COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND HOUSING COMMITTEE

LEAD-BASED PAINT

WHEREAS, HUD released its final Lead-Based Paint regulation, "Requirements for Notification, Evaluation and Reduction of Lead-Based Paint Hazards in Federally Owned Residential Property and Housing Receiving Federal Assistance," on September 15, 1999; and

WHEREAS, the U.S. Conference of Mayors strongly supports the prevention of childhood lead poisoning and is committed to making affordable housing safe and healthy for children; and

WHEREAS, this regulation places much greater emphasis on reducing lead house dust, requires the clean-up or clearance of a unit, and requires the use of trained and certified lead-based paint contractors; and

WHEREAS, this regulation covers all federally assisted housing built before 1978; and

WHEREAS, this regulation, which becomes effective on September 15, 2000, is being issued under sections 1012 and 1013 of the Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act of 1992, which is Title X of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992; and

WHEREAS, this regulation covers all housing assisted through CDBG and HOME, including housing where no children under the age of 6 are present; and

WHEREAS, communities project that absent sufficient additional funds, the anticipated costs of compliance of this new regulation will reduce substantially the number of units assisted by the CDBG and HOME programs, thereby exacerbating the existing shortage of affordable housing; and

WHEREAS, there is a lack of a sufficient number of trained and certified lead-based paint professionals, such as risk assessors, inspectors, abatement contractors, and laboratories to implement the regulation in all communities; and

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the U.S. Conference of Mayors urges Congress to provide sufficient additional appropriations to implement the regulation without reducing the number of units assisted by CDBG or HOME; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the U.S. Conference of Mayors urges HUD to modify the regulation prior to implementation to:

• urge HUD to assist communities with funds, training and technical assistance to develop a pool of trained and certified lead-based paint professionals and provide emergency temporary waivers where necessary while working on development of this pool; and

• prioritize units assisted with CDBG and HOME where children under the age of 6 reside and to temporarily exempt units where the elderly reside, and where no children are present, until such time as there is a new occupant.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the U.S. Conference of Mayors work with organizations concerned about childhood lead poisoning to ensure the mutual goals of the regulations to prevent childhood poisoning and preserve affordable housing are achieved.