(AGENPARL) – gio 24 ottobre 2024 Issued: Oct 24, 2024 (9:56am EDT)
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EPA Actions Protect Families and Children from Lead Exposure in New York and
New Jersey
  
New York (October 24, 2024) EPA is observing Children’s Health Month and
Lead Poisoning Prevention Week by highlighting actions taken over the past
year to protect children from lead exposure in New York and New Jersey. EPA
actions include three judicial enforcement cases and 15 administrative actions
focusing on violations impacting people in communities that are traditionally
underserved or overburdened. These cases cover violations of the Toxic
Substances Control Act (TSCA) Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) and
Lead-Based Paint Activities (Abatement) Rules and the Safe Drinking Water Act
(SDWA). EPA has worked in partnership with federal, state and local
partners. 
“Every family, regardless of their zip code, deserves to live without
worrying about their child facing life-long health effects from exposure to
lead pollution,” said Lisa F. Garcia, EPA Regional Administrator.
“Together with federal and state partners, EPA is working to reduce the
chance that any child’s life will be devastated and forever changed by toxic
lead.” 
  
Administrative and judicial settlements that resulted from EPA’s work
enforcing the RRP rule cited violations including the failure to train
workers, failure to assign a certified renovator to the renovation project,
failure to follow lead-safe work practices and contain waste, failure to
provide owners or occupants with required pre-renovation education about the
risks of lead poisoning during the renovation, and records violations. 
In September 2024, EPA issued an administrative consent agreement and final
order to settle an administrative enforcement action against All City
Remodeling, Inc. in Queens, NY, for violations of lead-based paint
requirements. The settlement includes a $103,000 penalty for RRP Rule
violations during renovations conducted in three properties in the
traditionally underserved and overburdened communities of Washington Heights
and Inwood in New York City.  
In September 2024, Rose Demolition and Carting, a demolition contractor that
performed demolitions at over 650 residential properties in New York City
between 2016 and 2019, agreed via a proposed Judicial Consent Decree to comply
with lead paint regulations and pay a $100,000 penalty for numerous violations
of the RRP Rule. The penalty was based on their documented inability to pay
the full civil penalty for which they would be liable. Many of the violations
occurred in areas of New York City with low-income populations that are
already disproportionately burdened by other environmental hazards. 
In August 2024, Legacy Builders, a contractor that performed renovation work
at hundreds of residential apartments in five different buildings in
Manhattan, agreed to comply with lead paint regulations and to pay almost
$170,000 for violations of several requirements of the RRP Rule. This penalty
amount took into account their ability to pay.    
In September 2023, Apex Building Company (Apex), a general contractor, agreed
to comply with lead paint removal requirements and pay more than $600,000 in
penalties for numerous violations EPA identified associated with renovation
work in hundreds of apartment units between 2015 and 2021. The penalty amount
took into account Apex’s ability to pay.  
Examples of EPA’s work during the last year to enforce the requirements to
protect people from lead in drinking water include issuing nine administrative
orders to address violations such as failing to notify consumers of lead
results, failing to sample at properly sited locations and failing to comply
with lead service line replacement schedules. The total cost of complying with
the nine orders is about $8.5 million, and the work will protect more than
300,000 consumers.  
In Bellville, NJ, EPA issued an Administrative Order on Consent (AOC) this
September to the Town of Belleville to address violations to the Safe Drinking
Water Act Lead and Copper Rule. The AOC requires the town to replace 770 lead
service lines, implement a public notification program, sample after replacing
lines, and start a flushing program. 
EPA inspected four large water systems in Broome County, NY (Binghamton,
Johnson City, Endicott and Vestal). One common finding for each water system
was that they failed to collect lead and copper tap samples from proper
locations. The proper siting of tap samples is critical as it serves as the
basis for regulatory compliance. EPA issued Administrative Orders (AOs) to
each municipality requiring them to prepare a tap sampling pool and new tap
sample siting plan and monitor so compliance could be properly evaluated to
ensure consumers are receiving safe drinking water.   
In addition to proactive work EPA does in partnership with the states to
enforce laws that protect people from lead, EPA Region 2 typically receives
around 200 tips and referrals annually from concerned residents and local
health departments flagging potential violations of lead-based paint
regulations. Every tip is researched and investigated. If people suspect a
violation, they can submit relevant information to EPA using the Report a
Violation system and include as much information as possible. 
Providers of training required for regulated renovation and lead abatement
work must be accredited by EPA. The accreditation of providers and the
training itself, in addition to being required by regulation, is very
important for the safety of workers and occupants. During 2024, EPA Region 2
settled five cases with accredited trainers as part of a regional initiative
to ensure the integrity of training providers in our region. When EPA inspects
an accredited training provider, we look for compliance with curriculum and
testing requirements, completion certificate requirements, notification and
other record keeping requirements.  
EPA also provides its own training through the Community Lead Awareness
Initiative. The goal of this program is to reduce harm to children from
exposure to lead in underrepresented and underserved communities whose
populations are disproportionately affected by lead exposure. This effort is
focused on educating both community leaders and members of the public about
lead exposure and the importance of hiring lead-safe certified
contractors.  
Although there has been tremendous progress in lowering children’s blood
lead levels across the U.S. in the past few decades, exposure to lead
continues to pose a significant health and safety threat to children,
preventing them from reaching the fullest potential of their health, their
intellect, and their future.  No level of lead is safe. Exposure to lead dust
is the most common cause of lead poisoning and can lead to severe,
irreversible health problems, particularly in children.  Lead poisoning can
affect children’s brains and developing nervous systems, causing reduced IQ,
learning disabilities, and behavioral problems. 
For more information about how EPA and its federal partners are protecting
kids from lead, visit the federal lead action plan website. For more
information about how people can protect their families, visit EPA’s website
about how to reduce lead exposure.  
Contractors can learn how to become properly certified on the EPA’s get
certified website.  To find accredited training, visit EPA’s renovator
training website. 
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