The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized a rule to extend certifications for thousands of renovators under the Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting (LRRP) rule, effective April 16. The extension will allow as many people as possible to take advantage of pending cost-saving revisions to the federal requirements for refresher training – a course which certified renovators must complete to maintain their “lead-safe certified renovator” status. Take note that the extension does not apply in the 14 states that have been authorized by EPA to manage the LRRP program.
AGC reported on and strongly supported this extension, along with a proposal still in the works to eliminate the requirement that the renovator refresher training have a hands-on component, thereby allowing renovators to complete their recertification classes entirely online. Click here to read AGC’s comment letter to EPA. AGC Chapters that operate LRRP training also may benefit from these rule revisions.
Under the final rule:
- Individual renovators who received LRRP certification on or before March 31, 2010, now have until March 31, 2016, to get recertified.
- Individual renovators who received LRRP certification between April 1, 2010 and March 31, 2011, will have one year added to their five-year certification.
- Subsequent LRRP certifications for renovators receiving the extension will be five years.
Any AGC members affected by this extension rule already should have received an email from EPA announcing that their LRRP certification is being extended so make sure it did not get stuck in your spam filter. Individual renovators should hold on to EPA’s email because you may need it in the future as proof that your LRRP certification is still valid, as EPA will not be issuing any formal certificates.
April 28 UPDATE: Based on a meeting today with EPA staff, AGC learned that EPA’s email notification (click here for an example) was circulated only to the primary contacts in EPA’s database of Certified Lead RRP Firms and to those individuals signed up to receive EPA Lead RRP Updates. If you did not receive an email from EPA, the agency is recommending that you attach the Federal Register extension notice to your EPA Certified Renovator certificate.
As stated above, the extension does not apply to certified renovators operating in the 14 states that have been authorized by EPA to manage the LRRP program. It also does not apply to firm certifications or individual renovators that need their initial certification.
For more information on EPA’s LRRP rule, please see AGC’s Fact Sheet. To find an LRRP training class or provider in your area, click here. You may also wish to visit EPA’s Lead Program website.