New federal lead paint removal regulations that go into effect this month could be catching some contractors and apartment owners by surprise.

The Environmental Protection Agency's Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule will take effect April 22. Contractors who work on homes, schools, and day-care centers built before 1978 and who perform work that disturbs painted surfaces will need to get EPA certification for lead paint removal by that date or face fines of up to $32,500 per day. The legal liabilities of a property manager that hires an unlicensed repair person will be huge.

Projects less than 6 square feet inside a building and 20 square feet outside a building are exempt. There are also record-keeping and information- distributing requirements.

A handbook on the regulations can be found at http://www.epa. gov/lead/ pubs/sbcomplianc eguide.pdf.
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