Jun 20, 2010

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently filed a complaint and proposed a $784,380 penalty against Hanson’s Window and Construction Inc. of Madison Heights, Mich., for violations of the federal rule for failure to warn residents of potential lead-based paint exposures.

EPA alleges that Hanson, a window installation firm, failed to provide home owners and tenants of 271 residential properties in Lansing, East Lansing, Haslett, Charlotte, Onondaga, Williamston, Holt, Stockbridge, Mason, Leslie, and Warren with required information warning residents that their construction activities could expose residents to lead. The citation is based in part on information that two children living in renovated Michigan homes had tested positive for elevated blood lead levels.

The Pre-Renovation Lead Information Rule requires that renovators provide homeowners, tenants, and owners of child-occupied facilities with the “Renovate Right” pamphlet and obtain written confirmation that they have received it. The purpose of the rule is to protect families during renovations in housing built before 1978.

Lead exposure can cause reduced IQ, learning disabilities, developmental delays, reduced height, poor hearing, and other health problems in young children.

Lead-based paint dust created during renovations is the most common source of lead exposure to children in the United States. About 75 percent of the nation’s housing built before 1978 contains lead-based paint. When properly managed, lead-based paint poses little risk. If paint is not maintained, however, even low levels of lead exposure can threaten occupants’ health, especially children and pregnant women.

Traditional renovation, repair and painting is the number one cause of childhood lead poisoning.  7% of all children below the age of six have dangerous blood lead levels and 56% of all cases of lead poisoning are directly related to contractor renovations.

Lead exposure is very dangerous to children. While a child’s brain is developing, before six years old, lead can cause permanent, irreversible damage to the central nervous system, the brain and kidney damage, decreased intelligence, attention deficit disorder, speech, language and behavior problems. Very small levels of lead dust is all that is required to poison children. One gram of lead (the size of a sugar packet) can contaminate over 1500 sq. ft.

Lead poisoning can be prevented. Proper planning, lead safe work practices and thorough cleaning can greatly minimize the risk of harming anyone. The one day Lead Safe Renovation, Repair & Painting class teaches how to minimize the impact of lead during construction and remodeling projects. Classes are available in Portland OR, Vancouver WA, Dallas TX, St. Louis MO, Atlanta GA, Philadelphia PA and Phoenix AZ.

For more information go to www.LeadClasses.com

New EPA Renovation, Repair & Painting Lead Based Paint Classes have been scheduled for September and October, 2010.

St. Louis, MO – September 14

Dallas / Fort Worth, TX – September 16

Philadelphia, PA – September 28

Atlanta, GA – September 30

Portland, OR / Vancouver, WA – October 7

Phoenix, AZ – October 14

For more information or to register Click Here

Boston Landlord Faces Nearly $85K Penalty for Failure to Disclose Lead Paint to Tenants

(Boston, Mass. – July 20, 2010) – A Boston landlord faces a penalty of $84,600 for charges by EPA that he violated federal lead paint disclosure rules at four of his apartments in Roxbury and Dorchester. These violations potentially put tenants at risk of exposure to lead hazards.

John C. Jones, who owns and manages at least eight properties with at least 19 rental units, is responsible for 14 violations of federal lead-based paint disclosure laws in four leases, according to EPA’s New England regional office. The four rental properties involved were in Roxbury (20 Woodville Street, 48 Edgewater Street, and 25 Southwood Street) and in Dorchester (176-180 Quincy Street).

According to EPA, Jones failed to provide tenants with lead hazard information pamphlets and with reports pertaining to lead-based paint/paint hazards; failed to include lead warning statements in leases; failed to include a disclosure statement regarding lead-based paint/paint hazards or lack of knowledge thereof in leases; and failed to include lists of records pertaining to lead-based paint/hazards in leases.

The federal Disclosure Rule is meant to ensure that tenants get adequate information about the risks associated with lead paint before signing a lease.

Infants and young children are especially vulnerable to lead paint exposure, which can cause developmental impairment, reading and learning disabilities, impaired hearing, reduced attention span, hyperactivity and behavioral problems. Adults with high lead levels can suffer difficulties during pregnancy, high blood pressure, nerve disorders, memory problems and muscle and joint pain.

“Here in New England exposure to lead paint is a serious public health concern for kids, because so much of our housing was built before 1978 when lead paint was banned,” said Curt Spalding, regional administrator of EPA’s New England office. “By providing the required lead paint notification to renters, landlords help prevent lead poisoning because then families are aware of potential lead hazards in homes and they can make informed decisions.”

Federal law requires that property owners, property managers and real estate agents leasing or selling housing built before 1978 provide certain information to tenants and buyers, including: an EPA-approved lead hazard information pamphlet, called “Protect Your Family from Lead in Your Home”; a lead warning statement; statements disclosing any known lead-based paint and/or lead-based paint hazards; and copies of all available records or reports regarding lead-based paint and/or lead-based paint hazards.

This information must be provided to tenants and buyers before they enter into leases or purchase and sales agreements. Property owners, property managers and real estate agents equally share responsibility for providing lead disclosure information and must keep copies of records regarding lead disclosures for three years.

Learn more about our EPA Lead Classes & Check our Schedule