Indoor Air Quality Act of 1990

Summary

Indoor Air Quality Act of 1990 - Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish a national research, development, and demonstration program to ensure the quality of indoor air and to coordinate and accelerate efforts related to the causes, detection, and correction of contaminated air. Authorizes the Administrator to assist technology demonstration projects which reduce exposure to indoor air contaminants, provided certain conditions are met. Limits Federal funding for such projects to 75 percent of the total costs. Directs the Administrator to consider indoor human exposure to contaminants when developing air quality standards and emissions standards for hazardous air pollutants under the Clean Air Act. Requires the Administrator to: (1) conduct a national assessment to survey the seriousness and extent of indoor air contamination in buildings owned by local educational agencies and child care facilities; and (2) establish an advisory group of interested parties to provide guidance and direction in developing such assessment. Directs the Administrator to enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) for the Board on Environmental Studies and Toxicology to study and report to the Congress on chemical sensitivity disorders. Requires the Administrator to enter into an agreement with the NAS for the Institute of Medicine to study indoor allergens. Directs the Administrator to publish bulletins providing an assessment of technologies and management practices for the control and measurement of indoor air contaminants. Requires the Director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health to develop a model indoor air quality training course to provide training in ventilation system operation and maintenance and in identifying and reducing indoor air contaminant exposures. Authorizes the Director to establish a fee for such training. Requires the Administrator to publish health advisories on indoor air contaminants that are known to occur at concentrations which may have adverse human health effects. Lists substances to be addressed by such advisories. Provides for the revision of advisories at least every five years. Requires a technology and management practice bulletin to be published concurrently with each advisory addressing a specific contaminant. Directs the Administrator to publish a strategy for a national response to indoor air quality problems. Requires the Administrator to conduct research on radon and radon progeny measurement methods and protocols. Directs the Administrator to issue guidance documents that: (1) provide information on the results of such research; and (2) describe model State radon measurement and mitigation programs. Requires the Administrator to establish a mandatory program that requires: (1) products offered for sale, or devices used in connection with public services, for radon measurement to meet minimum performance criteria; and (2) operators of devices, or persons employing techniques, used in connection with public services for radon measurement to meet minimum proficiency levels. Directs the Administrator to establish user fees for persons seeking certification under such program. Provides for the deposit of such fees into a Radon Service Account. Requires the national indoor air quality response strategy to evaluate: (1) the range and reliability of indoor air quality diagnostic and mitigation services; and (2) the range of knowledge and mastery of indoor air quality and energy efficiency techniques of ventilation system operators. Provides for the biennial update of such strategy. Requires the Director to: (1) develop a program to evaluate indoor air contamination in Federal buildings; and (2) develop and disseminate to all Federal agencies a model indoor air quality remediation program. Directs Federal agencies responsible for Federal buildings to submit to the Director a specific remediation program for each building, with priority given to buildings based on the health threat and numbers of persons exposed. Requires the Director to review at least five percent of such programs and assess their ability to improve indoor air quality. Directs such agencies to implement systematic programs for the assessment of indoor air quality and the correction of conditions resulting in inadequate air quality. Requires Federal agencies responsible for the design and construction of buildings for Federal occupancy to employ up-to-date design, commissioning, and operating practices for optimal indoor air quality and energy efficiency. Directs persons entering into new leases or lease renewal contracts for Federal buildings to require building owners to demonstrate and guarantee that the building is operating at design specifications for the existing ventilation system and that all portions of the building are accessible for indoor air quality monitoring and evaluation. Provides that buildings that operate at current ventilation rate standards shall be given priority for leasing when available at competitive cost. Requires Federal agencies to designate an Indoor Air Quality Coordinator for each Federal building. Directs Coordinators and their assistants to complete an indoor air training course. Authorizes grants to: (1) States for the development and implementation of indoor air quality management strategies; and (2) States and local air pollution control agencies for air quality response programs. Sets forth grant limitations and selection criteria. Directs the Administrator to establish the Office of Indoor Air Quality within the EPA Office of Air and Radiation. Establishes a Council on Indoor Air Quality to coordinate Federal indoor air quality activities and review and comment on the national indoor air response strategy. Requires the Indoor Air Panel of the EPA Science Advisory Board to be expanded to include technical advisors with expertise in technologies and management practices for the control and measurement of indoor air contaminants. Directs the Administrator to establish a national indoor air quality clearinghouse which shall operate a toll-free hotline on indoor air quality. Requires the Director to implement a building Assessment Demonstration Program to support the development of methods, techniques, and protocols for assessing indoor air contamination in non-residential, non-industrial buildings and to provide contamination reduction assistance and guidance to building owners and occupants. Sets forth building assessment report requirements. Repeals the Radon Gas and Indoor Air Quality Research Act of 1986. Authorizes appropriations.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

1. 26 June 1990

   Introduced

   Introduced in House

   Source: IntroReferral

2. 26 June 1990

   Introduced

   Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology.

   Source: IntroReferral

3. 26 June 1990

   Introduced

   Introduced in House

   Source: IntroReferral

4. 27 June 1990

   Committee

   Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

   Source: Committee

5. 16 July 1990

   Referred

   Referred to the Subcommittee on Health and the Environment.

   Source: Committee

6. 4 August 1990

   Passed

   PERMISSION TO FILE REPORT - Mr. Roe asked unanimous consent that the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology have permission to file a report on H.R. 5155 during the August/September District Work Period. Agreed to without objection.

   Source: Floor

7. 10 October 1990

   Reported

   Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Science, Space and Technology. H. Rept. 101-826, Part I.

   Source: Committee

8. 10 October 1990

   Reported

   Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Science, Space and Technology. H. Rept. 101-826, Part I.

   Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

• Introduced in House · undated · Official file

Documents

3 official files

• Introduced in House (text)

  Introduced in House · EN

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Reported to House amended, Part I

  summary · EN · 10 October 1990

  Open at official source

• Introduced in House

  summary · EN · 26 June 1990

  Open at official source

Sponsors

• Rep. Roe, Robert A. [D-NJ-8] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Kennedy, Joseph P., II [D-MA-8] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Schneider, Claudine [R-RI-2] · R · Sponsor
• Rep. Scheuer, James H. [D-NY-11] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Walker, Robert S. [R-PA-16] · R · Sponsor
• Rep. Brown, George E., Jr. [D-CA-36] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Nelson, Bill [D-FL-11] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Wolpe, Howard E. [D-MI-3] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Valentine, Tim [D-NC-2] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Torricelli, Robert G. [D-NJ-9] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Boehlert, Sherwood [R-NY-25] · R · Sponsor
• Rep. Nowak, Henry [D-NY-37] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Schiff, Steven [R-NM-1] · R · Sponsor
• Rep. Traficant, James A., Jr. [D-OH-17] · D · Sponsor
• LAMAR SMITH · R · Sponsor
• Rep. Nagle, Dave R, [D-IA-3] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Morella, Constance A. [R-MD-8] · R · Sponsor
• Rep. McMillen, Thomas [D-MD-4] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Mineta, Norman Y. [D-CA-13] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Gordon, Bart [D-TN-6] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Bates, Jim [D-CA-44] · D · Sponsor
• Del. Fauntroy, Walter E. [D-DC-At Large] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Hayes, Charles A. [D-IL-1] · D · Sponsor
• Nancy Pelosi · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Dymally, Mervyn M. [D-CA-31] · D · Sponsor
• Charles Schumer · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Dwyer, Bernard J. [D-NJ-6] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Jontz, Jim [D-IN-5] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Collins, Cardiss [D-IL-7] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Edwards, Don [D-CA-10] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Gray, William H., III [D-PA-2] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Owens, Major R. [D-NY-12] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Dellums, Ronald V. [D-CA-8] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Neal, Stephen L. [D-NC-5] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Eckart, Dennis E. [D-OH-11] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Torres, Esteban Edward [D-CA-34] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Wise, Robert E., Jr. [D-WV-3] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Ackerman, Gary L. [D-NY-7] · D · Sponsor
• Edward Markey · D · Sponsor
• Frank Pallone · D · Sponsor
• JOHN CONYERS · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Wheat, Alan [D-MO-5] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Owens, Wayne [D-UT-2] · D · Sponsor
• Rescom. Fuster, Jamie B. [D-PR-At Large] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Hertel, Dennis M. [D-MI-14] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Weiss, Ted [D-NY-17] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Payne, Donald M. [D-NJ-10] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Kanjorski, Paul E. [D-PA-11] · D · Sponsor

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