§2695c Environmental Health Program

Summary

Within 2 years after December 19, 2007, the Administrator must work with the Secretary of Education, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and other agencies to create voluntary guidelines States can use to build and run school environmental health programs. The guidelines must reflect federal research and trends. They must cover how school buildings affect health, safety, learning, and people with disabilities. They must include studies and tools required by the Energy Independence and Security Act. They must address hazards like lead in water and materials, asbestos, radon, mercury, pollutant emissions, and other contaminants. They must also cover daylighting, ventilation, heating and cooling, moisture and mold, cleaning and pest control, acoustics, and other factors that affect comfort and performance. The guidelines must give technical help on where to place schools and how to design, manage, and operate them, including facilities for students with disabilities. They must work with federally funded pediatric environmental health centers for on-site investigations and help States and the public understand and improve children’s environmental health. The rules must consider that children in low-income and minority communities can be more vulnerable. The Federal Director and Commercial Director must, as much as possible, make the public clearinghouse from the Energy Independence and Security Act receive and share the Administrator’s report information and any information the Administrator provides about children’s exposure to hazards in school buildings.