Copyright: Kevin Grant
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced that it will extend recertification deadlines for workers involved in activities that disturb lead-based paint on pre-1978 residential properties. Workers certified on or before March 31, 2010, now have until March 31, 2016 to get recertified. The extension only applies to workers that fall under EPA’s renovation program and not to those under authorized state programs.
NMHC/NAA submitted detailed comments to EPA supporting amendments to the recertification process including online training. The extension will give the agency time to complete the proposed amendment to their recent Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) training rule while not placing a higher regulatory burden on workers in the interim.
Issued in 2010, the training rule required workers to complete an eight-hour, federally-approved training course that included hands-on training. EPA proposed amending the rule earlier this year by providing re-certifying workers with the option of fulfilling the hands-on portion of the training online.
Renovators who received certification between April 1, 2010 and March 31, 2011 will have one year added to their five-year certification. After that, certifications for renovators receiving the extension will be five years. A final decision on online training for RRP workers is expected later this year.
Staff Resource
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