LENEXA, KAN. – Nine home renovation companies in Springfield, Missouri, have agreed to pay over $30,000 collectively in penalties to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to resolve alleged violations of the federal Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).
According to EPA, the following companies failed to comply with regulations intended to reduce the hazards of lead-based paint exposure during renovations:
- 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
- The Gutter Experts LLC
“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,” said David Cozad, director of EPA Region 7’s Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division. “The Agency is committed to ensuring that home renovators follow the law and protect workers and residents from lead exposure.”
EPA discovered violations of the lead-based paint regulations during inspections conducted in Springfield last year and determined that most of the properties being renovated were in communities already affected by pollution exposure. EPA is strengthening enforcement in such communities to address disproportionately high, adverse human health or environmental effects on vulnerable populations.
Companies that perform home renovations or hire subcontractors to perform renovations on pre-1978 housing are required to comply with regulations under EPA’s Lead Renovation, Repair, and Painting Program. The regulations include requirements to train employees in proper work practices; obtain certification from EPA prior to performing renovations; as well as compliance with lead safety practices, records retention, and notification to homeowners about the hazards of renovation-related lead exposure.
Reducing childhood lead exposure and the associated health impacts is a top priority for EPA. Lead-contaminated dust from chipped or peeling lead-based paint in homes built prior to 1978 is one of the most common causes of elevated blood lead levels in children. Infants and children are especially vulnerable to lead-based paint exposure because their growing bodies absorb more lead than adults do, and their brains and nervous systems are more sensitive to the damaging effects of lead. They can be exposed from multiple sources and may experience irreversible and lifelong health effects. Lead dust can be generated when lead-based paint deteriorates or is disturbed by renovation work, such as window installation, demolishing painted surfaces such as walls or porches, and scraping and repainting of homes.
Please visit these EPA websites for additional information about lead-based paint:
- EPA’s Lead page
- EPA’s Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Program page
- EPA’s Real Estate Disclosures about Potential Lead Hazards page
Apply for, or update, your renovation firm’s lead-safe certification.
Locate certified renovation and lead dust sampling technician firms.
Report lead-based paint complaints, tips and violations.
