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Renovation, Repair and Painting

Highlights

Fee Rule Proposal – On August 21, 2008, EPA will issue a proposed rule to revise the existing fees for EPA's Lead-based Paint Activities regulations and to establish fees for the new Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting program.

View NBC's Today show story on dangers and precautions to be aware of when renovating older housing or child care facilities. Exit EPA Disclaimer

On March 31, 2008, EPA issued a new rule aimed at protecting children from lead-based paint hazards (79 pp, 847K). The rule requires contractors and construction professionals that work in pre-1978 housing or child-occupied facilities to follow lead-safe work practice standards to reduce potential exposure to dangerous levels of lead for children in places they frequent. View the effective dates of the rule.

Important Resources

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On this page you will find:

EPA Requirements

Common renovation activities like sanding, cutting, and demolition can create hazardous lead dust and chips by disturbing lead-based paint, which can be harmful to adults and children.

To protect against this risk, on March 31, 2008, EPA issued a rule requiring the use of lead-safe practices (79 pp, 847K) and other actions aimed at preventing lead poisoning. Under the rule, beginning in April 2010, contractors performing renovation, repair and painting projects that disturb lead-based paint in homes, child care facilities, and schools built before 1978 must be certified and must follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination.

Until that time, EPA recommends that anyone performing renovation, repair, and painting projects that disturb lead-based paint in pre-1978 homes, child care facilities and schools follow lead-safe work practices.

Beginning in December 2008, the rule will require that contractors performing renovation, repair and painting projects that disturb lead-based paint provide the Renovate Right: Important Lead Hazard Information for Families, Child Care Providers, and Schools (PDF) (20 pp, 3.3MB) lead hazard information pamphlet  En Español (PDF) (20 pp, 3.2MB) to owners and occupants of child care facilities and to parents and guardians of children under age six that attend child care facilities built prior to 1978.

The rule will affect paid renovators who work in pre-1978 housing and child-occupied facilities, including:

Under the rule, child-occupied facilities are defined as residential, public or commercial buildings where children under age six are present on a regular basis. The requirements apply to renovation, repair or painting activities. The rule does not apply to minor maintenance or repair activities where less than six square feet of lead-based paint is disturbed in a room or where less then 20 square feet of lead-based paint is disturbed on the exterior. Window replacement is not minor maintenance or repair.

Read EPA's Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Program Rule (PDF) (79 pp, 847K).

View the implementation deadlines associated with the Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Program rule.

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Information for Property Owners

As a property owner, you have the ultimate responsibility for the safety of your family, tenants, or children in your care. To learn more about lead-safe practices and actions you can take before beginning work, read EPA's lead hazard information pamphlet Renovate Right: Important Lead Hazard Information for Families, Child Care Providers, and Schools (PDF) (20 pp, 3.3MB). En Español (PDF) (20 pp, 3.2MB)

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Information for Tenants and Families of Children Under Age 6 in Child Care Facilities and Schools

As a tenant or a parent or guardian of children in a child care facility or school, you should know your rights when a renovation job is performed in your home, or in the child care facility or school that your child attends.

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Information for Contractors

As a contractor, you play an important role in helping to prevent lead exposure. Ordinary renovation and maintenance activities can create dust that contains lead. By following the lead-safe work practices, you can prevent lead hazards.

Understand that after April 2010, federal law will require you to be certified and to use lead-safe work practices. Read more about EPA's rules and lead-safe work practices in EPA's pamphlet Contractors: Lead Safety During Renovation (PDF) color, in English (2 pp, 826K) | color, en Español (PDF) (2 pp, 334K) | HTML version | Other formats

Contractors who perform renovation, repairs, and painting jobs should also:

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Fee Rule Proposal

On August 21, 2008, EPA issued a proposed rule to establish fees for the new Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting rule. The proposed rule would establish fees that will be charged for training programs seeking accreditation, for firms engaged in renovations seeking certification, and for individuals (for example, risk assessors) or firms engaged in lead-based paint activities seeking certification. The proposed rule would apply only in those states and tribes without their own authorized lead programs. The proposed rule would also modify and lower fees for the Lead-based Paint Activities regulations. The fees were developed as required by section 402 of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to recover the cost of administering and enforcing the law's requirements. Read EPA's fact sheet on the proposed rule.

EPA will accept public comment on its fee proposal until September 22, 2008.

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Training Courses

Joint EPA/HUD Renovation Training Curriculum - EPA and HUD developed this course to instruct renovators, painters, and maintenance personnel how to work safely in homes with lead-based paint. This course is approved by HUD, in accordance with the Lead-Safe Housing Rule (24 CFR Part 35), for training contractors working in federally owned or assisted housing.

Renovation and Remodeling Model Training Course - Renovation, remodeling, and painting activities that disturb lead-based paint can produce lead hazards. This course teaches how to contain and minimize lead dust and clean-up work areas in order to protect occupants from exposure to lead.

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Information for Lead Test Kit Vendors

Lead Test Kit Evaluation - EPA is evaluating the effectiveness of lead test kits by asking vendors to submit test kits for review to ensure fewer false negatives.

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Note: EPA no longer updates the information below, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.

Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: Lead; Renovation, Repair, and Painting Program (PDF) (27 pp, 376K) (June 5, 2007) out of date

Notice of Availability; New Renovation Studies (March 16, 2007) - EPA announced the availability of two new studies in the Renovation, Repair, and Painting Program rulemaking docket [EPA-HQ-OPPT-2005-0049]. Since the 2006 proposal, two new studies assessing hazards associated with renovation activities have been completed. They include one study conducted by EPA, and a second study conducted by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). EPA is offering the opportunity for the public to comment regarding the proposed work practice standards in light of these studies. The comments period closed April 16, 2007. out of date

(*This report is included in these materials because the subject matter of the report relates to lead-safe work practices. The presence of this report on this page does not constitute or imply endorsement, recommendation, or approval by the United States government. The views and opinions of the report's authors, as expressed therein, do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States government and may not be used for advertising or product endorsement purposes.)

Proposed Rule: Lead; Renovation, Repair, and Painting Program (PDF) (130 pp, 320K) (January 10, 2006). As part of this proposed rule, EPA developed a sample acknowledgment form to help renovation firms comply with the existing Pre-renovation Education Rule and the requirements of this proposal. This form should not be used by renovation firms until a final Renovation, Repair, and Painting rule is in effect. Sample Pre-Renovation Form (PDF) (1 pg, 29K). out of date

EPA's Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee Lead Review Panel will conduct consultations on various technical matters relating to the development of the Renovation, Repair and Painting Program. Additional information and background materials for the consultation process are available. out of date

Notice of Availability; Lead Hazard Information Pamphlet (March 8, 2006) - EPA sought comment on a new lead hazard information pamphlet for renovation activities, Protect Your Family from Lead During Renovation, Repair & Painting (PDF) (22 pp, 305K). out of date

Notice of Availability of Supplemental Information: Lead; Renovation, Repair and Painting Program (March 2, 2006) - EPA sought comment on a revised Economic Analysis for the Renovation, Repair, and Painting Program Proposed Rule (PDF) (1,083 pp, 14MB). out of date

Notice of Public Meetings: Lead; Renovation, Repair, and Painting Program (February 27, 2006) - EPA held public meetings in March and April of 2006 to receive verbal comments regarding the Renovation, Repair, and Painting proposal. To assist the public, EPA prepared a paper, Renovation, Repair and Painting Proposal; Points to Consider (PDF) (4 pp, 36K), which listed the major issues on which the Agency was seeking public input. out of date

Press Release on New Requirements Proposed for Lead-Based Paint Work, December 2005 out of date

Fact Sheet - Proposed Rule Establishing Requirements To Protect Children During Renovation, Repair and Painting Activities that Disturb Lead-Based Paint | PDF version (2 pp, 193K) out of date en Español. out of date

Final Report of the Small Business Advocacy Review Panel on EPA's Planned Proposed Rule: Lead-Based Paint; Certification and Training; Renovation and Remodeling Requirements (PDF) (369 pp, 20MB). out of date

Additional background information on the development of this proposal. EPA has held public meetings to discuss this rulemaking. Transcripts of these meetings include:

 

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