Typical renovations are governed by the federal Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) rule, which requires those working for compensation on sites potentially containing lead paint to undergo training and take precautions to minimize lead exposure. Much of the current work in Missouri is subject to emergency provisions in the RRP rule, allowing those working on the flood-damaged buildings to undertake their renovations without advance notice and to use workers who have not yet undergone training for working with lead-contaminated buildings. Additionally, volunteers working to clean up their communities are not subject to RRP requirements.
The EPA clarified the nature of the RRP emergency provisions, which still require those being paid for their work to meet certain cleaning, cleaning verification and recordkeeping provisions of the regulation. The agency also advises homeowners and volunteers undertaking renovations to contain their sites so that dust cannot move outside of the area and to use processes and technology that minimize the amount of dust created during their work. Those doing their own renovations should clean the area thoroughly with a HEPA vacuum when finished and keep children, pregnant women and pets away from the area throughout renovations.
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