15 U.S.C. § 2695c: Environmental health program

Summary

Within 2 years after December 19, 2007, the Administrator, working with the Secretary of Education, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and other agencies, must issue voluntary guidelines for States to use when creating and running school environmental health programs. The guidelines must build on existing federal work and studies (including tools under section 492 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007). They must cover school hazards and building features such as lead in drinking water and materials, asbestos, radon, mercury releases, pollutant emissions, and other contaminants; plus daylighting, ventilation, heating and cooling choices, moisture and mold control, maintenance/cleaning/pest control, acoustics, and other factors that affect health, comfort, and student and staff performance. The guidelines must offer technical help on siting, design, management, and operation (including facilities for students with disabilities), work with federally funded pediatric environmental health centers on on-site investigations, help States and the public understand and improve children’s environmental health, and consider the extra risks to children in low-income and minority communities. The Federal Director and Commercial Director must, to the maximum extent practicable, make sure the public clearinghouse under section 423 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 receives and shares the information in the report described in section 2695b(a) and any information the Administrator provides on children’s exposure to environmental hazards in school facilities.

Title 15, §2695c

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(a)In general

Not later than 2 years after December 19, 2007, the Administrator, in consultation with the Secretary of Education, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and other relevant agencies, shall issue voluntary guidelines for use by the State in developing and implementing an environmental health program for schools that—

(1)takes into account the status and findings of Federal initiatives established under this subchapter or subtitle C of title IV of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 [42 U.S.C. 17091 et seq.] and other relevant Federal law with respect to school facilities, including relevant updates on trends in the field, such as the impact of school facility environments on student and staff—

(A)health, safety, and productivity; and

(B)disabilities or special needs;

(2)takes into account studies using relevant tools identified or developed in accordance with section 492 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 [42 U.S.C. 17122];

(3)takes into account, with respect to school facilities, each of—

(A)environmental problems, contaminants, hazardous substances, and pollutant emissions, including—

(i)lead from drinking water;

(ii)lead from materials and products;

(iii)asbestos;

(iv)radon;

(v)the presence of elemental mercury releases from products and containers;

(vi)pollutant emissions from materials and products; and

(vii)any other environmental problem, contaminant, hazardous substance, or pollutant emission that present or may present a risk to the health of occupants of the school facilities or environment;

(B)natural day lighting;

(C)ventilation choices and technologies;

(D)heating and cooling choices and technologies;

(E)moisture control and mold;

(F)maintenance, cleaning, and pest control activities;

(G)acoustics; and

(H)other issues relating to the health, comfort, productivity, and performance of occupants of the school facilities;

(4)provides technical assistance on siting, design, management, and operation of school facilities, including facilities used by students with disabilities or special needs;

(5)collaborates with federally funded pediatric environmental health centers to assist in on-site school environmental investigations;

(6)assists States and the public in better understanding and improving the environmental health of children; and

(7)takes into account the special vulnerability of children in low-income and minority communities to exposures from contaminants, hazardous substances, and pollutant emissions.

(b)Public outreach

The Federal Director and Commercial Director shall ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, that the public clearinghouse established under section 423 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 [42 U.S.C. 17083] receives and makes available—

(1)information from the Administrator that is contained in the report described in section 2695b(a) of this title; and

(2)information on the exposure of children to environmental hazards in school facilities, as provided by the Administrator.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, referred to in subsec. (a)(1), is Pub. L. 110–140, Dec. 19, 2007, 121 Stat. 1492. Subtitle C of title IV of the Act enacted part C (§ 17091 et seq.) of subchapter III of chapter 152 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, amended section 6832, 6834, 8253, and 8254 of Title 42, and enacted provisions set out as a note under section 6834 of Title 42. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 17001 of Title 42 and Tables.

§2695c Environmental Health Program