Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the federal agency responsible for protecting human health and the environment. It sets and enforces national standards for air quality, water quality, hazardous materials, chemicals, and pollution control.

For home improvement contractors, the EPA is most relevant because it regulates lead-based paint through the Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Rule. The agency certifies renovation firms, oversees Certified Renovator training, and issues fines when contractors fail to follow lead-safe work practices.

If you work in any residential building built before 1978, EPA rules directly affect how you prepare the site, contain dust, clean up, and document your work.