Environmental Lead Program
Update on Covid-19 Waivers for DSHS
Posted August 10, 2021
Update on Covid-19 Waivers for DSHS Lead Inspector, Lead Risk Assessor, Lead Abatement Supervisor, Lead Abatement Project Designer, and Lead Abatement Worker License Holders
On March 13, 2020, the Office of the Governor issued adisaster proclamation in response to COVID-19 and suspended the statutes pertaining to LeadInspector, Lead Risk Assessor, Lead Abatement Supervisor, Lead Abatement Project Designer, nd Lead Abatement Workerlicense renewal applications. During the suspension, DSHS extended license expiration dates and waived the late fees for those who submitted renewal applications.
On July 19, 2021, the Office of the Governor terminated the temporary suspension of the statutes related to the COVID19 disaster.
Effective September 1, 2021, DSHS will no longer extend licenseexpiration dates or waive late fees for any Lead Inspector, Lead Risk Assessor, Lead Abatement Supervisor, Lead Abatement Project Designer, or Lead Abatement Worker license renewal.
What this Means for License Holders:
To avoid a late fee, you will need tosubmit your license or registration renewal application within the timeframe that it would have normally been submitted before the Governor’s temporarysuspension. After September 1, 2021, you must also submit the required application/registration fees along with any required supplemental documentation in accordance with the applicable requirements for your license type.
To avoid being charged a late fee, you are encouraged tocheck your current license expiration date.
Lead Licensing COVID-19 Information
September 22, 2020
Lead Exams are reopened. All examinees are required to bring a mask, pencils, and a completed COVID-19 SELF-SCREENING form to the exam site.
If an examinee does not bring a completed COVID-19 SELF-SCREENING form, their own mask or pencils they will not be allowed to take the exam. No sharing of items will be allowed.
Examinees will also need to provide their own water as examinees will not be allowed to use water fountains at exam sites. Visit the Applications Page for more info on exams.
Lead Licensing COVID-19 Information
May 15, 2020
Due to the current COVID-19 state of disaster in Texas, the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) requested and the Office of the Governor granted the following waiver:
Lead License Delayed Submission of Renewal Application
In accordance with section 418.016 of the Texas Government Code, the Office of the Governor has granted DSHS’s request to suspend 25 TAC 295.206(a), .207(a), .208(a), .209(a), and .210(a), as well as Tex. Occ. Code 1955.055(a), to the extent necessary to extend the expiration date of lead-based paint certifications from two years to three years. This allows individuals certified or accredited in the Lead program, whose certification or accreditation expired after March 13, 2020, to delay submission of their renewal application and completion of the requirements for certification or accreditation. This waiver does not apply to lead firms and lead training program providers.
This waiver is suspending the above statute and rules that provide a two-year time frame for lead certifications and accreditations to be valid. This waiver only applies to individuals who have previously been certified or accredited by the DSHS’ Lead Program and have experience in the industry.
Individuals who are currently certified or accredited in the Lead program in Texas with a certificate or accreditation that has expired since March 13, 2020 or later will have their late fees waived and their certifications or accreditations extended until this suspension is terminated by the Office of the Governor or until the March 13, 2020 disaster declaration is lifted or expires.
Email: Environmental and Sanitation Licensing Group
Phone: 512-834-6600
Important Notice from the U.S. EPA Concerning RRP (Renovation, Repair, and Painting) Rule Requirements and Hurricane Harvey
The mission of the Environmental Lead Program is to protect the public, especially young children, from exposure to lead in their environment through assuring that persons conducting lead inspections, lead risk assessments, and lead abatements in target housing (built before 1978) and child-occupied facilities (built before 1978) are properly trained and certified and are following minimum standards that protect the health of workers and building occupants. View more information.
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Applicability of Texas Lead Regulations
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) banned lead-based paint for residential use beginning on January 1, 1978. As a result, the Texas Environmental Lead Reduction Rules (TELRR) were promulgated which apply to housing (also known as "target housing" by the TELRR) and child-occupied facilities (i.e., daycare centers and kindergartens) built before this date. In order to do any lead-based paint activity in these structures, such as lead inspections, lead risk assessments, lead hazard screens, or lead abatements, the individuals and firms conducting this work must be certified (licensed) by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), Environmental Lead Program. In the absence of testing documentation to show that no lead-based paint is present, homes and child-occupied facilities built before 1978 must be assumed to contain lead-based paint. Commercial and industrial buildings/structures that are not homes or child-occupied facilities are currently not covered by these regulations.
Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) Regulations
Please be aware that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) 2008 Renovation, Repair and Painting Program (RRP) Rule regulates renovation, repair, and painting (RRP) activities in pre-1978 constructed housing and child-occupied facilities. The rule became fully effective April 22, 2010, and is being administered by the EPA in Texas. This federal rule states among other things that these activities must be conducted by an EPA-certified Renovation Firm (licensed by EPA) using a certified Renovator and follow the lead-safe work practice requirements of the rule. Before any of this work begins, the hiring party should verify that the contractor is indeed a certified Renovator by asking for a copy of their certified Renovator training certificate, issued by an EPA-accredited trainer, and is also working for an EPA-certified Renovation Firm. You can search and verify EPA certified Renovation Firms here. If you have questions regarding the U.S. EPA's RRP Program rule, check out the EPA RRP Program website or you can call the EPA Lead Hotline at 1-800-424-LEAD (5323) or the EPA Region 6 office in Dallas at 214-665-6711