Lead; Renovation, Repair, and Painting Program for Public and Commercial Buildings

In a 2008 rule, EPA addressed lead-based paint hazards created by these activities in target housing and child-occupied facilities built before 1978 (child-occupied facilities are a subset of public and commercial buildings or facilities where children under age 6 spend a great deal of time). The 2008 rule established requirements for training renovators, other renovation workers, and dust sampling technicians; for certifying renovators, dust sampling technicians, and renovation firms; for accrediting providers of renovation and dust sampling technician training; for renovation work practices; and for recordkeeping. The current rulemaking effort will address renovation or remodeling activities in the remaining buildings described in TSCA section 402(c)(3), i.e., public buildings built before 1978 and commercial buildings that are not child-occupied facilities. In 2010, EPA issued an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) that solicited public comment on lead-safe work practices and other requirements EPA should consider for renovations on the exteriors of public and commercial buildings and whether lead-based paint hazards are created by interior renovation, repair, and painting projects in public and commercial buildings. EPA is currently developing a proposal to address lead-based paint hazards that may be created by renovations on the exterior or in the interiors of public and commercial buildings. As part of a settlement agreement reached in 2009 and most recently amended in September 2012, EPA will hold a public meeting in 2013 to discuss the issues under consideration for this rulemaking. In addition, after considering the information it gathers and its related analyses, EPA has agreed to either sign a proposed rule covering renovation, repair, and painting activities in public and commercial buildings, or determine that these activities do not create lead-based paint hazards by July 1, 2015. If EPA issues a proposed rule, EPA has further agreed to take final action on or before the date 18 months after the proposal is published.