The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (Washington, D.C., USA) has settled with two Bay Area construction firms that violated federal laws regulating the use of lead paint. As part of its settlement with the EPA, Seismic Retrofitters Inc. (San Francisco, California, USA) will pay $27,000 in fines and All Seasons Construction (Oakland, California, USA) will pay $8,500 in fines.
According to the EPA, Seismic Retrofitters Inc. and All Seasons Construction “failed to comply with occupant notification requirements in advance of the renovations and lacked required lead paint renovation certifications.” In addition, the two foundation repair companies didn’t retain proper records on certified on-the-job training for workers and post-renovation cleanings.
Both Seismic Retrofitters Inc. and All Seasons Construction violated the Toxic Substances Control Act’s Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) Rule and the Pre-Renovation Education Rule. Both rules require contractors working in pre-1978 housing facilities to minimize residents’ exposure to lead. They were drafted to protect the public, particularly young children, from lead-based paint hazards
Rules such as RRP are among a series of regulations that ensure that renovation firms follow the proper certification and training procedures. For instance, the EPA mandates that contractors who make seismic retrofit renovations to protect older buildings against earthquakes must comply with lead-based paint requirements.
In a statement, EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Mike Stoker reaffirmed the Agency’s commitment to protecting people from the hazards of lead paint. “Reducing childhood lead exposure and its health impacts is a top priority for EPA,” says Stoker. “We will continue to diligently enforce our requirements to ensure children, workers, and residents are properly informed and protected.”
Click here for more information about EPA requirements for contractors working with lead-based paint structures or to report a violation of the RRP Rule.
Source: EPA, www.epa.gov