Lead-Based Paint and Lead Hazard Reduction

NAHB will continue working with HUD, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and EPA to eliminate the risk of lead poisoning and support their goal of eliminating childhood lead poisoning;

Further, NAHB urges HUD, EPA and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to reconcile and support efforts to create consistency among the states in their lead regulations to ensure reciprocity in training and certification requirements, training programs and training grants;

Further, NAHB encourages contractor training/certification in lead-safe work practices and promote their use by owners of multifamily properties and remodelers who work in properties containing lead-based paint built prior to 1978;

Further, NAHB urges federal officials to support state and local efforts to create “safe harbors” from the risk of future claims and allegations for contractors, remodelers and multifamily property owners who follow EPA’s prescribed lead-safe work practices and are fully compliant with the recordkeeping and reporting requirements;

Further, NAHB urges Congress to: 1. Direct HUD, EPA and CDC to report to Congress and the public annually on the overall progress toward achieving the goal of eliminating childhood lead poisoning and identify specific geographic areas and demographic groups who reside in housing stock (i.e. owner-occupied and rental housing) covered by EPA’s RRP rule and report what portion of these children are still at risk from lead hazards; and 2. Oppose adding any requirement for dust clearance testing to the rule through any appropriations or authorization legislation;

Further, NAHB will pursue all options to compel EPA to restore the Opt Out provision to the RRP rule; continue to oppose any future clearance testing requirements;

Further, NAHB will work with other non-governmental organizations to urge EPA to increase its efforts to increase consumer awareness as well as coalesce with these non-profits to further inform the general public of the rule’s requirements;

Further, NAHB will partner with EPA to develop education and outreach programs for home owners and an improved reliable pre-renovation test kit that can be used to determine if lead is present as defined on painted surfaces in pre-1978 structures; and

Further, NAHB engages in the development of regulations for: 1. Public and commercial buildings and work to ensure that any new regulations are based on data concerning exposure pathways to lead-based paint in these structures; and 2. The definition of lead-based paint and lead-dust hazards.

Further, NAHB encourages Congress to require EPA to develop realistic capital and compliance costs and that the details of those cost analysis be made available for public comment.

Resolution originally adopted: 2012.2, Resolution No. 2

• NAHB Remodelers Council Board of Trustees
• Multifamily Council Board of Trustees