It’s been said that there are two things you shouldn’t see being made: laws and sausage. I have yet to see sausage being made, but watching legislation being made isn’t so squeamish, but the quality one must have is patience! Lead poisoning prevention advocates have been working on revisions to Ohio’s lead poisoning requirements since the Working Group was convened in November 1999. Rep. Bryan Williams, Co-Chair of the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Working Group, introduced in bill from, many of the recommendations from the Working Group, on April 2, 2001.

The bill has had multiple hearings in the Health and Family Services Committee of the Ohio House of Representatives. Rep. Greg Jolivette chairs the committee. Many interest groups and lead poisoning prevention professionals have weighed in on the proposed legislation. Numerous amendments and clarifying language led to the adoption of a Sub. bill this past Fall. In order for the bill to move forward, several areas that remained problematic for various groups have to be resolved. Reps. Jolivette and Williams met with advocates, interest groups, and regulators on Wednesday, January 23, 2002. At that meeting, the major issues of discussion were: the frequency of data harmonization between the Depts. of Health and Job and Family Services; creation of an advisory council to assist in the development and implementation of the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program; testing requirements for lead-safe renovators; fees associated with the registration of lead-safe renovators; pre-notification and clearance testing; and the exclusion of the requirements applying to properties intended solely for the elderly. Several compromises were discussed regarding the above were advanced, especially in the area of pre-notification and clearance testing, which is the major obstacle to the bill’s passage in committee, at this time. Several key compromises might include $ level thresholds which trigger the requirements, such as in the HUD 1012 and 1013 regulations and pilot projects in specific areas to be specified in the bill.

All interested parties agreed to meet again on February 6, 2002 to review proposed language and amendments and seek consensus. Everyone recognizes that this is the last stand to getting legislation passed this year, which will harmonize Ohio’s law with the new Federal requirements. If compromises can be made, it is hoped that Sub. HB 248 will be on the agenda for the House Health and Family Services Committee meeting on February 13, 2002. Stay tuned.

Submitted by John Sobolewski

The primary focus of LSCP, will be the cities of Cleveland Heights, East Cleveland, and Lakewood. There will a maximum of $10,000 in grant funding in Cleveland Heights, Lakewood, and the Urban County for interim controls. There will be a maximum of $15,000 in East Cleveland for interim controls. Top priority will be given to the houses where children with elevated blood levels reside.  Second priority will be given to at risk children.

The breakdown is as follows:

Cleveland Hts.-25 units

East Cleveland-50 units

Lakewood-25 units

Other First Ring Suburbs – 10 units

Cleveland received its third HUD Lead Hazard Control grant in January 2001. Over the two-year grant period, the Program plans to do lead hazard control work in 197 homes, conduct primary prevention activities in 19 communities within the City, and provide Lead Abatement Contractor, Worker and Risk Assessor training.

The Scattered-Site Project works with a non-profit housing development and rehab agency to conduct lead hazard control in the homes of low-income, lead-poisoned children throughout the City.

The Joint Abatement Project works with the same agency to reduce lead hazards in the homes of low-income families with young children and, at the same time, modernize the homes and bring them into code compliance.

The Intensive Neighborhood Project works with neighborhood development corporations in four neighborhoods to conduct in projects tailored to the particular needs of that area.

The Community Lead Exposure Prevention Project contracts with 19 neighborhood-based organizations to carryout lead safety education and other primary prevention activities in high-risk areas of Cleveland.

Representative Bryan Williams of the 45^th district, will be speaking at the upcoming February 13, 2002 Help End Lead Poisoning general membership meeting. Rep. Williams is the sponsor of the childhood lead poisoning prevention bill that is currently in the Health and Human Services Committee of the Ohio House of Representatives. He will be speaking on the progress and future of Substitute House Bill 248.

Icilda Stevens-Dickerson will be speaking following Rep. Williams. Icilda is currently the Program Supervisor to the Ohio Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Department at the Ohio Department of Health. She will be speaking about many issues including the current status of P.L.A.N.T.

There will also be updates from Dan Chatfield at the Ohio Department of Health, and representatives from city and county health departments from around the state. A roundtable discussion will follow all speakers.

Immediately following the general membership meeting there will be a board of trustees meeting for all trustees.

The city of Cincinnati currently has several programs working towards the overall goal of eliminating lead poisoning by the year 2010.

We have a strong Lead Poisoning Prevention Program operated through the Health Department and funded through Community Development Block Grants. The program consists of two Sanitarian risk assessors, one supervising Sanitarian risk assessor/contractor, one senior Sanitarian devoted entirely to the Regional Resource Center grant through the Ohio Department of Health, a public health nurse devoted to lead poisoning case management and two secretaries, one full and one half time. Our expectation for 2002 is to conduct a minimum of 225 risk assessments/ public health investigations, case manage the 300 plus lead poisoned children in our jurisdiction and to continue acting as the resource center for our 19 county area. In addition, our goal is to increase the lead testing rates of the susceptible population through increased cooperation with stakeholder agencies, work with the city for a stricter housing code and to pursue stronger local lead regulations.

The Cincinnati area has a Lead Poisoning Prevention Advisory Committee, which has been in operation since 1996. The committee was formed at the request of our health commissioner as part of our Round 2 Housing and Urban Development Grant. The committee, composed of representatives of all groups with an interest in the lead problem, has diligently worked on preparing a new set of local regulations, offered comments on proposed state lead legislation, and has acted as an oversight body for lead issues in our community. The committee, through the efforts of the Better Housing League, has interested a group of advertising professionals to work on a lead awareness campaign on a pro bono basis. Their efforts have exceeded all of our expectations and the campaign will be unveiled this spring.

Cincinnati is also fortunate in having an active Clear Corps organization. This group working under the auspices of the Better Housing League consists of 3 full time staff members and 11 Americorps volunteers. They offer lead education to residents and homeowners, super cleanings of units housing lead poisoned children, interim controls for needy families and training sessions for homeowners and residents on how to perform lead safe remodeling. The group participates actively in our Lead Poisoning Prevention Advisory Committee and has been particularly valuable to the Health Department in assisting with temporary measures to reduce lead exposure in residences of lead poisoned children.

Finally, Cincinnati is blessed with having the lead research activities that are being conducted at the University of Cincinnati. The University has been the center of lead research for many years and is a valuable partner with the city. Currently, the university is working with the city on the dangers of lead dust levels on public sidewalks and streets and how replacing windows and re-painting of vacant and dilapidated structures may ameliorate this. The study is taking place in the area known as "Over the Rhine" where almost all properties have zero setbacks. Other studies include the effects of lead on behavioral changes in children, the ergonomics associated with using an XRF instrument, the use of the Niton XRF for lead clearance in the field, the development of a reliable lead test kit for use in the home and the use of the Niton XRF for real time soil analysis of lead.

On January 13, 2002, Stephen Koff from the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported that Sherwin-Williams Co. and other paint manufacturers have been engaged in a high-powered nationwide lobbying campaign to try to persuade elected officials not to sue them. The paint lobbyists say they are trying to counter, aggressive lawyers who want to sway cities from filing "junk" lawsuits and stop the spread of lawsuits by cities, counties, and housing agencies. The lobbyists say that because most of their clients voluntarily took lead-based paint off the market five decades ago, governments should leave them alone. But some public officials, health advocates, and trial lawyers say the campaign's scope and expense reflect the paint companies' steely determination to shirk responsibility. They also feel it is unnecessary for the taxpayers to pay for the health care of many children and the removal of lead paint from housing, particularly in older, urban neighborhoods. Cleveland, who has not sued, has a lead abatement program largely viewed as ineffective, with thousands of children a year diagnosed with lead poisoning. Several cities and counties have filed lawsuits against the paint industry, but no count decisions have been made.

The paint industry was successful in San Francisco and Milwaukee at lobbying against litigation. On December 4, when Newark, New Jersey, sprung its lawsuit, the paint companies say they didn't get a chance to make such an up-front investment.

Some officials estimated the companies collectively spent $1 million on lobbying there. "That, to me, was an indication that we were onto something," said Willie Hines, a Milwaukee alderman - the equivalent of a city councilman - who supported filing a lawsuit.

Sources say that if the paint companies fail in local battles, they will have better luck in Washington. The Bush administration is working with the paint companies on a new program, possibly to be announced this year, that will promote public-private cooperation – but not litigation - for removing lead paint from older buildings. Some Unites States Senators want to go further and require paint makers to repay the federal government for the hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars spent removing lead paint and treating children with lead poisoning, which was included in a proposal, which stalled in the last Congress.

This proves that lead paint is not just a problem for the inner-city, it can also affect suburbs. This house has been described, as "one of the most fabled and elegant of America's executive mansions".

Weber, of New Jersey Citizen Action and many others, feel that "This is an excellent opportunity for the state of New Jersey to learn about lead abatement and the cost of removal".