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Had an installer give me a quote today on installing vinyl windows and said that I needed to have them installed by april 1, 2010 due to new EPA regulations that would drive the cost up significantly. Has anyone else heard that or is he just blowing smoke to get us to order and install quickly?

He's telling you the truth. He is wrong about the deadline, it's April 21, 2010. He may have meant the windows need to be ordered by April 1, 2010 to insure they are installed by April 21, 2010. This law only pertains to homes built in 1978 or before.

http://www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/rrpfactsheet2008.htm

Here is a link to check who is actually certified firm.

http://cfpub.epa.gov/flpp/searchrrp_firm.htm

I wouldn't go by that list on EPA's website. We were certified nearly 2 months ago, have had Certification in hand for over 6 weeks and we still aren't listed even though we have made several calls to EPA asking that we be added. I would ask the firm for a copy of their certificate before ruling them out.

EPA did say it could take up to 90 days to get listed. We will probably post ours on our website. But from what I am seeing most of the industry isn't going to be certified. EPA is going to be busy enforcing this rule.

+1

Got certified in the middle of January.

Problem is there are local firms listed on EPA's site, who became certified after we did. I really wonder about how effectively this is going to be enforced if they can't even get certified fims listed in a timely manner

EPA won't even tell me if the opt out is staying or being dropped.

Here is a video from fox business talking about the implications of the lead law on home renovations.

http://video.foxbusiness.com/v/4137761/ ... t_id=87185

The opt-out will remain for at least 60 days after April 22nd.

Where did you get this information?

I just talked to the California branch of the EPA about it and they haven't heard anything about the opt out being allowed to stay. She told me they have received thousands of phone calls this past month about the new lead rule. She told me they would be setting up stings to catch firms not certified. Also they will be giving fines even if the firm didn't know about the lead rule. She says they will tell these firm that are caught not to do work on pre-1978 homes UNTIL they get certified. If they catch someone twice fines can double. She said if you aren't yet certified you shouldn't be doing work in pre-1978 homes. You will still be fined if caught.

I got a sense that this lead rule wasn't going to be taken lightly by them. She said they are having meeting about it every day to set up enforcement. She didn't seem to care if a firm is waiting to be get certification. If you took and class and are not a certified firm yet, start making a paper trail so you can show the EPA you were trying to do your best.

If you want more information call your local state EPA office directly. That's what I did. No 800#'s. EPA contracts out their customer service nationally and most of the people answering the phone don't have the details and you will be on hold forever. EPA will give you contact information if you wish to turn in firms not certified.

Interesting...The EPA doesn't know anything about the opt out being left in but, all we have is rumor that it will be taken out. This is such BS. There was an article in the Washington Post recently that gave a thorough run down on the rule but, it reminded consumers they could opt out as long as no children under 6 nor pregnant women resided in the house. All this is doing is causing even more confusion.

New Government Law...confusion....not possible.

BTW...those test strips are illegal to use in basically every other application of lead paint identification. Good thing they are turning salespeople loose with those.

I found 2 good articles about the EPA lead rule.

BBB article link to a video talking about it. Mainly for tradesman but homeowners seem to like the video part.
USA Today is just an article.

I don't either talks about the opt out part that is mentioned in other articles. I had out both to my customers so they don't think I'm making this stuff up.

http://www.bbb.org/us/article/new-epa-r ... l-22-18585

http://www.usatoday.com/communities/gre ... us-homes/1

Hope they help.

Here is another one from the New Your Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/09/health/09lead.html

Read the last part of the article. Nice. Got to love the Sierra Club.

"Mr. Neltner of the Sierra Club said that homeowners should insist on hiring only certified workers and should report violations as a way to make sure the rule is followed.

“There’s the ability for citizens to fill in even if the E.P.A. reneges on its responsibilities,” he said."