The Environmental Protection Agency April 23 announced efforts to expand its
Lead-Safe Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) program, just one day after the program took effect.
Under the current RRP program, contractors performing renovation, repair and painting projects that disturb more than six feet of lead-based paint in most pre-1978 homes, child care facilities and schools
must be certified and follow specific work practices to prevent lead poisoning. The current rule exempts contractors from the RRP program if the homeowner certifies there is no child under the age of six and no pregnant women living in the home. However, beginning June 22,
that exemption will be abolished and contractors renovating any pre-1978 residential building will have to be trained under the RRP program.
In addition, EPA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking to that would
require contractors perform dust-wipe testing after renovations are completed and provide the results of the test to owners and occupants of the building. The proposal also would require that lead dust levels on certain renovations be below regulatory hazard standards. EPA is accepting comments on the notice until July 6.
EPA also issued an advance notice of proposed rulemaking seeking to
expand the RRP program to include public and commercial buildings, a policy the agency plans to finalize by July 2013. In the advance notice, EPA announced its intention to investigate lead-based paint hazards that may be created by renovations on the interior of public and commercial buildings to determine whether regulations should be issued that address those hazards.
For more information, visit the EPA’s website on the RRP program at
http://www.epa.gov/lead/new.htm.