Last week, a coalition of housing groups led by Housing First Minnesota called on the Minnesota Department of Health to reengage with stakeholders over the proposed Minnesota lead paint (RRP) rule and provide the information needed to make a full assessment of the latest proposal. The Minnesota RRP rule would allow MDH to take custody of the EPA’s regulations for remodeling and renovations of pre-1978 homes.
In the letter which was also signed by the Minnesota Realtors and the Central Minnesota Builders Association, Housing First Minnesota called for:
- The first stakeholder meeting since 2017
- MDH’s cost analysis of the rule’s effect on remodeling and renovations
- Summary of substantive differences from the EPA RRP rule
- Overview of MDH’s enforcement plan
The Minnesota RRP Rule has been in process for more than four years. Housing First Minnesota’s efforts have shifted MDH’s approach from lead abatement to one that more closely resembles the existing EPA RRP rule. In Summer 2017, Housing First organized a coalition to keep remodeling safe and affordable and met with senior EPA officials about the state’s abatement approach. Housing First has also sent multiple technical memos to MDH and offered up two rewritten proposals for consideration.
“MDH aims to have the final rule ready for comment in July,” said Nick Erickson, director of research and regulatory affairs. “With all the missing pieces, it would be premature for the Department of Health to move forward without both re-engaging with stakeholders and disseminating the missing documents.”
Members with questions should contact Nick Erickson, director of research and regulatory affairs, at nick@housingfirstmn.org.
