BURLINGTON LEAD PROGRAM

Dedicated to the prevention of childhood lead poisoning by reducing lead paint hazards and increasing awareness about the dangers posed by lead.

The Dangers of Lead

Lead poisoning is the number one environmental health threat facing children in the United States, affecting nearly 1 million young children. Lead has been shown to cause decreased intelligence, behavioral problems, learning disabilities, and other health problems. Because lead-poisoned children don’t necessarily appear sick, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and the U.S. Department of Health recommend that all young children be tested for blood lead levels. Deteriorated paint is the most common cause of childhood lead poisoning. While poisoning can occur when a child eats paint chips or mouths painted surfaces, children are most often exposed to lead in dust coming from chipping, peeling, or flaking paint. This dust clings to toys, fingers, and other objects that young children put in their mouths. Children can also be poisoned from other sources such as soil containing lead from car exhaust, water pipes, lead-glazed ceramic dishware and plastic mini-blinds. The only way to be absolutely sure your children are safe is to have them tested. For more information about testing your child, call  802·865·LEAD (5323). 

Program Goals

• Reduce lead poisoning among Burlington children under age 6
• Reduce lead hazards in low income homes and rental units
• Perform priority interventions in the homes of lead poisoned children
• Conduct public education to raise awareness about lead paint hazards
• To promote safe and effective methods of reducing lead paint hazards and to promote lead safe work practices
• To provide money to homeowners, landlords, and nonprofit agencies to reduce lead hazards in housing

The following services are available at no cost to Burlington property owners and residents:

• Lead safety education
• Technical assistance
• Lead paint safety guides to properly maintain and renovate properties with lead paint
• Essential Maintenance Practices courses
• Use of HEPA vacuums for general household cleaning to collect lead dust and paint chips

Free Money to Reduce Lead Paint Hazards

Homes and apartments constructed before 1978 may be eligible for assistance. Highest priority is given to properties occupied by children under six, especially lead poisoned children, and where "home-based" childcare centers operate. However, other properties are eligible. Some additional restrictions may apply based on the type of housing:

Rental Properties:

• Tenant's income cannot exceed 80% of median income for Burlington.
• Owner must rent to an income-eligible family for 3 years

Owner-Occupied Properties:

• Homeowner income cannot exceed 80% of the median income for Burlington.
• Must be owner's primary residence

A combination of grants and interest-free, deferred loans (payable upon sale of property) are provided to pay for lead hazard reduction work at eligible properties. Under certain circumstances, a portion of the loan can be forgiven.

For a copy of the Burlington Lead Program Application, click here.   (Please note that to open, view, and print this PDF version of the Application, you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you do not have a current copy of this free software, you can download it now.) If you need assistance filling out an Application, please call Margaret Heslin at 865-5323 or mheslin@ci.burlington.vt.us.

Typical Lead Hazard Reduction Work

Typical lead hazard reduction work includes treatment of window jambs, sashes and wells, and paint stabilization of other deteriorated interior surfaces. Where necessary, exterior building surfaces and soils that are most likely to cause lead exposure are also addressed as part of a lead hazard reduction project.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Program, a home or apartment must have been built before 1978, be located in Burlington, have at least one (1) bedroom, and not be intended primarily for occupancy by the elderly or persons with special needs. Highest priority is given to units occupied by lead poisoned children, then to other units occupied by children under age six. The following eligibility requirements also apply:

Special Incentives for Section 8 Housing Providers

Property owners are eligible to receive a total of up to $10,000 per unit, at 0% interest, deferred until the property is sold. After 3 years, the loan starts to be forgiven if certain criteria are met. For each year the owner rents to a Section 8 or income-eligible tenant, and completes the Essential Maintenance Practices, the loan will be forgiven at the rate of 20% per year. If the owner rents exclusively to Section 8 households, the loan will be completely forgiven after 8 years.

The following services are included at no cost to the owners of eligible properties receiving lead hazard reduction work:

• Testing of all painted surfaces
• Risk assessment and specification development
• Bidding assistance and project management
• Dust sampling and lab analysis

Vermont's Lead Poisoning Prevention Law

Since 1996, Vermont law has required the owners of rental housing and day care centers built before 1978 to perform certain Essential Maintenance Practices (EMPs) to reduce health risks related to lead paint. EMPs include providing specific information to tenants, inspection of painted surfaces, fixing any problems found using safe methods, installing liners in window wells to make them easy to clean, and performing periodic specialized cleaning, and to submit an affidavit stating the work has been completed. The law requires owners or maintenance personnel to take a short course on the dangers of lead and how to safely address potential hazards.

The following items are available in a printable PDF format. To open, view and/or print these items, you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader.  If you do not have a current copy of this free software, you can download it now.

• EMP Facts
• EMP Rules
• Info Pamphlet
• EMP Warning Poster
• EMP Notify Poster
• EMP Affidavit

Free EMP Classes

Information covered in the Essential Maintenance Practices class includes the requirements of Vermont's lead paint law and related federal regulations, the health effects of lead in children and adults, lead-safe work practices and maintenance procedures, and specialized cleaning techniques and equipment for removing lead-contaminated dust. Vermont Law requires that landlords take the EMP Class. Click here to view a printable PDF version of the EMP Manual. Taking the class also offers further protection from prosecution.

The City of Burlington Lead Program will hold an EMP Training class on Thursday, May 29, 2008, from 5:00-9:00 pm in the Contois Auditorium at Burlington City Hall.  Call the Burlington Lead Program to register at 802·865·LEAD (5323) or visit www.leadsafevermont.org.

Lead Safe Work Practices

Renovation and remodeling is the largest cause of adult lead poisoning and another major contributor to childhood lead poisoning. This can be easily avoided by adding a few simple steps during the course of the work. You can view the Lead Safe Work Practices Fact Sheet in a printable PDF format here.

Call us for a free copy of the HUD publication: Lead Paint Safety: A Field Guide for Painting, Home Maintenance, and Renovation Work or view it in a printable PDF format here.

For Properties Outside of Burlington

Since 1995, the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board, Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Program has been reducing lead-based paint hazards in eligible homes throughout Vermont. This program has the same eligibility criteria and services all communities in Vermont with the exception of Burlington. For more information, call 1·800·290·0527.

For more information on the Burlington Lead Program or to request an application: Call 802·865·LEAD (5323).

Lead Information

The Burlington Lead Program has compiled many helpful, easy to understand, informational sheets addressing the concerns of the community. Click on any of the following items to view or download in a printable PDF format:

• EPA Nutrition Guide
• Gardening Facts
• Lead Dust Facts
• Cleaning Facts
• Ceramic and Porcelain Facts
• Health Effects Chart
• Lead Safe Tips
• Salvaged Components Facts
• Easy Treatments for Soil  
• Lead Safe Exterior
• Soil Facts

If you need any of the items listed above in alternative formats, please call 865-7144.

Other Lead Safety Resources

• Lead Safe Vermont Website
  Information for homeowners, renters and contractors, including schedules for free training in Essential Maintenance Practices: www.leadsafevermont.org
• Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program
  Vermont Department of Health
  P.O. Box 70, 108 Cherry St.
  Burlington, VT 05402
  Lead Hotline: 1(800) 439-8550 or (802) 652-0358
  www.healthvermont.gov/enviro/lead/lead.aspx
  CLPPP staff are available to answer questions and provide technical advice on screening, ways of reducing lead hazards, test results, and risk factors.
• Vermont Housing & Conservation Board
  1(800) 290-0527 or (802) 828-5064
  Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Program - Provides funds and technical assistance to reduce lead-based paint hazards in eligible homes throughout Vermont, excluding Burlington. Call 1·800·290·0527.
• Vermont Lead Safety Project
  (802) 453-5617
  Lesley Wright
  14 Pleasant St.
  Bristol, VT 05443
  The Vermont Lead Safety Project (VLSP), a nonprofit educational outreach organization, offers free lead hazard awareness workshops to Vermont groups. Presentations feature a slide show or video and a question/answer period. VLSP staff are available for phone consultations regarding lead hazards, health concerns, and resource referrals.