EPA Delays Enforcement Actions of its Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule

U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) on June 25 announced that small contractors will have more time to comply with new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rules for work done on buildings that have old, lead-based paint.

The Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule, issued in 2008, and which went into effect on April 22, 2010, requires contractors who perform work in homes built before 1978 to be EPA certified or face thousands of dollars in fines.

EPA said that it will not take enforcement action until Oct. 1 against renovation and repair contractors or companies for violations of the rule's certification requirements. For individual renovation workers, the agency will not take enforcement action as long as those workers have applied for, or are enrolled in, training classes by Sept. 30, and complete the training by Dec. 31.

The rule requires lead-safe certification of renovators and companies that disturb six square feet of interior paint in a home, school, or day-care center built before 1978.

In a statement on the enforcement delay, the EPA said it "is simply giving firms more time to file the appropriate paperwork demonstrating they are following the lead-safe work practices. Moreover, EPA is also giving individual contractors more time to enroll in and take the required training courses."

For more information: contact ACA's Steve Sides.

Date Posted: June 29, 2010