Open Door Radio Show – Lead Based Paint – EPA

Brian Schoolman, Litigation Associate, Safran Law Offices hosts the IDA Open Door Show with broadcast personality Allyn Mark discussing the EPA’s RRP rule.

VICTORY! EPA Not to Impose Proposed Rule Change

On July 15, 2011, the EPA announced that it would not impose the dust wipe testing and clearance requirements as part of the Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) regulations. IDA made this issue a top priority, and teamed with other trade organizations to pressure both the Administration and members of Congress to resist imposing the additional obligations on the construction industry.  Click here for more.

NAHB on EPA’s Lead Base Paint Issue

EPA Turning Lead-Safe Renovation Into a Regulatory Nightmare, Letter Complains

NAHB has asked the House Committee on Small Business to convene a panel to discuss the failure of the Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) rule, citing its excessive regulatory burdens and costs.

“With the new home construction market still at historic lows, the effort to find work in retrofitting and upgrading older housing (remodeling) has been attractive to many unemployed builders,” the letter said.

Click here for the rest of The Nationals Building News story

INTERIOR/EXTERIOR BETTER DEFINED BY EPA

On September 28, the EPA finally responded to a key question that our joint DASMA-IDA Lead Paint Task Force had submitted on May 28.  The response came from Marc Edmonds, our key contact at EPA.

Our Question: For purposes of cleaning the work area following a renovation, is the interior floor of a garage considered interior or exterior space?

EPA’s Answer: “In general, the interior floor of a garage is considered an interior space for purposes of post-renovation cleanup. EPA recognizes the fact that it may occasionally be impossible for firms to meet all of the cleaning and verification requirements under the Rule for garage floors such as those that are composed of dirt or gravel. In such a case, EPA recommends that a firm document and keep records of the specific circumstances surrounding the impossibility. A firm must also make their best effort to collect and remove all paint chips, dust, debris and residue. Furthermore, a firm must still comply with all feasible work practice standards and take precautions to ensure that the work area is properly contained.”

This response has also been publicly posted at the Question/Answer section of the EPA’s Web site. Go to http://toxics.custhelp.com, enter “garage” as your search term. This Q&A is the third result; the EPA’s response is “Answer ID 7205.”

EPA EXTENDS CERTIFICATION DEADLINE

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced the extension of the certification and training deadline to October 1, 2010.

For door and access dealers, the extension means you have until midnight, September 30, 2010 to have your company, and applicable personnel in your company, certified and trained, or at least registered for certification training. It does not mean that you are relieved from complying with the lead safe work rules, regardless of whether you are or are not certified and registered with the EPA.

This action from the EPA comes following the realization that not enough certified trainers were available to meet the overwhelming demand by the construction industry.

Dealers are encouraged to immediately seek and obtain certification, regardless of whether training courses are available in your immediate area. If you are working on homes built prior to 1978, you must at a minimum have your applications for training and firm registration in the EPA pipeline.

The eight states that have accepted delegation of the rule and are administering it locally (IA, KS, MS, NC, OR, RI, UT, WI) may continue to enforce the certification requirements now. Dealers in these states should contact their state officials and/or local EPA officials for details.

PDA of NE offering June EPA Certification Classes

The Professional Door Dealers Association of New England will be offering three EPA Lead R.R.P Training Certification Classes in June. By taking one of these three classes, hosted by Door Systems, Inc. , an individual will become EPA Renovation, Repair and Painting certified.

Locations & Dates:
Friday – June 11th @ 8:30 am
9 ½ “A” St., Derry, NH (map)

Thursday, June 16th @ 8:30 am
120 Alexander Dr., Framingham, MA (map)

Thursday, June 24th @ 8:30 am
53 Robinson Blvd., Orange, CT (map)

Using Internet Explorer click here for additional information and registration forms. Click here to download Internet Explorer.

The Paint Rule Affects You

There has been a lot of confusion and discussion within our industry regarding the new EPA Lead Paint Ruling.  Must dealers become certified?  What safe practices must a dealer perform?  The confusion is particularly great when it deals with removal or repair of a garage door.  IDA has conducted extensive research in its quest to obtain clarification on the rule.

As you read IDA’s explanation of the EPA Rules and the EPA website, you may have additional questions, thoughts and reactions.  If so, please share them on the special IDA blog.

EPA Lead Paint Rule

We will be posting additional information on the recent EPA Lead Paint rule as it affects IDA Members.