I’m trying to wrap my mind around the new lead law that requires contractors to be certified etc. I searched and found this guide which includes a link to the EPA’s “Handbook for Contractors”:
Within that guide is the following:
• The training, certification, and work practice requirements do not apply where the firm obtained a signed
statement fr om the owner that all of the following are met:
• The renovation will occur in the owner’s residence;
• No child under age 6 resides there; • No woman who is pregnant resides there;
• The housing is not a child-occupied facility; and
• The owner acknowledges that the renovation firm will not be required to use the work practices
contained in the rule.
Has anyone scoped this out officially? Is it really true that if no children reside in the household and the owner agrees, then the whole requirement is thrown out the window? That seems to go counter to what I’ve heard/read earlier but I can’t find that info now for some reason.
Thanks,
John
Replies
John
Outdated information.
I know, how could it be-the law just went into effect on april 22, 2010..................
Whelp, the opt out feature will be kaput in July. That's an addendum along with a couple others.
Get thee to the EPA Lead site (easy search, don't have a direct link handy)
EPA.gov..................
Check it out including the latest releases (printed in the fed. reg.)
I'm still wading thru information but it sounds like it's already kaput. I just turned down (or at least put off) a job until I learn more about it.
Thanks,
John
If you read the fed. registry...............
or at least when I read it maybe two weeks ago, the opt out suspension was to become law 2 months from when it was printed-putting it the beginning of July.
Likewise, since it was adopted and comes into force 2 months from the officiial start date (april 22), all of those that were registered as Certified Remodelers have had our time for re-upping moved back 2 months-so our certificates are good until July 2015.
Now, was I notified by the EPA about the change? Nope, picked up on it when I rcvd an offer from a company (email) that is setting up a "vault" for your record keeping.
Likewise, I didn't get a notice from my training and testing company I took the class from.
Disemination of info is going to be pretty shady if we need to gather our information from reading the Fed. Registry or spamming email rumors.
The main problem with the new law is there are only a couple states who have anyone to enforce it.
It is written such that a regular building official really does not have jurisdiction unless they have applied for and received a federal certification for their enforcement people.
This came up on a professional BB here in Florida
This was from EPA
Good afternoon
Thank you for contacting the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Assistance Information Service Hotline.
Local building Departments could enforce the EPA RRP (Renovation, Repair, and Painting) Rule in States authorized by EPA to administer their own RRP programs. As of 4/17/10, these States include Wisconsin, Iowa, North Carolina, and Mississippi.
For information on the RRP Rule, please goto http://www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/toolkits.htm
For further information, please go to http://www.epa/gov/oppt.
If you have further questions feel free to contact us at 202-554-1404.
Sincerely,
Dan
EPA Shift Manager
TSCA Assistance Information Service (T.A.I.S)
Hotline Operated under contract with ABVI-Goodwill
I ran across a few horror stories while searching out the info. Things like an apt owner being fined $8,000 because he didn't hand out pamphlets. I don't know if any of it is true. An architect I know tells me there's no one to enforce it here in SC. Then again she wants me to work on her just purchased 1925 beach house.....