July 25, 2011
Nation's Building News

The Official Online Newspaper of NAHB

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Small Builders and Remodelers
Appropriations Committee Votes to Limit Funding for EPA Lead Rule Enforcement

In a rare voice vote, the House Appropriations Committee recently approved an amendment offered by Rep. Denny Rehberg (R-Mont.), to limit funding for enforcing the Environmental Protection Agency's Lead: Renovation, Repair and Painting rule until the agency provides a more accurate lead paint test kit.

While the measure must be approved by the House and then the Senate before it goes to the President’s desk, the amendment is a major step forward for an NAHB-led coalition that is seeking common-sense ways to comply with the lead rule, which applies to homes built before 1978.

The vote came after NAHB Remodelers called and emailed members of the committee to ask for their support of the Rehberg initiative.

“I’m very pleased that the committee understood how important it is to rein in these EPA excesses,” said NAHB Remodelers Chair Bob Peterson, CGR, CAPS, CGP. “NAHB members strongly support the intention of the lead paint regulations, but without a reliable test kit, the required lead-safe work practices add only expense and not additional protection.”

This amendment is a first step in limiting the EPA's enforcement of the lead rule. While passage through the House and Senate will be an uphill battle, the message to the EPA is that the agency should be listening to the concerns of professional remodelers over the lead rule.

Professional remodelers must continue to follow the lead rule and prepare for enforcement actions. NAHB members can find resources for lead rule compliance at www.nahb.org/leadcompliance.

For a previous NBN story on the Rehberg amendment, click here.

For more information on the lead paint rule, visit www.nahb.org/leadpaint.

For information on resources available from NAHB Remodelers, email Kelly Mack, or call her at 800-368-5242 x8451.

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