What federal agency is primarily responsible for regulating lead-based paint?

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is primarily responsible for regulating lead-based paint due to its focus on protecting human health and the environment. The EPA implements and enforces regulations under the Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act, which aims to reduce lead exposure from lead-based paint, especially in homes built before 1978 when the use of lead-based paint for residential properties was banned.

The agency has established guidelines for lead testing, hazard assessments, and the remediation of lead hazards in residential environments, making it the key regulatory body in this area. By overseeing lead-based paint activities and providing resources for prevention and education, the EPA plays a vital role in safeguarding public health against the dangers of lead exposure, particularly for vulnerable populations such as children.

The other agencies mentioned have different scopes of responsibilities that do not primarily focus on the regulation of lead-based paint. OSHA deals mainly with occupational safety and health in the workplace, NIH focuses on health research and promoting public health initiatives, and CPSC regulates product safety, which does include certain consumer products that may contain lead but does not specifically address residential lead hazards in the way the EPA does.