Newsletter for RRP Contractors July 30, 2015 The content of this newsletter is for EPA administered jurisdictions only. This includes all but 14 states that operate their own RRP program. See "Authorized State" topic below for information. In This Issue Change to firm application process Renovator training expiration extended Look for the Logo" campaign Firm certification Amending your application Authorized states Frequent question database (FQ database) Useful Info & Change to firm application process Effective September 15, 2015 EPA will no longer offer the option to submit firm certification applications by mail. After that date all firm applications, payments, updates and certificate replacement requests will be done online. This change is part of an Agency effort to decrease cost and increase efficiency. The option to submit firm applications online has been available for some time; currently 85% of applications are submitted in this manner. Acceptable methods for payments online include credit card, debit card, or electronic check. Instructions Renovation Reaulations "Look for Loao" Renovator training expiration extended Materials EPA has extended the trainina expiration date for many certified renovators. This was done so if the orooosed chanaes of January 2015 are finalized, many more renovators will be able to take advantage of those changes. Affected expiration dates are based on when the previous course was taken (see table below). Certification Information Find a Trainer or Course in Your Area RRP Firm Materials Loao Use Guidelines ------- Lead in the News Note: The extensions do not apply to firm certifications. Need Assistance? Frequent Questions Database National Lead Information Center Contact Us http://www.epa.aov/ lead EPA Regional Contacts Renovator Training Expiration Information Date course completed Expiration On or before March 31, 2010 March 31, 2016 From April 1, 2010 - March 31, 2011 6 years from the date of course completion On or after April 1, 2011 No extension provided - Expiration is 5 years from the date of course completion Use EPA's "Look for the Logo" campaign to promote your business! As you know, EPA's RRP requires firms working in older homes and child care facilities to be certified, train their employees, and follow lead-safe work practices. To ensure that your potential customers hire a Lead-Safe Certified firm, help spread the word by using EPA's outreach materials to remind everyone to "Look for the Logo"! For more information or to download the materials for free, click here. Help us encourage your potential customers to "Look ------- for the Logo". Feel free to place the widget on your webpage and highlight the print ad in an upcoming customer newsletter or email. Firm certification Firm certifications expire after five years. This means that firm certifications have already begun to expire - please check your expiration date. Firms are encouraged to apply early, at least 90 days before their expiration, to ensure their application is processed before they expire. You won't be penalized for applying early, just be sure to select "re- certification" and your new 5-year certification won't begin until your current certification expires. Click here for information about applying for re- certification. Note: It has come to our attention that some renovation firms have trained employees but the firm itself is not certified. While student training is an important aspect of the regulation, all businesses providing regulated renovation activities must be certified (even sole proprietorships). Firm certification involves the submission of an application and fee to EPA. We have reached out to our training providers and asked for their help emphasizing this in their course deliveries. Amending your application A firm must amend their certification within 90 days of the date a change occurs to information included in their most recent application. If the firm fails to ------- amend their certification within that period, the firm may not perform renovations or dust sampling until their certification is amended Authorized states To date, EPA has authorized 14 states to run their own renovation programs. Renovators and firms that only work within an authorized state(s) must be certified by each authorized state in which they do work, and would not be required to be certified by EPA. The authorized states are AL, DE, GA, IA, KS, MA, MS, NC, OK, OR, RI, UJ, WA and WI. If an individual renovator is certified by an authorized state they are also qualified to work in EPA administered states, with no additional training. EPA certified renovators wishing to work in an authorized state should contact the state to determine if additional training/certification is necessary. Regardless of whether a firm is certified by an authorized state, if they do work in an EPA administered state they must be certified by EPA. Click here to see the FQ's related to this topic. Frequent question database (FQ database) EPA maintains an online database of Frequent Questions regarding the Agency's Lead Program. It is regularly updated to ensure that you have access to the very latest information. When questions come up we recommend you first go to the FQ Database, then ------- if you cannot find the answer you're looking for call the National Lead Information Center at 1-800-424- LEAD (5323). Here's an example from the FQ database. I took my initial renovator training on May 1, 2010 and my training expiration was extended, will I get something that shows my expiration was extended? The answer is "no". Take a look at FO 23002-36710 for more details! ------- |