Lead Paint and Commercial Buildings

On April 23, 2010, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced that renovations and repairs of pre-1978 residential housing must now be conducted using safe practices to protect children and pregnant women from exposure to lead-based paint. The Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting (LRRP) Rules is having adverse effects on the residential renovation, by raising both the hard and soft costs associated with each contracted job.

The EPA's April 23 release included an additional proposed action that will, if adopted, directly impact the commercial glazing industry:

An advance notice of proposed rulemaking to announce EPA’s intention to apply lead-safe work practices to renovations on public and commercial buildings. The advance notice also announces EPA’s investigation into lead-based paint hazards that may be created by renovations on the interior of these public and commercial buildings. If EPA determines that lead-based paint hazards are created by interior renovations, EPA will propose regulations to address the hazards.

This is a very important issue that we, as an association, must address in a unified fashion. We have until July 6 to forward our comments about this proposed action to the EPA, and we need you to get involved. Toward that end, we would like to offer you this draft letter so you can craft your own communication with the EPA.

If you would like your letter to be included in the NGA's submission to the EPA, please submit it by June 23, 2010. You can email your letter to akirkman@glass.org or mail it to Alyssa Kirkman, National Glass Association, 8200 Greensboro Drive, Ste 302, McLean, VA 22102.