4. How/where did you first find out about the EPA’s RRP rule?
A range of resources for RRP information were included in the survey, though three-quarters of respondents named trade groups as their primary source of RRP information. A full 50% of remodelers first learned of the rule from industry publications, while another quarter (24%) were primarily informed by their trade associations, including NARI, NAHB, NKBA, or another group.
While McCadden says the residential construction industry was “asleep at the wheel,” with regard to RRP, and suggests that trade associations are neither large nor powerful enough “to protect and guide our interests,” he remains skeptical that the EPA did enough to educate affected business owners on its new rule.
“The EPA claims to have done ‘extensive outreach’ to notify the regulated community but many in our industry do not agree,” he says. “Only 3% of respondents found out [about the RRP rule] from EPA: is this extensive outreach? EPA admits they can’t find the majority of the businesses that need to comply.”
Remodeling will continue to update readers on the RRP rule in the magazine and online under the Lead Paint tab on the homepage.
