In April 2010-the very month the EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) rule took effect-the agency immediately issued a notice to amend the rule by adding "clearance testing requirements." Just more than a year later, those proposed changes could be taking effect, as well.
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In April 2010-the very month the EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) rule took effect-the agency immediately issued a notice to amend the rule by adding "clearance testing requirements." Just more than a year later, those proposed changes could be taking effect, as well.
In July the RRP rule-which affects wood flooring contractors moving baseboards or sanding a floor in a home or child-occupied facility built before 1978-could be changed to require contractors to work with a third party to verify a job site is free of lead dust after a renovation is completed. After receiving more than 300 public comments on the proposed changes, EPA submitted its proposed rule to the executive branch's Office of Management and Budget for review on April 14 and should take final action on the rule next month.
In the face of proposed upcoming changes, the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) released survey results last week revealing why the regulation is "unwelcome to homeowners" and remodelers. Remodelers don't like the increased job cost from the RRP rule, and homeowners don't like paying more, either, especially if they don't have small children-whom the rule is primarily intended to protect-in their home. NARI added that the RRP rule-which has been in effect since April 2010-is "certain to negatively impact scores of small remodeling businesses."
In fact, NARI argues the RRP rule actually "deters homeowners' use of lead-safe certified contractors." Kensington, Md., remodeler David Merrick, said, "Lead clearance testing only applies to contractors, not to homeowners. Once homeowners discover this loophole, they often choose to do the demolition or project work themselves to save on costs. Ultimately they risk lead exposure because homeowners are not trained in lead-safe work practices." According to NARI, the proposed clearance testing change will only increase problems.
Despite its opposition to the RRP rule, in January NARI sent a letter to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson requesting the agency "aggressively and consistently enforce the [RRP] rule so families can have confidence that work on their homes is being done safely and professionally." According to Remodeling magazine, NARI is actively lobbying in Washington, D.C., so its members can have more input on the RRP rule.
In addition, the EPA is also forming another RRP amendment that would see requirements for lead-safe work practices in pre-1978 buildings expanded to the commercial and public sector. Final action on that change would not occur until 2013.
