FEBRUARY 11, 2009

COUNTY LEGISLATURE APPROVES RECEIVING STATE GRANT FOR LEAD POISONING INSPECTION PROGRAM

The Erie County Legislature approved accepting a $532,810 grant from the New York State Department of Health, which includes funds for the enhancement of inspection activities in the Erie County Lead Poisoning Primary Prevention Pilot Program, at its February 5 session

"The purpose of the program is to identify and deal with lead hazards in high risk ZIP codes in Erie County, so that measures can be taken to prevent at-risk children from become exposed to lead," Legislator Thomas A. Loughran (Amherst, Tonawanda, Cheektowaga) said. "We do this through neighborhood surveys, home based inspections and lead risk assessments, distribution of intervention products for hazard control and education and outreach for property owners."

In order to implement the grant, the county will hire three people to perform the inspection and outreach tasks. Candidates will be selected from the appropriate civil service lists.

"We will also be subcontracting with Environmental Education Associates Inc. for the purposes of providing periodic training courses for lead safe work practices and for clearance sampling and reporting," Legislator Loughran said.

The Erie County Department of Health will implement the grant.

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