EPA will not impose lead clearance rule for residential projects; commercial buildings still under evaluation

The Environmental Protection Agency announced July 15 that it will not impose the lead clearance rule in residential housing and child-occupied facilities. An excerpt from the announcement follows:

"As part of a settlement of litigation over certain post-renovation cleaning requirements of the 2008 Lead Renovation, Repair, and Painting Program (RRP) rule, the EPA agreed to propose a number of revisions to the 2008 RRP rule that established accreditation, training, certification, and recordkeeping requirements as well as work practice standards for persons performing renovations for compensation in most pre-1978 housing and child-occupied facilities and to subsequently take final action on the proposed rule by July 15, 2011. The proposed rule published on May 6, 2010.

EPA has decided not to promulgate dust wipe testing and clearance requirements as proposed."

For details on what revisions the EPA is still pursuing, click here.  

"The Window and Door Dealers Alliance made this battle a top priority and organized industry leaders to attend a White House meeting with OIRA officials in order to present the industry case against the regulation, says David Walker, vice president of association services for the National Glass Association. " In the end, we prevailed."

The decision applies only to residential housing and child-occupied facilities. The EPA is still looking to extend the LRRP program to public and commercial buildings. Click here for more information.