MEDIA CONTACT: Alan Heymann (202) 741-2136

Washington, DC – The District Department of the Environment (DDOE) announced that beginning December 22, anyone paid to renovate residential housing or child-occupied facilities (such as daycare centers) built before 1978 must provide a new EPA pamphlet, entitled Renovate Right, to the owners and occupants.  Both DDOE and the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) have already begun making the Renovate Right brochures available to the public. 

The brochure requirement begins the national implementation of a sweeping set of EPA regulations called the Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule, otherwise known as RRP. The rule establishes requirements for training and certifying individual renovators and renovation firms, to ensure that the work they do in properties that may contain lead paint is done safely, without generating lead hazards.  The rule also establishes cleanup requirements for those whose work disturbs paint in these properties.  The use of lead-based paint was not restricted nationally until 1978, and the bulk of the District’s housing was built before lead paint was banned.

“Properly containing and cleaning up lead paint is always crucial for the health of children and expectant mothers because we have so many older homes in the District,” said DDOE Director George S. Hawkins. “These new federal requirements will make the renovation process safer and keep homeowners more informed.”

Experts agree that renovation work, including such standard practices as paint maintenance and window replacement, can generate substantial amounts of leaded dust and debris.

“The dangers of lead are not limited to massive renovation projects,” said DCRA Director Linda K. Argo. “Even small home improvement projects can create a risk. But by following some simple guidelines outlined by the EPA, everyone can dramatically reduce exposure and safely complete their project.”

Awareness is growing nationally that exposure to even a small amount of lead-contaminated dust can cause significant adverse health consequences for young children.  Pregnant women are also at high risk, because the lead they may ingest or inhale crosses the placenta and affects the fetus. 

The Renovate Right brochure can be accessed here: http://www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/renovaterightbrochure.pdf*