--- title: NARI Member Merrick Testifies About Frustrations With EPA and RRP description: David Merrick testified about many of the concerns remodelers' have about the RRP Rule and the difficulties trying to effectively work with EPA. image: https://www.shawnmccadden.com/hs-fs/file-15775256-jpg/images/merrick_testifies-wr.jpg --- [![Shawn McCadden](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/hs-fs/hub/81069/file-1539748069.jpg)](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/) # Welcome to RRPedia Your Interactive Resource for EPA RRP Information ## ![RRPedia logo](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/hs-fs/file-1549005086-jpg/images/RRPedia_Logosmall_-wr-1.jpg)Looking for accurate information about the EPA RRP rule? RRPedia has been created by Shawn McCadden to help remodelers and others affected by the New EPA Renovation Repair and Painting Rule.  ## Please read *[RRPedia Use and Contribution Information](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/using-and-contributing-to-rrpedia-/) *before using or contributing to RRPedia.   --- # You Can Browse For RRP Topics By Using The Tags List To The Right ## [NARI Member Merrick Testifies About Frustrations With EPA and RRP](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/rrpedia/bid/79415/NARI-Member-Merrick-Testifies-About-Frustrations-With-EPA-and-RRP) Posted by [Shawn McCadden](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/rrpedia/author/shawn-mccadden) on Thu, Jun 28, 2012 @ 11:09 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ## **NARI Member Testifies Before Small Business Committee About Frustrations With EPA** ![David Merrick testifies for NARI](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/hs-fs/file-15775256-jpg/images/merrick_testifies-wr.jpg?width=236&height=177&name=merrick_testifies-wr.jpg)   Yesterday, David Merrick, chairman of the NARI Government Affairs Committee and owner of [Merrick Design and Build](http://remodelwithmerrick.com/), testified before the House Small Business Committee about many of the concerns remodelers' have about the RRP Rule and the difficulties trying to effectively work with EPA.  I think David’s testimony spoke for the opinions of most NARI Members as well as for most remodelers.  Let me know what you think. Click [here](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtjiZEMoUbk&feature=BFa&list=UUoXvuW2IhFawuNyk4yL3EkQ) to view the entire video which was just over one hour long.  David’s introduction and his testimony begin at about 19:50. ### **Here are some highlights I pulled from watching the video myself.** In response to questions posed by a representative overseeing the SBA (Ms. Peters?), David stands up for and points out the realities and challenges for smaller one or two man remodeling businesses starting at about 30:28. David stressed the burden record keeping has on such smaller businesses just trying to earn enough money within the time they have to produce their product, pointing out that even if they are doing the right things regarding the work they perform, they can be punished by EPA for paperwork challenges. ![Ms Peters hears remodelers' concerns about the RRP](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/hs-fs/file-15776662-jpg/images/ms_peters-wr.jpg?width=193&height=137&name=ms_peters-wr.jpg) Many might miss this watching the video, but I think it exposes the lack of understanding many of those in our government have about the nature of the remodeling industry and the businesses that participate in the industry.  The same representative overseeing the SBA (Ms. Peters?) made the following comment at about 33:10 in what I observed to be an obvious effort to be sarcastic; ***“And when I get my bid from a contractor on remodeling should I triple the time and double the money?  (She laughs) Just Kidding…”*** Perhaps, like many contractors, EPA has a problem under estimating and under bidding?***** ***   ![Mr Tipton asks about EPA challenges for remodelers](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/hs-fs/file-15776563-jpg/images/mr_tipton-wr.jpg?width=231&height=153&name=mr_tipton-wr.jpg)At 58:56 Mr. Tipton asks: “So, effectively what you are saying is if the EPA is asking for input maybe it would be a good idea if they listened?   To that question Merrick replied that the EPA is always gracious about meeting with NARI and taking their input, but he further clarifies his response by commenting “They take our comments and disappear behind doors and we never hear from them again.” I think it is worth listening to the balance of the video after Merrick’s comment to hear Mr. Tipton’s comments and opinions in support of more sensible oversight of EPA’s tactics, behavior, attitudes and performance. ### **Give EPA more money?** During the hearing there was much banter regarding whether EPA needs more money to effectively regulate or alternately should get less money because of their poor performance.  I think they are missing the point.   We don’t have more money to give EPA unless we take it from somewhere else or borrow it from China and put the burden of paying for the borrowed money on our children’s future.  Maybe many of the the same children the rule is intended to protect. Here is one example.  During the hearing Merrick points out That currently only 122,476 firms in the remodeling sector are considered EPA Lead-Certified Firms, out of the estimated 652,206 remodeling businesses in the United States.  Has EPA done a good job in the past 26 months since the rule took effect if 80% of remodeling contractors are still operating uncertified?  Are they really keeping our children safe from lead poisoning with the plan they assembled knowing the reality of available funding? ### **I think it goes back to original planning.  Try this analogy. ** ![RRP Rule is underfunded](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/hs-fs/file-15772320-jpg/images/lobster_dinner-wr.jpg?width=150&height=99&name=lobster_dinner-wr.jpg) The simple way to put it is it’s great to figure out and plan for a nice seafood lobster dinner, but if you get to the store and you don’t have enough money then all that planning on a great seafood dinner is kind of wasted.  My suggestion is that the way EPA went about creating this rule is rather silly especially because they just don’t have the funding or the budget to administer and enforce the rule the way the rule was written.   ### **Perhaps if EPA really understood our industry and how contractors operate, they would have considered a Design/Build approach!** **Thanks David.** [Click here ](http://www.nari.org/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=1507)for a NARI Press Release about the hearing   Topics: [EPA RRP Rule Updates](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/rrpedia/topic/epa-rrp-rule-updates), [Effects of the RRP Rule](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/rrpedia/topic/effects-of-the-rrp-rule), [Documentation Considerations](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/rrpedia/topic/documentation-considerations), [Enforcement and Inspections](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/rrpedia/topic/enforcement-and-inspections) [![cs-ye-234x16](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/hs-fs/hub/81069/file-1553381212.gif)](http://www.copyscape.com/duplicate-content/) ### Subscribe to RRPedia by Email and get notified about new postings as soon as they happen! ### Are You Documenting Yor Crew's Compliance With The RRP Rule?  [![download free RRP checklist](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/81069/dd6aace9-6cb0-4ad2-a55a-09846d7f5b5e.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/81069/dd6aace9-6cb0-4ad2-a55a-09846d7f5b5e) ### Still Using a Yellow Pad for Your Estimating? 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[Worker Training (15)](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/rrpedia/topic/worker-training) ### I just wanted to say thank you for your efforts to keep us informed.  *"Thank you again for the hundreth time for keeping a vigil on this business nightmare. Your site is one of the best resources we have to stay on level ground"*  **Christian Peter**   *"I am quite impressed with all the confusion out there at Shawn McCadden’s clear and concise voice that continues to help contractors and those involved in this industry truly understand the rule. His efforts should be applauded."*  **Christopher Wagner, LBPFiles**   *"RRPedia is an accurate and contractor friendly interpretation of the very complex and confusing EPA RRP rule"* * * *"Thanks for taking the time to write the blog.  It's about the only place one can go to get some serious info on this dreadful subject"*   *"I would like to begin by thanking Shawn for all of his postings and education that he has been sharing with the remodeling industry. He has personally been extremely helpful in guiding me through various interpretations of the RRP rule, his advice and knowledge are priceless."* **Michael A. Mahoney*** * ### Suggest or Contribute a RRPedia Topic ### Want a Simple Summary of the EPA RRP? #### Shawn McCadden has created an EPA RRP Summary for Remodelers. *"Hi Shawn, **Nice RRP write up on the website.   I've already forwarded a link to it to a number of local builder types."*   #### [Click here to go to the summary.](https://www.shawnmccadden.com/epa-rrp-summary-for-remodelers-by-shawn-mccadden/)  You can also download it if you want your own copy. ### Add this widget to your Web page, blog, or social networking site. A widget is a CDC.gov application that displays the featured content directly on your web page. Click the buttons to see the next tip to prevent lead poisoning.