EPA Revises Training Standards for Lead-Based Painting Program

The Environmental Protection Agency has finalized revisions to its lead-based paint program, the Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Rule, to reduce burden and costs to industry and clarify language for training providers. Contractors that perform renovation, repair, and painting projects that disturb lead-based paint in homes, child care facilities and preschools and other child-occupied facilities built before 1978 must be certified by EPA (or an EPA-authorized state), use certified renovators who are trained by EPA-approved training providers, and follow lead-safe work practices.

Under the final RRP Rule, published in the Federal Register in February 2016, renovators can take a refresher course without the hands-on training every other time they get certified. A course without hands-on training can be taken completely online. Renovators who take the online training will be certified for three years; renovators who take the hands-on training will be certified for five years. Modifying the hands-on requirement is designed to give renovators easier access to trainings, saving them time and money.

In a related action, the EPA announced there were 75 enforcement actions from the past year for violations of the RRP Rule. Nine California companies were among those fined.

EPA extended the training expiration date for many certified renovators. Affected expiration dates are based on when the previous course was taken (see table at side). Note: The extensions apply only to individual certifications, not to company certifications.

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