The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)'s nationwide initiative to reduce lead exposure in underserved communities, announced this week, is an example of how collaboration can keep those communities safer, an assistant administrator said in a news release.
EPA announced in a news release issued Tuesday, Oct. 4, its second year of nationwide training and outreach that focuses on reducing children's lead exposure. The initiative will involve local and national government organizations, EPA Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention Assistant Administrator Michal Freedhoff said in the news release.
"This initiative demonstrates how collaboration between national, state, local and Tribal governments and organizations can protect underserved communities from exposure to toxic chemicals like lead," Freedhoff said. "Many communities across the U.S. are still at risk for lead exposure, and we are committed to lowering and preventing it."
The Enhancing Lead-Safe Work Practices through Education and Outreach program was announced as EPA marks October as Children's Health Month and prepares for National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week Oct. 23 - 29.
The initiative plans to provide free training on lead-safe work practices to contractors in 10 communities nationwide and in U.S. territories, specifically in areas where with elevated lead-based paint exposure risks. EPA also plans to engage communities on strategies for protecting children from lead exposure and provide free lead paint removal, repair and repainting information to contractors via a free community-based lead awareness curriculum.
Funding for this year's program includes $4 billion earmarked in last year's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for lead exposure reduction.
The program began in September of last year, when EPA engaged with 282 contractors and hundreds of community leaders in 11 communities with education about lead-safe work practices and childhood lead exposure.
Communities targeted in the program's second year for lead safety training and EPA's lead awareness curriculum are Stratford, Connecticut; Loíza and Arecibo, Puerto Rico; Newark, New Jersey; Portsmouth, Virginia; Miami, Florida; Toledo, Ohio; St. Louis, Missouri; Billings, Montana and Sacramento, California. All of these communities have known lead exposure issues and have a demonstrated need for EPA Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Program-certified contractors, according to the news release.
Anyone who would like more information about EPA's lead awareness curriculum train-the-trainer sessions may visit the sessions' page on the agency's website.
