Search Frequent Questions

Displaying 1 - 15 of 30 results

• What is the definition of “overburdened community” that is relevant for EPA Actions and Promising Practices?

  EPA Actions and Promising Practices apply the description of overburdened communities articulated in EPA’s Plan EJ 2014. The term is used to describe the minority, low‐income, tribal and indigenous populations or communities in the United States that potentially experience disproportionate environmental harms and risks due to exposures or cumulative impacts…

  • Last published: July 10, 2024

• Can renovator training courses, both initial and refresher courses, be taught online or via distance learning?

  Answer: The final Renovation, Repair and Painting regulation, like the abatement program, permits the use of alternative training techniques (e.g., video training, computer-based training) as a supplement to the hands-on skills assessment, or as a substitute for the lecture portion of the training course requirements outlined in § 745.225. In…

  • Last published: November 5, 2024

• If a remodeling company that is a certified firm uses all contractual workers rather than employees, must each contractual worker be a certified renovator, or can the workers be trained on the job by a certified renovator employed by the firm?

  Firms hiring contractual workers may provide the certified renovator that oversees the renovation project and provides on-the-job training to contractual workers and other non-certified workers. Question Number: 23002-18377 Find a printable PDF copy of all frequent questions pertaining to lead .

  • Last published: November 19, 2024

• Is the certified renovator assigned to a specific project responsible for the work practices of other contractors on the project if the certified renovator is an employee of the general contractor of the project?

  All firms performing renovations must ensure that all individuals performing renovation activities on behalf of the firm are either certified renovators or have been trained by a certified renovator. A firm acting as a general contractor may satisfy this requirement by hiring another certified firm that takes responsibility for ensuring…

  • Last published: November 19, 2024

• What about a situation where the homeowner is acting as their own general contractor and hires multiple companies to do different portions of the work? In this situation, would each business participating be required to follow the rules and assign a separate certified renovator to supervise their portion of the work including separate containment?

  Answer: While the homeowner may be performing the role of general contractor by hiring firms and organizing their work, the homeowner is not performing, offering, or claiming to perform a renovation and therefore does not need to be a certified firm. The firms hired by the homeowner to perform renovation…

  • Last published: November 19, 2024

• The certified renovator is required to have proof of their certification at the work site. If the certified renovator provides on-the-job training to workers, does there need to be documentation of that training at the work site too?

  Answer: No. Certified renovators must have with them at the work site copies of their initial course completion certificate and their most recent refresher course completion certificate. Certified renovators are also responsible for providing training to non-certified workers on the work practices they will be using in performing their assigned…

  • Last published: November 19, 2024

• What training requirements apply to non-certified workers who have previous EPA/HUD lead-safe work practices training or accredited abatement supervisor or worker training?

  The Lead Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) Rule requires certified renovators to provide on-the-job training (OJT) to non-certified workers on the work practices they will be using in performing their assigned tasks. The amount of OJT needed and the topics that need to be covered depend on the knowledge and…

  • Last published: November 19, 2024

• Are permit applicants required to adopt the Promising Practices?

  EPA is not requiring permit applicants to adopt the Promising Practices. Promising Practices are simply that: good ideas in the form of suggestions to permit applicants. Permit applicants may benefit from applying these Promising Practices. EPA hopes that when permit applicants practice early and meaningful dialogue with the community, they…

  • Last published: July 10, 2024

• EPA Actions does not require EPA regional offices to prioritize the same types of permits and adopt the same outreach activities. Why doesn’t EPA require regional offices to always prioritize certain permits and always do certain outreach activities?

  EPA Actions strikes an important balance between national consistency and regional flexibility. The Agency‐wide guidelines establish national consistency by providing EPA’s expectations for the regional implementation plans. At the same time, EPA recognizes that the regional offices need the flexibility to take actions suited to the types of permits and…

  • Last published: July 10, 2024

• Does EPA Actions apply to permits that are jointly issued by EPA and a state, tribal, or local permitting authority with partially delegated permitting authority?

  EPA regional offices will decide whether a permit that EPA jointly issues with a state, tribal, or local permitting authority should be considered for prioritization for enhanced outreach as described in EPA Actions on a case‐by‐case basis. EPA will take into account its role and authority in issuing the specific…

  • Last published: July 10, 2024

• Why doesn’t EPA do enhanced outreach for every permit?

  Robust public outreach and engagement can consume a substantial amount of resources from all stakeholders in a permitting process and would not be warranted for every permit action. EPA recognizes that its regional offices cannot enhance engagement for every EPA‐issued permit and that overburdened communities might be overwhelmed with process…

  • Last published: July 10, 2024

• How will an EPA regional office determine whether a permitted activity may have significant public health or environmental impacts?

  Permit applications provide information on the proposed project consistent with the requirements of particular statutes and regulations. EPA may also do its own assessment of the environmental and public health impacts of a proposed project, using modeling and monitoring data for example. Such information would inform an EPA regional office’s…

  • Last published: July 10, 2024

• How will EPA Actions apply to EPA‐permitted activities that may impact multiple EPA regions?

  A permitted activity could potentially impact an area that straddles two or more EPA regions. The EPA region where the permitted activity is located usually has the lead for issuing the permit. EPA regions with the lead for issuing the permit routinely engage other regions impacted by the permitted activity…

  • Last published: July 10, 2024

• Will EPA provide incentives to permit applicants who adopt Promising Practices, like an expedited permit process?

  EPA is not providing incentives to permit applicants who adopt the Promising Practices, such as an expedited permit process. Nevertheless, permit applicants should be aware of the many benefits that can accrue to them if they adopt the Promising Practices to create a constructive dialogue with the community in which…

  • Last published: July 10, 2024

• I'm a certified renovator and am planning to take refresher training course soon to keep my certification current. How long will my new certification last?

  Renovators who recertify by taking a refresher training course from an accredited training provider will have certification that lasts for a period of five years from the date of training. Question Number: 23002-35001 Find a printable PDF copy of all frequent questions pertaining to lead .

  • Last published: November 19, 2024