DOVER – Delaware’s Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) announced today the creation of a new permit program that establishes regulatory conditions for the sandblasting of outdoor water tanks to remove lead-based paint. Contractors often use sandblasting to remove paint from water tanks in preparation for repainting them. Effective immediately, all water tank sandblasting projects involving removal of lead paint are required to have an air quality permit from DNREC that will ensure sufficient containment measures are taken to prevent the release of lead paint chips into the environment.
The new sandblasting permit to be issued by DNREC’s Division of Air Quality also requires the tank owner to provide residents within 1,000 feet of a tank notification 30 days prior to any sandblasting activities.
“DNREC is committed to the proper management of sandblasting activities of outdoor water tanks to ensure no lead enters the environment, given the harm that lead exposure can cause,” said DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin. “By implementing this new permit, DNREC will also increase public awareness of lead-containing water tank sandblasting projects in Delaware.”
For information on the permit, please visit DNREC’s website at de.gov/sandblasting or contact DNREC’s Division of Air Quality, at 302-739-9402.
According to the Division of Public Health, the largest source of potential lead exposure for Delaware residents is in homes constructed before 1978. To learn more about lead abatement strategies, please visit www.LeadSafeDelaware.org, or call the Division of Public Health’s Healthy Homes and Lead Poisoning Prevention Program at (302) 744-4546, ext. 4.
Media contact: Michael Globetti, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902
Vol. 49, No. 4
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