[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 216 (Tuesday, November 9, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68784-68787]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-28375]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-OAR-2010-0712; FRL-9224-3]
Healthy Indoor Environment Protocols for Home Energy Upgrades
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or the Agency) is
announcing the availability of, and soliciting public comments for 30
days, on voluntary Healthy Indoor Environment Protocols for Home Energy
Upgrades, in conjunction with the availability of the Department of
Energy (DOE) Workforce Guidelines for Home Energy. The EPA protocols
are intended for voluntary adoption by weatherization assistance
programs, Federally funded housing programs, private sector home
performance contracting organizations, and others working on
residential retrofit or remodeling efforts.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before December 9, 2010.
ADDRESSES: A draft of the EPA Protocols is available for review and
public comment at: http://www.epa.gov/iaq/homes/retrofits.html.
Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2010-
0712, by one of the following methods:
http://www.regulations.gov: Follow the on-line
instructions for submitting comments. Note, although comments on the
EPA protocols can be submitted through this Federal Web site, the EPA
protocols are not a Federal regulation.
E-mail: to [email protected].
Fax: 202-566-1741.
Mail: Air and Radiation Docket and Information Center,
Environmental Protection Agency, Mailcode: 6102T, 1200 Pennsylvania
Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460.
Instructions: Direct your comments to Attn: Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-
OAR-2010-0712. The Agency's policy is that all comments received will
be included in the public docket without change and may be made
available online at http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal
information provided, unless the comment includes information claimed
to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information
whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Do not submit information
that you consider to be CBI or otherwise protected through http://www.regulations.gov or e-mail. The http://www.regulations.gov Web site
is an ``anonymous access'' system, which means EPA will not know your
identity or contact information unless you provide it in the body of
your comment. If you send an e-mail comment directly to EPA without
going through http://www.regulations.gov your e-mail address will be
automatically captured and included as part of the comment that is
placed in the public docket and made available on the Internet. If you
submit an electronic comment, EPA recommends that you include your name
and other contact information in the body of your comment and with any
disk or CD-ROM you submit. If EPA cannot read your comment due to
technical difficulties and cannot contact you for clarification, EPA
may not be able to consider your comment. Electronic files should avoid
the use of special characters, any form of encryption, and be free of
any defects or viruses. For additional information about EPA's public
docket visit the EPA Docket Center homepage at http://www.epa.gov/epahome/dockets.htm.
Docket: All documents in the docket are listed in the http://www.regulations.gov index. Although listed in the index, some
information is not publicly available, e.g., CBI or other information
whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other material, such
as copyrighted material, will be publicly available only in hard copy.
Publicly available docket materials are available electronically at
http://www.regulations.gov. As provided in EPA's regulations at 40 CFR
part 2, and in accordance with normal EPA docket procedures, if copies
of any docket materials are requested, a reasonable fee may be charged
for photocopying.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eric Werling, Indoor Environments
Division, Mail Code 6609J, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200
Pennsylvania
[[Page 68785]]
Avenue, Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: 202-343-9495; fax
number: 202-343-2394; e-mail address: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. General Information
A. What should I consider as I prepare my comments for EPA?
1. Submitting CBI. Do not submit this information to EPA through
http://www.regulations.gov or e-mail. Clearly mark the part or all of
the information that you claim to be CBI. For CBI information in a disk
or CD ROM that you mail to EPA, mark the outside of the disk or CD ROM
as CBI and then identify electronically within the disk or CD ROM the
specific information that is claimed as CBI). In addition to one
complete version of the comment that includes information claimed as
CBI, a copy of the comment that does not contain the information
claimed as CBI must be submitted for inclusion in the public docket.
Information so marked will not be disclosed except in accordance with
procedures set forth in 40 CFR part 2.
2. Tips for Preparing Your Comments. When submitting comments,
remember to:
Identify the review document by docket number and other
identifying information (subject heading, Federal Register date and
page number).
Follow directions--The agency may ask you to respond to
specific questions or organize comments by referencing a section or
page number of the review document.
Explain why you agree or disagree; suggest alternatives
and substitute language for your requested changes.
Describe any assumptions and provide any technical
information and/or data that you used.
If you estimate potential costs or burdens, explain how
you arrived at your estimate in sufficient detail to allow for it to be
reproduced.
Provide specific examples to illustrate your concerns, and
suggest alternatives.
Explain your views as clearly as possible, avoiding the
use of profanity or personal threats.
Make sure to submit your comments by the comment period
deadline identified.
II. Background
Title IV of the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of
1986 (SARA) gave EPA broad authorization to coordinate research in
indoor air quality, develop and disseminate information of the subject,
and coordinate efforts at the Federal, State, and local levels. The
main objectives of the EPA Indoor Environments program include the
protection of public health by promoting healthy environments;
development and implementation of control strategies which would
prevent, diagnose, abate, and mitigate indoor pollution, including the
development and dissemination of guidance on those aspects of building
design and construction, operation and maintenance that affect the
indoor environment; and the development and dissemination of
information to educate key audiences about indoor air pollution and its
associated health risks, mitigation, and control strategies. Using the
best science available, EPA develops and disseminates information,
guidance and solution-oriented technologies and serves as a catalyst
for action by guiding research, using innovative and creative risk
communication tools and by building public-private partnerships.
As part of these responsibilities, EPA is developing voluntary
Healthy Indoor Environment Protocols for Home Energy Upgrades. These
protocols are intended for voluntary adoption by weatherization
assistance programs, Federally funded housing programs, private sector
home performance contracting organizations, and others working on
residential energy efficiency retrofits, remodeling or other home
improvement efforts. A draft is now available for review and comment.
All of this information--including the draft document and additional
comment-submitting instructions--can be found on the Agency's Indoor
Air Quality Web site at: http://www.epa.gov/iaq/homes/retrofits.html.
Concurrently, in May 2009, the Vice President's Middle Class Task
Force asked the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) to
develop recommendations for Federal action to lay the architecture for
a self-sustaining home energy efficiency retrofit industry. In
response, CEQ facilitated a broad interagency process that resulted in
the development of six recommendations described in detail in a report
titled Recovery Through Retrofit.\1\ These recommendations were
carefully crafted to stimulate the growth of a vibrant, private sector-
led market for residential energy efficiency retrofits. They include
establishment of a uniform set of national guidelines to promote high-
quality, safe and healthy energy efficiency retrofit work. DOE
developed Workforce Guidelines for Home Energy Upgrades in response to
this recommendation, in concert with EPA's development of Healthy
Indoor Environment Protocols for Home Energy Upgrades.
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\1\ http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/Recovery_Through_Retrofit_Final_Report.pdf.
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Together, the DOE and EPA documents will: Provide a robust and
practical set of resources for retrofit contractors, trainers, and
program administrators; help improve the quality of the work performed
in this expanding industry; promote occupant health and safety; and
drive consumer demand for energy efficiency retrofit services. EPA
encourages reviewers with broader interest in home energy retrofits to
also review the DOE Workforce Guidelines, available for public comment
until January 7, 2011 [http://www.weatherization.energy.gov/retrofit_guidelines].
A. Why is EPA developing voluntary Healthy Indoor Environment Protocols
for Home Energy Upgrades?
Millions of American homes will be retrofitted in the coming years
to improve energy efficiency or make them more ``green.'' Integrated
healthy home and energy efficiency retrofit activities can lower
utility costs for Americans and improve indoor air quality in homes at
the same time. However, there is the potential for weatherization and
other energy efficiency retrofit activities to negatively impact indoor
air quality and public health--if the appropriate home assessment is
not made before work begins and issues that may impact indoor air
quality are not appropriately addressed. These Protocols provide
guidance for conducting such home assessments and also provide the
specific responses necessary to maintain or improve indoor air quality
in conjunction with energy efficiency retrofits or other remodeling
activities.
The Protocols are intended to enhance the ability of other Federal
agencies, industry standard organizations, State and local programs,
and the home energy retrofit industry (i.e., home weatherization,
energy efficiency retrofit, and housing rehabilitation professionals)
to better integrate health protections into energy focused programs.
The Protocols apply to single family and multi-family low-rise
residential dwellings. These Protocols provide recommended minimum
specifications and additional best practices for protection of occupant
health and, together with better resources for contractors, will
facilitate increased home energy efficiency, improve the quality of the
work performed, and reduce failures and call-backs for contractors.
[[Page 68786]]
B. Why are better health protections needed for home energy retrofits?
Low-income weatherization and private sector home performance
contracting programs reduce energy bills, improve comfort, and often
improve health and safety in the homes of many American families. These
activities should never adversely affect a home's indoor environment,
occupant health, or worker health and safety. The most urgent public
health issues related to home energy retrofits, such as combustion
safety, already have rigorous standards in place that are enforced
through program requirements and processes. However, there are other
public health issues that can be affected by home energy retrofits and
remodeling work such as occupant exposure to moisture/mold, radon, and
lead. These draft Healthy Indoor Environment Protocols provide guidance
on how best to address these issues and the steps necessary to maintain
or improve indoor air quality while making energy efficiency home
improvements. Adoption of the EPA Protocols and other protective
guidelines such as the DOE Workforce Guidelines will help minimize the
potential unintended health impacts of retrofit and remodeling
activities.
Fortunately, the expansion of the DOE's weatherization assistance
program (WAP) through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)
of 2009, and other home energy retrofit initiatives provide unique
opportunities to simultaneously improve the energy efficiency and the
healthfulness of American homes. Integrated healthy home and retrofit
activities can lower utility costs for Americans, while improving the
indoor air quality in millions of homes. EPA is working with DOE and
other programs to identify opportunities to reduce or eliminate
barriers to incorporating more health protective best practices into
energy efficiency retrofit programs. These protocols, when finalized
will serve as a core set of practices that can be integrated into
evolving program standards, training curricula and other elements of
energy efficiency retrofit programs.
C. What information is included in the DRAFT protocols?
This DRAFT document includes recommended protocols for assessment
of indoor environmental quality issues, recommended minimum actions,
and recommended expanded actions to promote improved occupant health
through home energy retrofits. Each of these is described below.
This document DOES NOT:
Set new EPA regulatory standards;
Provide guidance for diagnosing occupant health problems
or building-related illness;
Replace the need for training or training documents; or
Provide detailed guidance on how to achieve the intent of
each recommendation in all situations.
The document is organized to highlight priority health concerns
that may relate to home energy efficiency retrofits. Priority issues
are identified based on whether they are known to pose significant
health risks to occupants and whether they can be affected by energy
efficiency retrofit activities. For each ``Priority Issue'' identified
in Column 1, the matrix identifies the following:
1. ``Assessment Protocols'' in Column 2 provide EPA-recommended
assessment protocols for evaluating both existing conditions of concern
and the potential for additional health concerns that may arise as a
result of retrofit activities. EPA anticipates recommending adoption of
the assessment protocols into weatherization and home energy retrofit
assessment and audit standards and materials.
2. ``Minimum Actions'' in Column 3 include actions that
weatherization and home energy retrofit contractors should take to
ensure that the work they perform in a home does not introduce new
health concerns or make existing conditions worse. These often
reference existing standards. EPA anticipates recommending adoption of
the minimum actions into weatherization and home energy retrofit
standards and materials, and removal or modification of program rules
that prohibit these recommended actions.
3. ``Expanded Actions'' in Column 4 include recommended indoor
environment improvements that can be made during many home energy
retrofit projects. The expanded actions are usually low-cost, simple
improvements that can be performed by home energy retrofit workers with
proper training and sufficient resources. EPA anticipates recommending
incorporation of the expanded actions into weatherization assistance
program and other home energy retrofit program guidance and training
materials, and collaboration to help overcome barriers to these
recommended healthy homes actions.
Additional resources (standards, guidelines, etc.) have been
included for further information on each issue, including recommended
assessment and performance standards, and supplemental guidance
information.
In addition, EPA anticipates the need for supplemental assessment
tools such as worksheets and checklists, to help assessors and
contractors manage critical job information. Therefore, EPA plans to
develop sample assessment tools to accompany these protocols, such as
the following sample tool concepts:
Sample Mold and Moisture Assessment Form.
Sample Radon Testing and Assessment Form.
Sample Home Ventilation Worksheet.
D. How is EPA recommending the protocols be used?
These protocols were developed to assist weatherization assistance
programs and other home energy retrofit and remodeling programs to fill
in gaps in their program standards related to indoor environment health
protections, and provide additional guidance for those able to go
beyond recommended minimum health protections. EPA recommends that
these protocols (and supplemental tools) be voluntarily adopted in
whole or in part, for the following purposes:
To help develop or enhance standardized training program
requirements.
To help refine and update program performance standards,
materials, and resources to better protect occupant health.
To inform revisions to program funding rules (i.e., change
allowable expenses for health and safety as appropriate).
Specifically, EPA anticipates recommending the following for
weatherization assistance and home energy retrofit programs:
1. Adoption of the assessment protocols into weatherization
assistance and other home energy retrofit program assessment or audit
standards,
2. Adoption of the minimum actions into weatherization assistance
and other home energy retrofit program standards, and removal or
modification of program rules that prohibit these recommended minimum
actions,
3. Incorporation of the expanded actions into weatherization
assistance and other home energy retrofit program guidance and training
materials, and collaboration to help overcome barriers to these
recommended healthy homes actions.
[[Page 68787]]
Dated: November 4, 2010.
Michael P. Flynn,
Director, Office of Radiation and Indoor Air.
[FR Doc. 2010-28375 Filed 11-8-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P