) announced in mid-September that it would postpone lead rules for exterior remodeling of commercial properties by about three years.

Asreported on the U.S. Senate Committee on Environmental & Public Works website, “The legal agreement … shows EPA has decided to merge its exterior [LRRP] rule ... with its interior regulations ... set to be proposed in July 2015 and finalized in January 2017.”

“I have always supported the intent of LRRP ... but EPA’s implementation of the rule has long been botched ...” Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.)

Many legislators believe the certification process is costly and unnecessary for exterior commercial work, which has a low risk of exposure.

Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, introduced legislation (S. 2148) that would not allow the EPA to expand the rule to commercial or public buildings — with an exemption for emergency renovations after a natural disaster.

The EPA will hold public information meetings this winter to seek input from a small-business advocacy review panel. —Stacey Freed, senior editor, REMODELING.

More REMODELING articles about lead regulation:

Overview — What Is the RRP?

NARI & NAHBR Stance on RRP Opt-Out Provision

RRP Compliance: More States Take on Lead-Safety Enforcement