NEWBURGH – In a move to reduce childhood lead exposure, the US Environmental Protection Agency and Housing and Urban Development announced tighter standards for lead in dust on floors and windowsills of older homes.
To protect children’s health, the EPA is lowering the dust-lead hazard standards for both areas of homes that were built before 1978.
The announcement came on Friday in Newburgh with Mayor Torrance Harvey saying the federal effort fits in with what his city is doing.
“We in the City of Newburgh are excited to work with our federal and state partners in creating healthy homes for our residents, whether homeowners or renters. We are in a very aggressive revitalization process right now,” Harvey said. “We are excited to work with our landlords, work with homesteaders and the like, to revitalize our city and bringing everyone up to code.”
Walter Mugdan, deputy EPA regional administrator, said the more protective dust-lead hazard standards will apply to inspections, risk assessment, and abatement activities in those older homes and certain schools, childcare facilities and hospitals across the country.
