The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued fines against nine Springfield, MO, home renovation companies for violating regulations aimed at reducing exposure to lead-based paints, the agency said in a press release.
“Reducing exposure to lead-based paint – especially among children and pregnant women and in communities already overburdened with pollution exposure – is a top priority for EPA,” Director of EPA Region 7 Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division David Cozad said in the press release. “The Agency is committed to ensuring that home renovators follow the law and protect workers and residents from lead exposure.”
The nine companies have agreed to pay more than $30,000 collectively in penalties, the press release said. They allegedly violated the federal Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) by failing to comply with regulations aimed at reducing lead-based paint exposure risks during renovations. The companies are ServPro of Springfield/Greene County, Inside and Out Building and Remodeling LLC, Top Tier Homes LLC, A.M. Wyssmann LLC, Martin Remodeling and Investments LLC, Scott Builders LLC, Autumn Exteriors LLC, LR Remodeling LLC and The Gutter Experts LLC, the release said.
Under the EPA's Lead Renovation, Repair, and Painting Program, companies involved in home renovations or subcontracting such work on pre-1978 housing must adhere to certain regulations, including requirements to train employees in proper work practices, obtain EPA certification before performing renovations, comply with lead safety practices, retain records and inform homeowners about the risks associated with lead exposure during renovations, the release said.
The EPA determined that most of these violations occurred in communities already affected by pollution exposure, the release said. The agency is increasing efforts in such areas to address the disproportionate impact of adverse effects on vulnerable populations, and it prioritizes reducing children's exposure to lead and its associated lifelong adverse health impacts, the press release said. Lead-contaminated dust from deteriorating or disturbed lead-based paint is a common cause of elevated blood lead levels in children, and lead dust can be generated during renovation activities such as window installation, demolishing painted surfaces, and scraping and repainting homes, the release said.
