By Christina Lewellen, Senior Editor
Window and door dealers are probably
throwing parties as a result of EPA’s decision last week not to add lead
clearance testing to LRRP rules. I don’t blame them—it’s been well
documented that adding post-project clearance testing for lead dust
would have added significant cost and burden to remodeling projects in
pre-1978 homes.
No doubt, the
decision announced this week is a significant victory for the industry
associations and individual companies that banded together to
communicate to our elected leaders and government officials.
The
question now—as we ride the wave of excitement and success—is whether
the remodeling and construction industry can have additional victories
in the government and legislative realm. Will we be able to bring the
“opt-out provision” back on the table and fight for homeowners who don’t
have children or pregnant women in the home and are content to opt-out
of lead-safe work procedures? Can LRRP requirements be kept out of the
commercial side of our businesses? Should we look at other arenas?
