EPA "Firm Certification"

[JasonW]

OK, trying to get all this figured out so excuse me if I seem a bit behind.

I'm getting mixed answers from local businesses about the need for Firm Certification. I've been told by some that you don't need it and that once you take the 8 hour course for Lead Renovators, that's it, nothing more to do.

Someone PLEASE explain to me what the extra step of "Firm Certification" does! Do my subs need this? Is this just for GC's? Can I apply BEFORE I get my Lead Renovators Cert? What the heck is this "district" thing on the questionnaire? I work in several States so this could get costly, quick. Hard to do when you're a small company that travels!

That's all for now:mad2:

[Silvertree]

You take the class and send in $300 to the EPA.

Everything else you hear is bullshit. All contractors disturbing lead must comply.

If your the only one with the Cert then guess who the lawyers go after.

[Tommy]

You can apply for the firm certification before you've taken the class. The district stuff on there is if you are applying for Lead Abatement or Evaluation certification. You don't need that stuff.

For now, the $300 covers most states. If one of the states you work in decides they want to run their own program, you might have to pay for another certification.

I think the EPA can take up to 90 days to approve a firm certification, so you might want to get it sent in quick.

[bikerboy]

How/where do you take the classes? Links?

[SLS-Construction]

The "District" only applies to Abatement contractors

You must become a certified firm & use certified renovators - thus you need the firm cert & at least one employee or yourself certified.

BB - go here and hit the state you are located in http://www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/trainingproviders.htm

[RCP]

Bikerboy,

http://www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/trainingproviders.htm
or
http://www.connorsolutions.com/

Classes in my area are only held in Salt Lake City, 4 hours north.
I contacted them and they will come here do to a training with a minimum of 10 participants for $300 each, regular price is $ 200.

Now just need to find 9 others that are willing!

[JasonW]

Bikerboy,

http://www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/trainingproviders.htm
or
http://www.connorsolutions.com/

Classes in my area are only held in Salt Lake City, 4 hours north.
I contacted them and they will come here do to a training with a minimum of 10 participants for $300 each, regular price is $ 200.

Now just need to find 9 others that are willing!

Same deal here. The course I'm taking is about 2 1/2 hours from me. I'm going but I'll be getting a room and going up the night before so I'm fresh before going to an all day class and then driving back home after. Road conditions arent the best in Northern Vermont, in the middle of February.

[dan-o]

Jason,
Where are you taking the test?
I might send a couple guys there.
I took my class @ Mt Snow in early Nov.

[JasonW]

Jason,
Where are you taking the test?
I might send a couple guys there.
I took my class @ Mt Snow in early Nov.

It's in Montpelier ( 3 Graves Street )

[Blue]

Bikerboy,

http://www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/trainingproviders.htm
or
http://www.connorsolutions.com/

Classes in my area are only held in Salt Lake City, 4 hours north.
I contacted them and they will come here do to a training with a minimum of 10 participants for $300 each, regular price is $ 200.

Now just need to find 9 others that are willing!

Why not pick a date, put the sign up flyer at your paint supplier. I'm sure you can get enough to pull it off for a local class.

[Blue]

...and on another note they have always forced me to have cert on each employee so I think you have 3 employees right? I don't know if the new law is allowing for just the superviser to be cert but it hasn't ever been that way here. At least for the 5 years I've had to do it.

[SLS-Construction]

...and on another note they have always forced me to have cert on each employee so I think you have 3 employees right? I don't know if the new law is allowing for just the superviser to be cert but it hasn't ever been that way here. At least for the 5 years I've had to do it.

Are you an abatement contractor - that is diffrent than a renovation contractor

[Blue]

neither. the cert is (or was) is the same for all that took the course.

The only reason I needed it is because I do Federal Gov. work and all of those jobs are tested for lead after and all employees on the site are req. to have the cert. Those jobs have required the lead cet for years.

[SLS-Construction]

Ok - got you, HUD jobs, etc... so now you are stuck taking a 4 hour refresher course for the new one & probably all your guys to.

[RCP]

Why not pick a date, put the sign up flyer at your paint supplier. I'm sure you can get enough to pull it off for a local class.

I did send an email to my paint rep, and plan to do that. I talked to the only guy (a remodeler) in town that is currently certified, he may have some guys.


...and on another note they have always forced me to have cert on each employee so I think you have 3 employees right? I don't know if the new law is allowing for just the superviser to be cert but it hasn't ever been that way here. At least for the 5 years I've had to do it.

I thought about that, but from what I understand a CR can supervise and train workers. I do plan on making Rob attend, not sure if it is needed for the employees.

[Blue]

Ok - got you, HUD jobs, etc... so now you are stuck taking a 4 hour refresher course for the new one & probably all your guys to.

yes, Cdub showed me somewhere that states you have to redo every 5 years. The bad news is that the economy has forced many of the wobbly into this area and the last time I looked at the list of contractors it had grown from 8 to over 50 contractors. These are for the most part low ballers so I got out last year when the bottom feeders swam in.

[dan-o]

I thought about that, but from what I understand a CR can supervise and train workers. I do plan on making Rob attend, not sure if it is needed for the employees.

If Rob is certified he can field-train your employees.
As the sole certified worker, however, he will need to be on-site for set up and take down. He will also need to be reachable by phone when off-site during the day. You might want to consider having another worker certified so the show doesn't stop if rob gets sick or takes the afternoon off to buy you diamonds. :grin:

[Leo G]

Please note that the State of Connecticut is not yet authorized to administer the EPA’s RRP. The Connecticut DPH is available to offer compliance assistance and an overview of the RRP requirements to regulated entities and interested groups.

http://www.ct.gov/dph/cwp/view.asp?a=3140&q=387572




.

[Tommy]

http://www.ct.gov/dph/cwp/view.asp?a=3140&q=387572




.

Leo, I think that just means that you will have to apply through the EPA, instead of CT. I think there are only three states so far that are approved to administer the rule.

I suppose we all could get hit with another registration fee whenever our state starts administering the rule.

[Leo G]

I just think it means the state is clueless and is leaving it up to the contractors to find their own way through the ruling. After we get ourselves all set the state will then decide on how to go and how much to charge. That is how I read it.

[Silvertree]

Its a Federal Rule, so you get the EPA Certification.
Here are the approved trainer for Connecticut
*

Chemscope, Inc.
8 Moulthrop Street
North Haven, CT 06473
Phone: 203-865-5605
Training in Connecticut
*

Environmental Compliance Services
588 Silver Street
Agawam, MA 01001
Phone: 413-789-3530
Training in Connecticut, Florida, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, and Vermont
*

Environmental Training and Assessment (Boston Lead Company, LLC)
62 Washington Street, Floor 2
Middletown. CT 06457
Phone: 860-347-7277
Training in Connecticut
*

Fuss & O'Neill EnviroScience, LLC *
146 Hartford Road
Manchester, CT 06040
Phone: 860-646-2469
Training in Connecticut
*

RTK Environmental Group *
47 Spring Street
Newington, CT 06111
Phone: 860-523-1950
Training in Connecticut

[Leo G]

Thanks Paul, got a link to that info?

[Silvertree]

I grabbed that from a national list

http://www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/trainingproviders.htm#nationwide

This list will serve all RC members

[Leo G]

Great.............

[Blue]

I suppose we all could get hit with another registration fee whenever our state starts administering the rule.

And a second fee. I was told last week that if I trained in January of 2010 or earlier that I would have to retrain and re-pay in February of 2010. I think the 23rd of Feb is the date here but check with your State so you don't have to do it twice.