The Tennessee Lead Elimination Action Program at MTSU will offer “Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule” initial training for contractors at the University’s Foundation House at 324 W. Thompson Lane in Murfreesboro.

TN LEAP will conduct the one-day, eight-hour RRP training on Aug. 10, Aug. 31, Sept. 21 and Oct. 12. During training, participants will learn the procedures required by the Environmental Protection Agency to renovate, repair or paint pre-1978 residential properties.

Common renovation activities like sanding, cutting, and demolition in these structures can be hazardous to adults and children. Because of this, EPA issued its RRP Rule in April 2010, requiring contractors who perform projects that disturb lead-based paint in homes, child-care facilities and schools built before 1978 to be certified and follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination. RRP certification may be needed for jobs in plumbing, electrical, drywall, painting, tile, window replacement, landscaping, repairs, construction, renovation, remodeling, HVAC, demolition and many other tasks.

TN LEAP’s enrollment cost will be half the cost of other RRP Initial training courses, and the $100 fee includes the cost of the EPA certificate. A limited number of full scholarships for free training are available for eligible students who currently live in public housing.

Call TN LEAP at 1-866-686-5327 for registration information.

TN LEAP is a Housing and Urban Development-funded MTSU grant that fights childhood lead poisoning by cleaning up lead-based paint hazards in pre-1978 homes and training housing professionals. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/MTSUHealthyHomesforTennessee.

— Randy Weiler, jweiler@ mtsu.edu