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EPA Expands Training, Sets Fees for Lead-Safe Work

Friday, April 17, 2009

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has developed a new series of training courses to provide instruction to individuals seeking certification as a renovator or dust sampling technician, per the requirements of EPA’s Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Rule published on April 22, 2008. The agency has also issued a new rule that revises and expands its fee schedule for the training.

The RRP rule, which must be implemented by April 2010, establishes 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.

EPA expects the new rule to affect more than 200,000 businesses.

EPA’s newest courses are for Renovator Initial Training and Renovator Refresher Training. A course on Dust Sampling Technician Initial Training is coming soon. The agency has also developed a Model Renovator Course and Model Renovator Refresher Training Course. This course was developed in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to train renovation, repair, and painting contractors how to work safely in housing with lead-based paint and comply with EPA's Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) Rule, and HUD's Lead Safe Housing Rule. A Spanish version will be available later this spring.

The Model Renovator courses supersede the lead-safe work practices courses titled “Lead Safety for Remodeling, Repair, and Painting” (EPA 747-B-03-001/2) and “Minimizing Lead-based Paint hazards During Renovation, Remodeling, and Painting” (EPA 747-B-00-005/6).

Under the RRP rule, contractors and maintenance officials who perform renovation activities in buildings built before 1978 must be certified, and employees who perform renovation activities must be trained. At least one Certified Renovator will have to be on the job site to oversee the project during containment, cleanup and other times.

EPA has also issued a new fee schedule that revises the existing fees for EPA's Lead-based Paint Activities Regulations and establishes fees for the Renovation, Repair, and Painting Rule. The fees cover the cost of administering the programs.

The existing fees in 40 CFR 745.238 for the Lead-based Paint Activities Regulations have been revised as follows:

• Accreditation for initial training course - $870
• Accreditation for refresher training course - $690
• Re-accreditation for initial training course - $620
• Re-accreditation for refresher training course - $580
• Initial firm certification - $550
• Initial Tribal firm certification - $20
• Firm re-certification - $550
• Combined lead-based paint activities and renovation firm certification - $550
• Combined lead-based paint activities and renovation firm certification for Tribal firms - $20
• Tribal firm re-certification - $20
• Individual certification (for all disciplines except worker) - $410
• Individual worker certification - $310
• Individual Tribal certification (all disciplines) - $10
• Individual re-certification (for all disciplines except worker) - $410
• Individual worker re-certification - $310
• Individual Tribal re-certification (all disciplines) - $10

This rule also establishes the following fees for the Renovation, Repair, and Painting Rule:

• Accreditation for initial renovator or dust sampling technician course - $560
• Accreditation for refresher renovator or dust sampling technician course - $400
• Re-accreditation for initial renovator or dust sampling technician course - $340
• Re-accreditation for refresher renovator or dust sampling technician course - $310
• Initial renovation firm certification - $300
• Combined lead-based paint activities and renovation firm certification - $550
• Combined lead-based paint activities and renovation firm certification for Tribal firms - $20
• Initial Tribal renovation firm certification - $20
• Renovation firm re-certification - $300
• Tribal renovation firm re-certification - $20

For information on course materials, fees or certification and accreditation requirements, or to locate an accredited training center, visit www.epa.gov/lead or call (202) 260-3810.