(News)

A new federal law will soon require anyone doing renovation work in a home, school or child-care facility built before 1978 to prevent contamination from lead paint.

Luckily for Mon-Yough area contractors, carpenters and painters, training is available through McKeesport Housing Corp.

Beginning April 22, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will require anyone who is paid to perform renovation, repair or painting projects in any building where people live or where children play to be certified in ways to prevent lead dust from getting into the air.

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The law falls under 1976's federal Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976. According to EPA, sanding, cutting and scraping walls or woodwork coated with lead-based paint can send hazardous lead dust into the air.

Lead poisoning can cause birth defects in infants, learning disabilities in children, and kidney disease, high blood pressure and other illnesses in adults.

Angelia Christina, lead program coordinator for McKeesport Housing Corp., says that besides contractors and painters, landlords, plumbers and people who install or maintain heating and air-conditioning systems should also be trained.

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Training is being provided at several sessions in McKeesport through Youngstown's Mahoning County Healthy Homes Lead Hazard Control Program, Christina says.

A registration fee is required. To register or get more information, call (412) 664-7003.

Homeowners or landlords who are hiring someone to do renovations in their home should hire only EPA-certified contractors, Christina says, and should ask for the contractor's state registration number.

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The "Renovation, Repair and Painting" rules do not apply to private citizens working on their own homes, but EPA does offer a free booklet to individual homeowners on protecting themselves against lead dust.

Titled Renovate Right, the booklet can be downloaded from the EPA website (PDF reader required).