EPA revises lead paint rule

The Environmental Protection Agency announced July 15 it was not expanding its Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting rule to include dust wipe sampling and clearance testing requirements as proposed in May 2010.

"After carefully weighing all available information and considering the public comments, EPA has concluded it is not necessary to impose new lead-dust sampling and laboratory analysis, known as the clearance requirements, as part of the Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting rule. The agency believes that the existing lead-safe work practices and clean up requirements — which went into place in 2010 — will protect people from lead dust hazards created during renovations jobs without the need for additional clearance requirements," the EPA said in a statement.

The EPA did announce it was making some changes that "clarify and strengthen the current lead-safe work practices, including requiring that a vertical containment system or equivalent measures be used when outside renovations are performed within 10 feet of a property line, and that HEPA-vacuum filters be changed at regular intervals."

For more information, visit http://www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/lrrpprepub.pdf.