HELENA – U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg has asked the White House to delay a new Environmental Protection Agency rule that requires contractors to take extra precautions in dealing with lead-paint dust and debris.
The Republican on Friday asked that the April 22 date be pushed back because not enough contractors have received the training to become “lead-safe certified” and could lose work.
Montana has only one EPA-certified lead-safe instructor, located in Bozeman, and Rehberg says that means there aren’t enough teachers to provide training.
The Montana Building Industry Association says up to 75 percent of companies in the state that need the training won’t be able to meet the April 22 deadline.
Lead poisoning can harm the nervous and cause learning disabilities and other problems. Children 6 and younger are most at risk.