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With three days left before the new EPA lead-safe rules kick in, Mississippi has become the fourth state to establish its own program, and more than 129,000 contractors have been trained nationwide.
Mississippi became authorized for the Lead Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) program on April 9, upon the submittal of an Authorization Application and letter requesting authorization from Gov. Haley Barbour and a certification from Special Assistant Attorney General J. D. Woodcock, that the state’s program is at least as protective as the EPA RRP program and provides adequate enforcement.
This will enable Mississippi to administer and enforce an RRP program. This program mandates that contractors working in homes and child-occupied facilities built before 1978 be trained and certified in lead-safe work practices by the state of Mississippi.
Similar EPA requirements will be in place nationwide by Thursday, April 22, but the Mississippi program will operate in lieu of EPA's program in that state, allowing for greater local oversight. For more information about Mississippi's new program, including information on applying for certification or finding training, contact the Mississippi Lead Program at 601-961-5171 or visit the state website at www.deq.state.ms.us/MDEQ.nsf/page/Air_Lead-BasedPaint.
State-run programs have also been approved in Wisconsin, North Carolina and Iowa.
Nationwide, the EPA has offered more than 5,600 courses and trained 129,000 or more renovators in the new rules as of April 12, EPA said. An additional 850 courses will graduate an additional 21,000 renovators by Thursday’s deadline, EPA said. The training capacity will continue to increase and training will remain available after April 22.
For full information on the rules, visit www.epa.gov/lead.
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