Collins Lead Paint Rule Supplemental Amendment Passes

An amendment offered by Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) to the 2010 Supplemental Appropriations Act (H.R. 4899) has been adopted by a vote of 60-37.

What it would do, per a press release:

In an effort to assist small contractors who are struggling to comply with new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lead paint regulations, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Olympia J. Snowe introduced an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2010 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill to provide small contractors with more time to receive mandated training.

The rule, called “Lead: Renovation, Repair and Paint Rule,” went into effect April 22, 2010. It requires that contractors who perform work in homes built before 1978 be EPA certified or face fines up to $37,500 per violation per day. Unfortunately, as a result of EPA’s lack of planning, there still are not enough certified trainers in most states to educate contractors about these new requirements. Three states, Louisiana, Wyoming and South Dakota, do not have a single EPA-certified trainer. In Maine, there are just three EPA-certified trainers. Hundreds of Maine contractors have signed up for training, but are being forced to wait.

The amendment introduced today by Senators Collins, Snowe and cosponsored by several of their colleagues would bar the EPA from levying fines against contractors who have signed up for training classes by September 30, 2010. This delay would allow adequate time for contractors to comply with the new regulation.

(credit image – daylife/associated press)