Congress Considering Changes to the EPA Lead: Renovation, Repair and Painting (LRRP) Rule

Posted By BuilderLink Industry Voices

WASHINGTON, DC - On June 7, Reps. John Sullivan (R-OK) and Tim Murphy (R-PA) introduced the Lead Exposure Reduction Amendments Act (H.R. 5911), which would reform the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Lead: Renovation, Repair and Painting (LRRP) rule. In March, Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-OK), Ranking Member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, introduced a Senate version of the legislation (S. 2148). The bill aims to reduce the burden the rule has placed on the home retrofit market while protecting pregnant women and small children from lead hazards.
 
Among its key provisions, H.R. 5911/S. 2148 would restore the opt-out clause, suspend the LRRP if EPA cannot approve a commercially available test kit that meet the regulation's requirements, and provide a de minimis exemption for first-time paperwork violations. In July 2010, EPA removed the opt-out provision from the rule that allowed homeowners without children under six or pregnant women residing in the home to allow their contractor to forego the use of lead-safe work practices.
 
By removing the opt-out provision, EPA more than doubled the number of homes subject to the LRRP Rule. In addition, despite EPA stating a commercially available test kit producing no more than 10 percent false positives would be on the market when the rule took effect in April 2010, no test kit on the market meets this standard.
 
NLBMDA has made passage of H.R. 5911 and S.2148 a top legislative priority. Please contact your Representative and Senators and urge them to sign on as a cosponsor to H.R 5911/S. 2148!

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The National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association (NLBMDA) represents its members in the national public policy arena, with emphasis on efforts to 1) promote the industry and educate legislators and public policy personnel; and 2) assist legislative, regulatory, standard-setting and other government or private bodies in the development of laws, regulations and policies affecting lumber and building material dealers, its customers and suppliers. Founded in 1917, the association has over 6,000 members operating single or multiple lumber yards and component plants serving homebuilders, subcontractors, general contractors, and consumers in the new construction, repair and remodeling of residential and light commercial.