As promised the EPA is stepping up enforcement for lead violations. The question is why are they focusing on property management companies? Does this mean small contractors who haven't certified their personnel or firms have nothing to worry about?  Residential contractors who have stepped up to the plate and certified their firms and workers are wondering when is enforcement going to begin against illegally operating contracting companies? Legally operating contractors are telling us that consumers are hiring uncertified companies everywhere. One contractor from Cape Cod just told us he lost his last 8 bids on jobs requiring RRP practices to non RRP certified contractors. The consumers said they did not want to pay for a legal job. Where is the consumer education the EPA promised last year? Where is the enforcement against illegally operating contractors?

Certified Renovators are reporting that they have not heard anything from their RRP trainers since they were trained. 

Another contractor has been fined by the EPA for violating lead laws. The company is a painting contractor caught working in violation of the law in Hillsboro, Oregon.

Mass contractors are learning that the EPA RRP Lead Rule has been taken over by the Massachusetts Division of Occupational Safety. Just when you thought you had it figured out the landscape is changing again.

The Patrick and Murray administration from Massachusetts just announced a new program for Massachusetts citizens. The program is a free web based tool that will allow homeowners and businesses to verify workmen's compensation for Massachusetts contractors and other businesses. 

Today we learned that a contractor was caught violating the EPA RRP Lead rules in Brookline, Ma.

RRP trained contractors have numerous concerns and questions about implementing the practices covered in the Certified Renovator course. Many of the questions are around how to approach a pre-1978 project without doing something wrong triggering a potential fine. There is still alot of confusion regarding practices that conflict with OSHA.

Recent enforcement action in St Louis costs window contractor $39,577.00!! Penalty of $19,529 plus replacement of old windows with lead for a whopping $20,048.00. The contractor was caught not giving out a simple Renovate Right Brochure to homeowners.

Spring is here and we are getting requests to bring our EPA RRP Training back to Long Island, New York.

On 3/11/2011 I learned that the DOS is considering a sunset provision for contractors who sent in incomplete RRP lead applications. At the meeting Ernie Kelly from the DOS said; that even though there are 4000 Mass contractors who are Certified Firms on the EPA website, there are only 1000 in Mass. Contractors who Certified with the EPA before 7/9/2010 can apply for a license in Mass using the waiver form and not pay a fee. Yet only 1000 have done so.