The EPA ("Exceptionally Progressive Agenda") is attempting to hurt business once again. They got the lead paint remediation bill passed, and now through administrative rule (not Congressional law) are attempting to make matters even worse.
In the first place, rule making by governmental bodies is blatantly unconstitutional. Only Congress can make laws, yet the EPA, HUD, DOE, DOT, IRS, and all the others make and enforce their own rules laws as if they were Congress. Clearly a viloation of separation of powers in both letter and intent.
Back to the lead paint "rule." This affects all homes built in 1977 and earlier. In some markets this encompasses a substantial amount of homes. In others, not all that many.
Still, anyone working on interior remodeling - contractors, painters, electricians, plumbers, and the like - who disturbs more than 6 square feet of interior painted wall space (roughly the size of a 30-36" cabinet) must comply with this rule. That includes a licensing class and registration (about $600). The exterior requirement is 20 square feet, or about the size of a door.
There a lot of other reporting and record-keeping provisions for compliance.
Beginning next month, if it is allowed to stand, the EPA wants to require a wipe-down sample of the completed remodeled area to be sent to a lab for verification of compliance. This is estimated to cost $100-500 per job, and is hardly the thing that can get passed through to the consumer since they didn't ask for all the compliance in the first place.
Point of fact, lead poisoning affects only small children and women who are expecting - people who have been living in the home anyway. Additionally. lead paint stopped being sold in the 60s. The 1978 date is very arbitrary.
The EPA has found another way to punish remodelers and contractors.
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