New Lead-Paint Regulations Delayed After Industry Protests

In a statement, the EPA said no action would be taken against those without certification if the interested parties had “applied to enroll in, or has enrolled in” a required class by September 30, 2010. The training must be completed by December 31, 2010." (The full statement appears here.)

As Habitat reported online in April, the so-called Renovation, Repair, and Painting Rule necessitates that any hired professional must have EPA lead-paint-removal training and certification before he or she can perform any painting, window/door replacement, or any other action that disturbs more than six square feet of paint in an apartment. The rule applies only to housing built before 1978.

The certification process involves a one-day, eight-hour course outlining three essential procedures: containing the work area, minimizing dust, and thorough cleaning once the project is complete. (Read Habitat’s print-article version here.)

The new deadline allows everyone a bit of breathing room. As long as workers are enrolled or have applied for enrollment by September 30, they have until the end of the year to actually complete the certification course.

This does not, however, release contractors from following the standard practices already in place for dealing with lead paint. According to the EPA. “The effect of the June 18 memorandum only provide firms more time to apply for and obtain certification as a lead-based paint renovation firm before active enforcement of the firm certification requirements begins.”

For more information, see “Frequent Questions on EPA’s June 18, 2010 Implementation Guidance for the Renovation, Repair, and Painting Rule."