Lead Licensing

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates there are 1,327,626 housing units in Missouri with lead-based paint. Any housing built prior to 1978 may be considered suspect, although nationally, pre-1950 housing stock are considered most likely to contain lead-based paint.

In Missouri, an estimated 60% of dwellings built between 1960 and 1978 contain lead-based paint, with that number jumping to 80% for dwellings built between 1940-1959 and as high as 90% for pre-1949 dwellings.

Our mission is to prevent lead poisoning from improper lead abatement activities. We are responsible for licensing lead abatement professionals, which includes lead abatement supervisors, lead abatement workers, lead inspectors, risk assessors and project designers. Individuals must attend training by a provider that is accredited by us in order to become licensed. These training providers are audited by us to determine compliance with state statutes and regulations. We also license lead abatement contractors, which are the companies or firms that employ the lead professionals. Random inspections of lead abatement contractors are conducted by us to ensure that they are in compliance with state statutes and regulations, including work practice standards.

Special Notice Concerning Paint-Chip Sampling

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recently published a rule update authorizing EPA-certified Renovators the option to collect paint chip samples for laboratory analysis in order to identify lead-bearing surfaces.  40 CFR Part 745 states in part, “in those states that do not permit persons other than certified inspectors or risk assessors to sample or test for lead-based paint, certified renovators will not be able to exercise this option.” Federal Register/Vol. 76, No. 151/Friday, August 5, 2011/Rules and Regulations, page 47,924. In Missouri, paint chip sampling must be performed by a licensed lead-based paint inspector or risk assessor.  EPA-certified Renovators who are not licensed lead-based paint inspectors or risk assessors will not be able to utilize paint chip sampling to identify lead-bearing surfaces.  Alternative testing options described in the RRP rule are still available for use by certified Renovators.  If you have questions or concerns, please contact the DHSS Lead Licensing Program at (573) 526-5873 or toll free 888-837-0927.

A New Federal Regulation by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a new Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) regulation, which went into effect on April 22, 2010.  Information on EPA’s new RRP regulation can be found on their website.  Individuals that will be affected by the new EPA regulation, will all have to go through EPA (not us at the state level) to become a certified renovator.  Once approved by EPA, they are placed on a certified renovator list on EPA’s website.  After that process, these individual’s will need to receive the 8 hour certified renovator training course, through an EPA accredited certified renovator trainer (list of trainers are also on EPA’s website) and they must carry that training certificate with them on renovation project while they are working.  The number to EPA’s region 7’s office in Kansas City, Kansas is 1-800-223-0425 or the main Head Quarter’s Hot line 1-800-424-5323 (LEAD).