose plaster and similar conditions”).
- Also, most of the larger jurisdictions have laws which prohibit conditions that are a “hazard”
or “danger” to the health, safety, or welfare of occupants; or that render a building “unfit” or
Such generic requirements have the advantage of covering a variety of situations; however, they may
be difficult to enforce due to vagueness. Therefore, include in your Bench Book examples of any
cases in which a court has applied a generic requirement to a LBP hazard. The local prosecutor
should be able to provide such examples.
Obviously, housing laws are imperfect tools for addressing LBP hazards. For example, they tend not to
cover lead-dust and lead-soil hazards. Also, the physical conditions which constitute a violation of a
generic requirement tend to be ambiguous; enforcing those requirements may be disfavored by very
conservative courts. Despite their shortcomings, however, housing laws of longstanding duration tend to
become integrated into the enforcement “infrastructure” over time. That is:
 Inspectors are experienced in spotting violations;
 Agency forms and databases have been designed to automatically capture violations, so no extra
effort is required to cite and record violations; and
 The enforcement agency and prosecutors have experience successfully enforcing violations.
Such practical considerations may make it easier to overcome bureaucratic “inertia” that is sometimes an
obstacle to obtaining enforcement.50
The search term “rodent” usually retrieves any housing and property maintenance codes, but also may retrieve
food service and commercial pest control provisions. You can ignore any search results that you do not need.
For information and strategies on how to use code enforcement to prevent lead poisoning, see two publications by
the Alliance for Healthy Housing: Preventing Childhood Lead Poisoning through Code Enforcement: Ten Effective
Strategies (Apr. 2000), www.afhh.org/res/res_Operation_LEAP_toolkit.htm or
www.afhh.org/res/res_publications.htm#effcodeenfhh, and Effective Practices for Enforcing Codes to Ensure
Decent Housing Condition (updated Aug. 2006). www.afhh.org/res/res_publications.htm#effcodeenfhh.
4. Noteworthy Provisions in Housing Laws
When reviewing a housing law, pay special attention to:
 Whether the law covers any omissions in the state and local LBP laws; and
 Whether the agency’s enforcement authority applies also to violations of the LBP law. For example, a
LBP violation may be enforceable under only the LBP law; under the housing law; or under both,
which may provide greater leverage in an enforcement action for multiple counts and higher
Also, note other important aspects and limitations of the law, such as:
 The types of property subject to the law (e.g., housing, or only rental housing);
 The persons subject to the law (owners, property management firms, et cetera);
 Any property maintenance requirements;
 What property conditions the law prohibits or regulates;
 What lead-containing substances, paint conditions, or paint-related activities the law regulates;
 What an owner is required to do to correct a violation, and what triggers the obligation to do so;
 Under what circumstances the enforcement agency may (or must) conduct inspections;
 Under what circumstances the enforcement agency may (or must) order risk reduction work;
 Whether the agency may (or must) perform risk reduction work itself if the responsible person fails to
 Whether there is authority for the appointment of a receiver who ensures that proper action is taken
regarding the property;
 Whether the law requires disclosure of violations or other information to tenants; and
 Whether the law protects tenants from retaliation.
Locate any state and local housing laws applicable in your jurisdiction. Use the information in
E. Compiling the Law for Your Bench Book
1. What Provisions of Each Law to Include
To properly interpret and apply the law, a judge needs to know the context within which the law operates.
Both the statute and regulation inform a judge’s view regarding what the law means and how to apply it.
Therefore, include both the statute and the rules that implement the statute in your Bench Book. Also,
include the following provisions from each:
 The “operative” provisions – meaning what the law prohibits; or what it requires to be done, by
whom, when, and how. The language may be broad (e.g., “keep property in safe condition”), or quite
specific (e.g., “repaint a rental dwelling every three years with a paint that does not contain lead”).
 The “scope” of the law, often described in an “Intent” or “General” section. The scope explains the
matters (persons, activities, conditions, et cetera) to which the law applies. A matter must be within
the scope of a law to be subject to its requirements and prohibitions. For example, a property
maintenance code may apply only to rental properties of a certain size, or only to residences but not to
child-occupied properties.
The Definitions section. Whether and how a term is defined determines the scope of the law and the
reach of its operative provisions. For instance, if a law empowers an agency to order risk reduction
work to remove a “lead hazard” but that term is not defined to include soil, then the agency probably
cannot use this particular law to compel removal of a lead-soil hazard. Also, if a “person” must
correct a violation and that term is limited to the “owner” of a property, then it may be difficult to get
a property management firm to correct a violation and require locating the owner.
The enforcement provisions, which set forth what the responsible agency must (or merely “may”) do
to monitor compliance and enforce violations, and when and how such agency action is to occur. For
example, the law might state that the agency must (“shall”) inspect a property in response to a
complaint, versus that the agency has authority to (“may”) inspect. Likewise, a law may empower
(permit), rather than require, an agency to perform risk reduction work if an owner fails to do so in a
A statute is a legislative enactment. Generally, it establishes the broad framework of the law,
such as its requirements, the agency’s authority, and maximum penalties.
An agency issues regulations (rules) to implement a statute. The regulations provide specific
information about what is prohibited – or what is required, by whom, when, and how.
2. When to Include an Entire Code
For LBP laws, include the entire statute and regulations, since LBP codes tend to include all of the
necessary provisions without any superfluous ones. For housing codes, however, include only the
pertinent unit (chapter, subchapter, division, part, et cetera) of the code. For instance, omit unrelated units
of the housing code, such as those that cover electrical and mechanical matters.
Avoid including in Part Two of your Bench Book any writings that talk about the law, but are not actually
part of the law itself. These include fact sheets, summaries, descriptions, analyses, and commentary on
the law (unless published by a recognized scholarly legal authority51). Agency enforcement policies also
are not law but, because courts give deference to certain written agency policies, you may want to include
these in your Bench Book.
Law school journals and legal treatises (such as American Jurisprudence) are scholarly legal publications that
summarize, analyze, and/or critique the law. They are not law themselves. The publications usually focus on federal
or state, but not local, laws. You should not need to use such publications, since the purpose of your Bench Book is
to present (not comment on) the law. They, however, may provide you useful background information and citations
to case law. Law journals and treatises are available on the proprietary database services and in libraries. Law
journals also may be available on the Internet page of the law schools which publish them. Material published by
law firms, regulated businesses, and trade organizations are not scholarly legal authority.
Review the laws in your Bench Book to confirm that all relevant provisions are included.
Supplement the book as necessary.
4. Maximize the Effectiveness of Your Bench
How to organize and distribute your Bench Book; and
How to use your Bench Book to promote vigorous enforcement.
A. Organize Your Bench Book to be a Handy Reference
When you’ve gathered all of the content for your Bench Book (the Problem Statement and laws), then
organize the book so that it’s easy and convenient to use. Compile the information in a three-ring binder
or other durable cover, and provide the following:
 A cover page;
 A detailed table of contents;
 A list of each of the laws included in the book, using the official title of each; and
 Your contact information.
Also, provide any other helpful information, such as contact details for the legal counsel of your agency
Also, consider organizing copies of the law by category,52 based upon the regulated activity or the
“trigger” that makes the law applicable. For example, you could use the following categories:
 Disclosure requirements;
 Property maintenance standards;
 Right of entry (for agency inspections);
 Agency authority to compel risk reduction work;
 Work practice standards; and
 Agency enforcement options and mechanisms.53
B. Distribute Your Bench Book Widely
Give a hard copy of your Bench Book to each judge who may preside over LBP cases. Also, distribute
copies to these professionals and organizations:
 The local prosecutor;
 Enforcement personnel and inspectors in the housing and health departments;
 Librarians in the court, prosecutor’s office, and enforcement agency; and
 The public library, for its reference collection.
Also, provide a copy on your organization’s internet site (a PDF version recommended).
If you organize select provisions of the law into categories, be certain to also include a complete version of the
law as it appears in the official source.
For more information and suggestions see Lead-Safe Housing Policy Guidance Series - Legal Authorities,
published by the Alliance for Healthy Housing. www.afhh.org/res/res_publications_LSHPGS.htm.
C. Use Your Bench Book
Use your Bench Book in your organization’s outreach and education programs. Also, rather than just
sending your Bench Book to local judges and prosecutors, take the opportunity to engage with them in a
conversation about lead poisoning and the importance of enforcement. Use the information in the
Problem Statement to help you. Also, find out when and why enforcement tends to stall or break down,
and what might be done to avoid these problems.
Action Item #7 (Recommended)
Use the Enforcement Interview Questions in Appendix 5 to help focus conversations you may
have with judges, prosecutors, and agency enforcement personnel.
D. Keep Your Bench Book Current
Provide updates to your Bench Book for each recipient whenever the following situations occur:
 The law changes;
 There is new information for the Problem Statement; or
 You have new contact information.
Guidebook Action Items
Action Items #1
Select the national Problem Statement from among the alternatives in Appendix 2, National Problem
Statements. Either photocopy the version in the Appendix, or download the original from the Internet.
Action Items #2
Action Items #4
Locate any state and local LBP laws applicable in your jurisdiction. To help you, use the information
in section B of the Guidebook, Finding the Law; or in Appendix 4, How to Find State and Local
Action Items #5
Locate any state and local housing laws applicable in your jurisdiction. To help you, use the
information in section B of the Guidebook, Finding the Law; or in Appendix 4, How to Find State
Review the laws in your Bench Book to confirm that all relevant provisions are included. Supplement
the book as necessary.
Use the Enforcement Interview Questions in Appendix 5 to help focus conversations you may have
with judges, prosecutors, and agency enforcement personnel.
National Problem Statements
Three alternative statements are provided. Select the one your prefer for your
Bench Book.
First is CDC’s basic statement, from www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/faq/about.htm.
Second is EPA’s problem statement, excerpted from www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/leadinfo.htm#facts.
Third, is Overview of Lead Paint and Children’s Health, reprinted from Lead-Based Paint: The Law
in Indiana. http://www.ikecoalition.org/Lead/index.htm.
U.S. CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION1
Approximately 310,000 U.S. children aged 1-5 years have blood lead levels greater than 10 micrograms
of lead per deciliter of blood, the level at which CDC recommends public health actions be initiated.
Lead poisoning can affect nearly every system in the body. Because lead poisoning often occurs with no
obvious symptoms, it frequently goes unrecognized. Lead poisoning can cause learning disabilities,
behavioral problems, and, at very high levels, seizures, coma, and even death.
The major source of lead exposure among U.S. children is lead-based paint and lead-contaminated dust
found in deteriorating buildings. Lead-based paints were banned for use in housing in 1978. However,
approximately 24 million housing units in the United States have deteriorated leaded paint and elevated
levels of lead-contaminated house dust. More than 4 million of these dwellings are homes to one or more
hobbies (making stained-glass windows).
work (recycling or making automobile batteries).
drinking water (lead pipes, solder, brass fixtures, valves can all leach lead).
home health remedies (azarcon and greta, which are used for upset stomach or indigestion; pay-looah, which is used for rash or fever).
Children under the age of 6 years because they are growing so rapidly and because they tend to put
their hands or other objects into their mouths.
Children from all social and economic levels can be affected by lead poisoning, although children
living at or below the poverty line who live in older housing are at greatest risk.
Children of some racial and ethnic groups and those living in older housing are disproportionately
affected by lead. For example, 3% of black children compared to 1.3% of white children have
Lead poisoning is entirely preventable. The key is stopping children from coming into contact with lead
and treating children who have been poisoned by lead.
 Lead hazards in a child’s environment must be removed.
 Public and health care professionals need to be educated about lead poisoning and how to prevent it
 Children who are at risk of lead poisoning need to be tested, and, if necessary, treated.
From www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead.
Talk to your state or local health department about testing paint and dust from your home for lead if
you live in a house or apartment built before 1978, especially if young children live with you or visit
Damp-mop floors, damp-wipe surfaces, and frequently wash a child’s hands, pacifiers, and toys to
reduce exposure to lead.
Use only cold water from the tap for drinking, cooking, and for making baby formula. Hot water is
more likely to contain higher levels of lead, and most of the lead in household water usually comes
from the plumbing in your house, not from the local water supply.
Avoid using home remedies (such as azarcon, greta, pay-loo-ah) and cosmetics (such as kohl, alkohl)
Take basic steps to decrease your exposure to lead (for example, by showering and changing clothes
after finishing the task) if you remodel buildings built before 1978 or if your work or hobbies involve
working with lead-based products.
What is CDC’s Role in preventing lead poisoning?
CDC provides technical and financial assistance to state and local childhood lead poisoning
prevention programs. These programs are working to ensure that screening, lead-hazard reduction,
new legislation, and other prevention mechanisms occur throughout the country.
CDC has established a national system to identify children with elevated blood lead levels.
CDC provides guidance for the proper care of children after they are identified as having elevated
CDC provides national guidance and policy for the prevention of childhood lead poisoning. CDC will
continue to work with state and local areas to improve capacity and provide guidance.
FACT: You can get lead in your body by breathing or swallowing lead dust, or by eating soil or paint
FACT: You have many options for reducing lead hazards. In most cases, lead-based paint that is in good
If you think your home might have lead hazards, read on to learn about lead and some simple
steps to protect your family.
Childhood lead poisoning remains a major environmental health problem in
 Put their hands or other objects covered with lead dust in their mouths.
 Eat paint chips or soil that contains lead.
 Breathe in lead dust, especially during renovations that disturb painted surfaces.
 Children's growing bodies absorb more lead.
 Children's brains and nervous systems are more sensitive to the damaging effects of lead.
 Reproductive problems (in both men and women)
 High blood pressure and hypertension
From www.epa.gov/lead.
 Paint. Many homes built before 1978 have lead-based paint. The federal government banned leadbased paint from housing in 1978. Some states stopped its use even earlier. Lead can be found:
 In soil around a home. Soil can pick up lead from exterior paint, or other sources such as past use of
leaded gas in cars, and children playing in yards can ingest or inhale lead dust.
 Household dust. Dust can pick up lead from deteriorating lead-based paint or from soil tracked into a
 Drinking water. Your home might have plumbing with lead or lead solder. Call your local health
department or water supplier to find out about testing your water. You cannot see, smell or taste lead,
and boiling your water will not get rid of lead. If you think your plumbing might have lead in it:
- Run water for 15 to 30 seconds before drinking it, especially if you have not used your water for a
1. The job. If you work with lead, you could bring it home on your hands or clothes. Shower and change
clothes before coming home. Launder your work clothes separately from the rest of your family's
2. Old painted toys and furniture.
3. Food and liquids stored in lead crystal or lead-glazed pottery or porcelain. Food can become
contaminated because lead can leach in from these containers.
4. Lead smelters or other industries that release lead into the air.
5. Hobbies that use lead, such as making pottery or stained glass, or refinishing furniture.
6. Folk remedies that contain lead, such as "greta" and "azarcon" used to treat an upset stomach.
Lead from paint chips, which you can see, and lead dust, which you can't always see, can be serious
 Peeling, chipping, chalking, or cracking lead-based paint is a hazard and needs immediate attention.
 Lead-based paint may also be a hazard when found on surfaces that children can chew or that get a lot
of wear-and-tear. These areas include:
Lead dust can form when lead-based paint is dry scraped, dry sanded, or heated. Dust also forms
when painted surfaces bump or rub together. Lead chips and dust can get on surfaces and objects that
people touch. Settled lead dust can re-enter the air when people vacuum, sweep or walk through it.
Lead in soil can be a hazard when children play in bare soil or when people bring soil into the house
on their shoes. Contact the National Lead Information Center (NLIC) to find out about testing soil for
OVERVIEW OF LEAD PAINT AND CHILDREN’S HEALTH1,2
It can often be extremely difficult to make the connection between exposure to a particular pollutant, or
combination of pollutants, and human disease or injury. Not so with lead. The physical effects of lead in
the body are very well understood and documented. The effects on young children can be devastating,
leading to permanent loss of IQ, developmental challenges, and the potential for violent tendencies that
can affect them throughout their lives.3,4,5,6
Lead is a heavy, malleable metal that people have used in a variety of ways for centuries. It is very dense,
soft and workable, resists corrosion, and has a low melting point. Early industrial uses included
plumbing,7 kitchen implements, coins, printer’s type, crystal and ceramics. Lead can still be found in a
variety of products such as certain cosmetics, spices, candy and candy wrappers, metallic toy trinkets and
toy jewelry, medicines (including vitamins), plastics (as an additive to make the plastic more durable),
glazes and paints on food and beverage containers, solder, plumbing, and certain colored inks or coatings.
The addition of lead to paints, stains and other coatings was seen as beneficial because it made the paint
faster drying, more durable, enhanced the visual effect of pigments, and made the painted surface more
resistant to corrosion.8 Lead-based paint was used widely for residential purposes in the United States
throughout the 20th century until it was banned for that purpose in 1978.9
Past lead control policies have resulted in substantial reductions in childhood lead poisoning; however,
hazards still exist and continue to threaten children’s health. Beginning in the late 1970’s and ending in
Reprinted with permission from Lead-Based Paint: The Law in Indiana (April 2006), published by Improving
Kids’ Environment, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana. http://www.ikecoalition.org/Lead/index.htm.
Basic information about lead is widely available from a number of resources. This section draws heavily from
EPA’s training manual for the Lead Inspector Initial Course, Inspecting for Lead-Based Paint Student Manual (May
2000 edition), which is available for purchase through the National Technical Information Service, www.ntis.gov.,
and supplementary training materials developed by the Environmental Management Institute in Indianapolis,
www.envtlmgmt.org.
Needleman H, Gunnoe C, Leviton A. Deficits in psychologic and classroom performance of children with elevated
dentine lead levels. N Engl J Med 1979; 300:689-95.
Needleman H, Schell A, Belling D. The long-term effects of childhood exposure to low doses of lead: an 11 year
follow-up report. N Engl J Med 1990; 322:83-8.
Needleman HL, Riess JA, Tobin MJ, Biesecker GE, Greenhouse JB. Blood lead levels and delinquent behavior.
JAMA. 1996;275:383-69.
Canfield RL, Henderson CR, Cory-Slechta DA, Cox C, Jusko TA, Lanphear BP. Intellectual impairment in
children with blood lead concentrations below 10µg per deciliter. N Engl J Med. 2003; 348:1517-1526.
The Roman plumbing system used lead as a primary material; it is thought that the decline of the Roman Empire
may have been due to widespread lead poisoning among the citizenry.
The famous Golden Gate bridge got its original color from lead-containing red litharge in the paint.
In 1978, the Consumer Product Safety Commission banned the use of paint with more than 0.06% lead in
residential uses. 16 CFR 1303. See http://www.cpsc.gov/ for more information. Lead-based paint is legal, and still
widely used, for non-residential purposes.
the late 1990’s, a significant decline in blood health levels of U.S. children aged 1-5 occurred.10 This
decline is felt to be primarily due to the phase-out of leaded gasoline, and the resulting decrease in lead
emissions. Additional contributors were the elimination of lead in water pipes and tin can solder, and the
ban on the use of lead paint in residential housing. Although these policies reduced the number of lead
poisoned children, lead that is already in the environment continues to poison children today.
Approximately 87% of homes built before 1940; 69% of homes built between 1940 and 1959, and 24% of
homes built between 1960 and 1978 have lead-based paint.11 Lead based paint and lead contaminated
dusts located in these homes harm more than 2/3 of lead poisoned children. Across the country, the
United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) estimates that approximately 38 million houses
contain deteriorated leaded paint or elevated levels of lead contaminated dusts (40% of all housing
units).12 These numbers illustrate the present threat lead poses to children’s health despite a past decline in
Lead can enter the body through the skin, through ingestion (from water, food, lead dust from
contaminated soil or paint debris), or through inhalation (of lead dust). Ingestion is the most common
route of exposure in young children. Lead does not break down or change into something else in the body.
What is not eliminated will damage body systems, especially the central nervous system. Lead is also
absorbed into soft tissue and bone, where it takes the place of calcium and can remain there for many
years.13 Since there are often no symptoms of lead poisoning, a blood test is the only way to detect it.
Low-income, minority children living in urban environments are at greatest risk of elevated blood lead
levels because they are more likely to be exposed to lead contaminated dust from deteriorated lead-based
paint in substandard housing.
Toddlers are most at risk of lead poisoning. Toddlers can more readily ingest lead-based paint dust, chips
and debris and lead-contaminated soil because as part of their normal development they spend much of
their time on the floor, where dust accumulates, and they put everything in their mouths. Also, their blood
brain barrier is not yet fully formed, so lead can easily cross over from the blood into the brain where it
can cause irreversible damage. Blood lead levels will drop quickly once the child is removed from the
source of exposure. Waiting until the child is exposed is an ineffective and dangerous strategy, however,
since by that time irreversible damage may have already been done.
The health effects of lead poisoning in young children are very well documented.14 Recent research is
finding adverse effects at increasingly lower blood lead levels. According to the CDC, there is no safe
level of exposure.15 The health effects include lowered IQ, poor hearing, speech, language and
Schwemberger JG, Mosby JE, Doa MJ, US Environmental Protection Agency. Jacobs DE, Ashley PJ, US Dept of
Housing and Urban Development, Brown MJ, Jones RL, Homa D, National Center for environmental Health, CDC.
Blood Lead Levels – United States 1999-2002. MMWR 2005; 54(20):513-16.
71 Fed. Reg. 1588, 1599 (January 10, 2006).
71 Fed. Reg. 1588, 1591 (January 10, 2006).
Nordberg, GF, Mahaffey KR, Fowler BA. Introduction and Summary. International Workshop on Lead in Bone:
Implications for Dosimetry and Toxicology. Environmental Health Perspectives. 1991; 21:3-7.
See, for example, http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp13.html.
See “Preventing Lead Poisoning in Young Children,” CDC, August 2005, p. 1
(http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/Publications/PrevLeadPoisoning.pdf).
coordination problems, learning disabilities, behavioral disorders, hyperactivity, stomach aches and other
problems. At extremely high levels of exposure, lead poisoning can cause seizure, coma, and even death.
Childhood lead poisoning continues to pose a public health problem. The Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention estimates that nationwide approximately 310,000 children aged 1-5 have blood lead levels
greater than 10 micrograms of lead per deciliter, the CDC’s current action level recommendation for
reducing a child’s exposure to lead.16, 17
According to CDC’s National Health and Nutrition Survey (NHANES) data from 1999-2002, 1.6% of all
children under the age of 6 had elevated blood lead levels (i.e., blood lead level ≥ 10µg/dL) compared to
3.1% of black (non-Hispanic) children of the same age.18 This disproportionate threat to children from
different ethnic populations illustrates lead poisoning’s unjust effects, however, all children living in or
playing around old homes are at risk.
A US Healthy People 2010 goal is to eliminate elevated blood lead levels in young children (Objective
No. 8-11).19 Primary prevention is key to this goal. Primary prevention focuses on preventing exposure
prior to a child becoming exposed to lead, rather than treating children after exposure. This emphasis on
primary prevention recommends state and local health departments shift their focus away from secondary
prevention (which is providing follow-up services to children already exposed), and develop regulatory
tools that will further childhood lead poisoning prevention. State and local courts across the country are
now flooded with cases concerning lead inspection and abatement prosecutions, housing violations, and
landlord/ tenant disputes over lead violations. Only when states adopt aggressive primary prevention
programs and strict regulatory structures for safe housing will the threat of childhood lead poisoning
How Does Paint Poison Children?
Well maintained paint poses only a minimal risk to children. Unfortunately, much of the older housing
stock in the United States is not well maintained, especially rental housing, and keeping it clean and free
of lead dust is a challenge.
Paint becomes damaged and deteriorates with age or when it becomes water-damaged. Chipping, peeling,
or otherwise deteriorating paint creates lead-contaminated dust that is the real threat to children. Leadcontaminated dust and soil are also tracked inside from outside the home. Dust is commonly found in
areas of high friction or impact, for example window sills and sashes, staircases, around door frames, and
where paint has deteriorated.20 Hand-to-mouth activity on the floor is the way most young children are
exposed to lead. Chips and dust on window sills and in window troughs are another route of exposure,
and are also a good indicator of whether the floor is dusty.
10 µg/dL is the equivalent of 1 ounce in a swimming pool 6 feet deep, 20 feet wide, and 85 feet long.
18 CDC, MMWR 54(20): 513-516 (May 27, 2005).
See www.healthypeople.gov/document/html/objectives/08-11.htm.
Lead-based paint was more likely to be used in areas of high friction and impact, because of its durability.
Burning, scraping or sanding paint also generates tremendous amounts of dust, so an innocent and wellmeaning effort to spruce up a child’s room can result in serious health hazards.21 Thorough and regular
cleaning is critical in homes with lead-based paint, however lead-contaminated dust particles are so small
that they are essentially invisible.22 Lead dust can accumulate on toys (which children often put into their
mouths) as well as on couches and other furnishings. Sources of lead exposure outside the home include
deteriorating exterior paint and lead-contaminated soil (soil is contaminated either with paint debris from
the outside of the home or from outdoor structures such as fences, sheds, porches, or with residual lead
left in the environment from the use leaded gasoline (especially in neighborhoods of historically high
Pregnant women should never participate in fixing up the baby’s room if it involves removing old paint.
EPA has established 40 micrograms per cubic meter as the hazard level for lead dust on floors. 40 CFR
745..65(b). This is equivalent to a small packet of sweetener sprinkled over an area one third the size of a football
Tips on Understanding the Law
State and local laws are fairly straightforward. Nonetheless, to many people, having to deal with “the
law” seems daunting. Here are a few tips.
Read closely. In law, each word matters. For instance, “shall” and “may” are not interchangeable –
the former is a command, whereas the latter is an option. Qualifying terms such as “if,” “but,” and
“provided that” create pre-requisites, exceptions, and defenses.
“Law” is a generic term. It encompasses and may mean a:
Statute, act, ordinance, code, or other legislative enactment;
Regulation or rule (promulgated by an administrative agency);
Ruling or “opinion” issued by judge or administrative law judge (which interprets and applies a
statute or regulation); or
• Constitution or charter (which generally defines how the government is organized, and sets forth the
extent and limitations of governmental power).
Certain writings are not law, such as:
• Descriptions and commentaries about the law.
• Agency policies, guidelines, and working documents (inspection forms, violation notices, orders,
advisory letters, fact sheets, etc.). Internal agency policies and guidelines, however, indicate and
influence agency decision-making about whether and how to pursue enforcement.
Codes. A code is merely a systematic and enumerated compilation of statutory or regulatory provisions.
Codification organizes related provisions, and eliminates the burden of searching multiple sources to find
all of the relevant law on a given topic. For example, the federal government has both a statutory and
regulatory code: the United States Code (U.S.C.) and Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.), respectively.
State and local governments generally codify their statutes and regulations along common themes, such as
a state health code, or local housing code. A regulatory code sometimes is called an “administrative”
code. A code may consist of provisions from several different enactments or rulemakings (for example,
the original act or rulemaking, and subsequent amendments).
“Law” versus “Ordinance.” Generally, a local jurisdiction (city, county, town) refers to a local
statute as an “ordinance” (or “code”).
“Regulations” versus “Statutes.” Include both in your book. Regulations provide detailed
operative provisions, so that people know specifically what is required, by whom, when, and how –
whereas statutes generally speak in broad terms, and authorize the agency to promulgate certain rules. A
statute, however, also may set forth important matters not repeated in the rule, such as certain definitions,
and the enforcement authority of the court (civil and criminal sanctions), as well as that of an agency.
How to Find State and Local Laws To Address Lead-based Paint and
See section III.B of the Guidebook for details.
Laws to Search
Check these state and local laws for provisions that explicitly, or generically, address deteriorated paint,
lead-based paint, lead-based paint hazards, and other housing or health hazards:
 Lead-based paint laws.
 Disclosure laws.
 Housing laws, such as:
− Housing Codes;
− Property Maintenance Codes;
− Building Codes and Fire Codes;
− Health Codes, or Sanitary/Sanitation Codes;
− “Nuisance” laws; and
− “Hazard” provisions in any code or charter for buildings that are “unsafe,” “unfit,”
“uninhabitable,” “substandard,” “dangerous,” or otherwise hazardous to human health, safety, or
Rental property laws, which may impose maintenance requirements, such as:
 Landlord-Tenant statutes;
 The Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (URLTA), if adopted by your jurisdiction;
 Multiple Dwelling Laws;
 Certificate of Occupancy laws;
 Rental Registry laws; and
 Rental Housing Quality laws.
Resources for Finding State and Local Law78
These electronic resources may provide copies of the law:
 Proprietary data-bases: Lexis/Nexis® www.lexis.com, or Westlaw®www.westlaw.com.
 The Internet site of the state government and of law schools in the state, accessible via Google®
www.google.com, Yahoo®, www.yahoo.com, or another search engine.
 National Healthy Homes Training Network for state property maintenance codes:
www.healthyhomestraining.org/Codes
 National Conference of State Legislatures for state lead laws:
 www.ncsl.org/programs/environ/envHealth/LEADDES.htm or
 www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/Legislation%20&%20Policy/Legislation.htm
 Internet sites that specialize in local laws: www.generalcode.com/, http://gcp.esub.net/,
http://municipalcodes.lexisnexis.com/, www.municode.com.
Enforcement Interview Questions
Use these questions as a starting point for conversations with key players in the local enforcement
community (judges, prosecutors, enforcement agency personnel, etc.) to find out how local lead-based
based paint and housing laws are interpreted and enforced – and to identify the junctures at which
enforcement tends to break down or inertia occurs.
I. General Questions for all interviews
How does the inspection – or enforcement – process operate in your agency/office? (What events and
decisions occur, by whom, by when, how, why?)
Where does the process tend to stall, or break down? Why? How can these delays and breakdowns be
What factors make a particular matter (violation, inspection, or enforcement case) a priority for your
What do you happen to know about lead poisoning? . . . about the connection between LBP hazards
and lead poisoning? . . . about risk reduction work? What approach would be best for informing your
agency/office about these topics (for example, a presentation)?
In what ways could my organization help yours enforce violations that involve LBP hazards or lead
II. Administrative Enforcement Proceedings & Case Development
How does the agency routinely handle the following types of cases (particularly where a violator has
already failed to timely correct a violation or comply with an order):
- failed to timely correct a violation or comply with an order):
- Lead poisoned child/children?
- LBP or LBP hazards?
- Violations that pose a risk to human health?
- Violators with repeat offenses, or multiple “problem” properties? For example, does the agency
just follow-up with the violator to persuade them to comply? . . . proceed directly to refer the case
to the prosecutor? . . . request expedited action by the prosecutor? . . . . correct the violation itself
(then recoup the cost)? What penalties does the agency usually impose (or seek) in such cases?
What factors (if none of the above) persuade the agency to ask the local prosecutor for expedited
action? What type of information has, in fact, been effective in obtaining expedited prosecution?
Describe any recent cases that have involved LBP, LBP hazards, or lead poisoned child/children?
What types of facts presented? , what happened, was risk reduction work performed, how long did it
take, etc.? Was this a “successful” enforcement outcome; and what contributed to that result?
Describe generally the information the prosecutor’s office needs in an agency referral? What
additional information would be helpful (for example, that an EBLL child resides at (or occupies) the
property? . . . that the violator owns/controls other properties with EBLL children and/or LBP
hazards?).
What factors have persuaded the prosecutor’s office to expedite prosecution, and request prompt
docketing?
If a case does not already involve enforcement of an outstanding risk reduction order, then what
factors would persuade the prosecutor’s office to recommend that the court require a defendant to
perform risk reduction work (in lieu of, or in addition to, a fine)?
How do the prosecutor’s office and court handle cases involving violations of vague or generic
requirement (such as, keep in “good repair,” or “free of substantial deterioration”)? Describe some
examples when a violation was found to exist.
How does the prosecutor’s office routinely handle these types of cases (particularly, where a violator
has already failed to timely correct a violation or comply with an order):
- Violators with repeat offenses, or multiple “problem” properties?
- For example, does the office . . . assign them to an attorney who specializes in such cases? . . .
expedite prosecution in such cases? . . . request expedited docketing? . . . seek a more stringent
What type of facts presented, what happened, was risk reduction work performed, how long did it
Is there a lead court in this jurisdiction? . . . a housing court? If not, what is the best way to educate
judges about LBP cases, lead poisoning, risk reduction options, and the importance of prompt
What factors usually persuade the court to give a case an accelerated schedule? . . . to compel a
defendant to perform risk reduction work (if not already enforcing an outstanding risk reduction
SUMMARY NOTICE OF LEAD-BASED PAINT RISK ASSESSMENT
Help Mike and Max paint the windows! Activities: .
- Memminger Elementary School
Slide 1 - University of Virginia, Department of Computer Science
Lead Hazards in Older Homes A Big Problem
IMPACT OF LEAD POISONING — IS YOUR HOME LEAD FREE?
Quiz # 3 – Thu 10/20/2011