Frequent Questions about Updated Residential Soil Lead Guidance
On this page:
- Why did EPA update the guidance?
- Why will some sites use a lower screening level than others?
- Why are EPA’s cleanup levels at some sites different than the screening level?
- How long will it take for EPA to get to cleanups?
- Will the updated screening levels change what sites get cleaned up and which sites don’t?
- Why is EPA revisiting residential yard cleanups if they were already addressed years ago?
1. Why did EPA update the guidance?
Reducing childhood lead exposure is one of the agency’s top priorities. The science on lead exposure has evolved to demonstrate that lead exposure is more dangerous to children’s health than we previously understood when we last updated our residential soil lead guidance in 1994.
The updated guidance lowers our screening levels for lead in soil at residential sites. Screening levels guide us in where to study for lead contamination. If we are studying an area and see lead values above a screening level, we know we will likely need to study that area more closely. Thus, lowering our screening levels means we will investigate more residential properties. Investigating more properties will help us better identify areas where action may be needed to reduce exposures to lead, which, if unaddressed, could lead to lifelong adverse health effects.
Strengthening our guidance will also help EPA site teams:
- make cleanup decisions that are consistent with the latest science.
- ensure that more properties in communities impacted by multiple sources of lead exposure will be evaluated for cleanup, since EPA will use a lower screening level at these sites.
2. Why will some sites use a lower screening level than others?
We know that lead exposure often comes from multiple sources like lead-based paint, water pipes, and lead in soil. Using a lower screening level at sites where we know there are sources of lead in addition to lead in soil will help EPA consider increased risks to children from aggregate exposures in communities overburdened with lead contamination.
3. Why are EPA’s cleanup levels at some sites different than the screening level?
EPA designs cleanup actions to address the unique conditions of each contaminated site. While each site follows a consistent process to determine what cleanup is needed, the cleanup levels for each site are derived based on site-specific risks and information and as such, may differ from site to site.
4. How long will it take for EPA to get to cleanups?
The time needed to implement the guidance at each site will depend on the number and complexity of sites within each region. As work develops, we will continue to communicate the results of any evaluation and next steps.
We expect a significant number of properties could be evaluated and determined to need clean up because of this guidance. EPA will prioritize the properties that need cleanup based on risks to people and the environment and will work to reduce risks as quickly as possible in each community. EPA will work with impacted communities to provide strategies to reduce their risks of lead exposure while waiting for EPA cleanups to occur.
5. Will the updated screening levels change what sites get cleaned up and which sites don’t?
We anticipate that the guidance may result in expansion of cleanup at existing National Priorities List (long-term cleanup list) sites to include additional properties.
EPA does not anticipate that the update alone will result in any additional National Priorities List sites because screening levels are not used in the process that adds sites to the NPL.
EPA also expects the change in screening levels will increase the number of residential lead sites addressed by EPA’s removal program. EPA’s Superfund removal authority allows EPA to address sites that present immediate risks to vulnerable populations like children and pregnant women.
Additionally, the new screening levels will be used in EPA’s Corrective Action authorities under RCRA and may result in additional cleanups.
6. Why is EPA revisiting residential yard cleanups if they were already addressed years ago?
We’ve learned more about the harmful health impacts of lead since we sampled yards years ago. Scientific studies have shown us that lead is harmful at lower levels than we previously understood. We’re re-evaluating yards we sampled previously that were below the old screening level to make sure we protect the long-term health of people, particularly children, in your community.
The good news is, generally, if EPA cleaned up a yard or part of a yard previously, then those same areas are unlikely to need additional cleanup. At these properties, contaminated soil was removed and replaced with clean soil. In some cases, if EPA only cleaned up part of a yard, we may need to re-evaluate parts of the yard that were not cleaned up previously to determine if additional investigation or cleanup is needed.