Today I received an e-mailed letter from a friend detailing his concerns about how new EPA regulations will severly impact his business and many others like his. They include potential penalties of up to $37,500 per day. To say they will be a serious disincentive to job creation is a huge understatement. Ironically, his business focuses on finding green energy strategies in construction projects that will also economically benefit his clients.
What he has to say is important enough that I asked for and received his permission to share it with you here:
Sent: Friday, January 27, 2012 11:11 AM
To: Jeff (MSD) Bay
Subject: Our Federal EPA hard at work - A new rule which effects us all....
To: Jeff (MSD) Bay
Subject: Our Federal EPA hard at work - A new rule which effects us all....
From:
Jeffrey Bay Morning Star Development, Inc.
Construction
Management and General Building Contractors
--- On Fri,
1/27/12, Jeffrey Bay <jeff@greenbaygroup.net>
wrote:
From: Jeffrey Bay <jeff@greenbaygroup.net> Subject: Our Federal EPA hard at work - A new rule which effects us all.... To: "Jeffrey Bay" <jeff@greenbaygroup.net>, jeffreybay@att.net Date: Friday, January 27, 2012, 9:40 AM
Dear Colleagues and Friends,
I received a letter last week from a
contractor's "License Instruction School" offering to train
contractors and building owners on the new Lead paint "RRP"
requirements & laws. This new law effects any building originally
constructed before 1978, and those who do not comply are subject to a fine of
up to $37,500 per day by the Federal EPA.
Upon reading this, and after falling off my
chair, I realized that our administration is truly standing true to their
commitment to create massive new bureaucracies to manage and
"protect" us, while causing massive cost increases for all work.
I then made some calls to the EPA, and after 4 transfers (nobody knew
anything about this, of course), I was finally referred to a supervision who
I left a message for, as she is out for the day. In any event, I was
able to locate the website which pertains to these new regulations, and which
has numerous links to it's hundreds of pages
of bureaucratic documents to back it up:
As you explore this you will quickly find out
that, in addition to any private training which a contractor wishes to engage
for his crew, that the initial certification fees will cost every contractor
between $300 to $600 (I assume this is an annual fee). Next, the
documentation process will surely become at least a part time effort for an
administrator within that contracting company, as one mistake can qualify us
for this ridiculous fine, that administration effort which
most of us "contractors" cannot sustain in this building economy.
I have left a message for the EPA in order to
get the answer to one simple question, that answer which I will request in
writing. That question is this: Does this requirement apply to
abatement, demolition, and painting contractors ONLY, or must ANY G.C. or
building Owner comply whenever work is performed on any building built prior
to 1978? The latter seems to be the implication, which is why I
want to get clarification. If the latter applies, then I am sure that
many contractors (like myself) will NOT engage contracts on any building
which was originally constructed prior to 1978. However, that does not
help those of us who will, nor does it help the owners of those buildings who
need to have work done, as they will all be subject to fines and penalties if
they do not engage a RRP certified contractor
who meticulously follows all of their rules.
I realize that this is yet one more example
of how our government is "helping us" by dictating how we are to
protect the public and our environment, but this example of expansion
of bureaucracy seems to be the agenda of this administration, as
they have created many new government jobs in the process. However, if
you disagree with this and other similar new bureaucracies which
have been recently formed or enhanced over the past few years, then I
STRONGLY suggest that you join me by remembering this when you go to the
poles in November, so we can bring the "Change" which this country
needs in order to survive.
Thanks for your ear, and God bless America.
Jeff
Jeffrey P. Bay
fax: 805-584-0984President / CEO Green Bay Group, LLC. 1230 Madera Rd. suite #5-109 Simi Valley, CA 93065 805-584-3060 ext. #100 Please consider the environment before printing this email. |
