BILLINGS, MT – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today praised the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its decision to delay enforcement of its new Lead: Renovation, Repair and Painting rule until the end of the year.  Rehberg, who sent letters, summoned EPA officials to speak with Montana contractors and even introduced legislation to delay the rule's effective date , was pleased to see that his efforts finally paid off.

“I’m glad we finally got through,” said Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee.  “The EPA refused to see the impact this rule was having on rural contractors who wanted to do the right thing but quite frankly didn’t have the ability to get to a certification class in time.  These small business owners are already up against a wall, they don’t need Washington  bureaucrats hunting them down for trying to do their job.”

In March, Rehberg sent a letter to the EPA asking for a delay in the rule’s implementation deadline to allow time for more trainers to be accredited and for more professionals to be trained.  When they refused, he summoned EPA officials to his Washington, D.C. office to hear directly from representatives of the Montana Building Industry Association (MBIA).  Finally, he introduced legislation, H.R. 5177, to extend the deadline for compliance to the new rule.

The EPA finally heard these concerns, and issued new guidelines on Friday that provides relief for contractors that haven’t been able to get the required certification training.  The new guidelines require a contractor to be certified by December 31, 2010 as long as they have enrolled in a class by September 30, 2010.

“This rule has been an absolute disaster,” said Dustin Stewart, the executive director of Montana Building Industry Association.  “It was such a big rule and a monumental shift, Montana contractors needed time to come to grips with it.  We are so appreciative of Congressman Rehberg who was at the forefront of this issue for us from the start.  He went to the mat for us early and didn’t stop fighting until the EPA had backed down.”