Surprise: EPA Renovation, Repair, and Painting Rule Adds Cost, Does Little

PAjamas Media ^ | May 11 | Clarice Feldman

[AJKauf]

New EPA regulations on lead paint in homes — first promulgated in April 2008 and just made effective — apply to all homes, child care facilities, and schools built before 1978 unless testing establishes that the structure is free of lead paint.

According to the best estimates I can find, there are 72 to 80 million children aged 18 and under in the United States. Children under 6 are most vulnerable to the consequences of lead poisoning, defined as lead levels greater than 10 micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood, “the level at which CDC recommends public health actions be initiated.”...

[businessprofessor]

My home was built in 1976 so I think that any work on my home would be subject to this nonsense. I am having some inside painting and other renovation on my home this week by contractor friend from another state. The group does incredible work at excellent prices (there are no illegals working on the project). They do not get any building permits so these requirements do not apply. If I used a licensed contractor in my area, I would likely be subject to the nonsensical new rules.

[bgill]

It’s amazing how so many of us managed to survive such horrors and lived to tell about it. I say we bring back clackers and lawn darts.

[pabianice]

Chicken feed. Crap and Tirade will give the government complete control of your private house, from a “smart net” that will allow them to control your heating and electricity, to forbidding the sale of your home until it is “energy efficient” enough — at your expense.

[Tarpon]

surprise, government costs a lot does little ...

Couldn’t even get those fire-booms could they.

[jaydubya2]

"Starting on Earth Day, April 22, contractors working on almost all homes built before 1978 must prove they have the Environmental Protection Agency's stamp of approval to do the work -- or face fines of up to $37,500 a day."

[businessprofessor]

Who enforces this regulation? Does the EPA have police force driving down neighborhoods? Do cities enforce this code as part of their permitting process? This EPA regulation is a barrier to entry for small contractors. The situation looks like collusion between Democrats, big labor, and select businesses. I can see the Democrats withholding certification based on labor practices (no union).