Who must comply with the EPA's Renovation, Repair, and Painting rule?

The correct answer focuses on contractors because the EPA's Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) rule specifically targets those who disturb painted surfaces in homes built before 1978, a year when lead-based paints were banned for residential use. The regulation mandates that these contractors must be certified and follow specific work practices to minimize lead exposure risks during renovations, repairs, and painting activities.

This rule is grounded in the need to protect public health, particularly that of children and pregnant women, as even minor disturbances in these older homes can release lead dust and chips, posing serious health hazards. Therefore, compliance is a requirement primarily directed at professionals engaged in these activities, ensuring that they are adequately trained in safe lead handling practices.

Homeowners may certainly benefit from this knowledge and practice if they choose to undertake DIY projects, but their compliance with the rule is not mandated in the same way as that for certified contractors. Government agencies and real estate agents are not the focus of the rule, as the primary concern centers on the actual construction and renovation work being performed in these environments.