Now, the Justice Division and U.S. Environmental Safety Company (EPA) declared a settlement with Logan Square Aluminum Offer Inc., resolving alleged violations of the federal Direct Renovation, Repair and Painting polices, identified as the RRP rule, at renovation jobs Logan Sq. and its contractors performed in Chicago and Chicago suburbs.
Under the courtroom settlement, Logan Sq. will put into practice a comprehensive application to assure that its contractors are licensed and trained to use direct-safe and sound do the job procedures to prevent generating direct dust in the course of dwelling renovation pursuits. Below a parallel administrative settlement settlement, Logan Square will also fork out a $400,000 penalty, and conduct $2 million of lead-primarily based paint abatement function in lessen-profits properties found in Chicago and Chicago suburbs in communities with a higher incidence of childhood direct poisoning.
“Companies that renovate households created prior to 1978 have to be certain that they use EPA-qualified contractors and stick to other EPA guidelines requiring guide risk-free perform methods,” explained Assistant Attorney Typical Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Ecosystem and All-natural Assets Division. “We will consider intense motion against companies that do not get these significant measures.”
“Lead exposure from lead-dependent paint proceeds to be a hazard for American people residing in more mature houses, and small children in those people homes are notably vulnerable,” reported Larry Starfield, EPA Performing Assistant Administrator for the Business of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “This settlement demands Logan Sq. Aluminum Provide, Inc. to get essential steps to assure that it fulfills acceptable protection needs in foreseeable future renovation assignments that may well disturb lead-primarily based paint.”
Renovation is any action that disturbs painted surfaces and incorporates most maintenance, reworking, and routine maintenance actions, this kind of as electrical function, plumbing, carpentry and window substitute. Each Logan Sq. and its contractors are accountable for compliance with the RRP rule to guard the overall health and protection of households, specifically small children below the age of 6 who are most vulnerable to direct dangers. For these assignments, Logan Square will have to agreement with only EPA-certified firms and renovators, assure they sustain certification, use direct-safe function procedures, and doc their do the job with checklists in the course of renovations.
Logan Sq. will add a url on its web-site to EPA’s written content on lead-protected work methods. In addition, Logan Square will take action to respond to conditions in which a contractor is not operating in compliance with the RRP rule look into all reviews of probable noncompliance and make sure that any violations are corrected and claimed to EPA.
EPA very first uncovered the alleged violations by way of shopper grievances about a task carried out in Evanston, Illinois. EPA learned that Logan Sq. often subcontracted get the job done to uncertified firms and did not use guide-safe function procedures, complete required publish-renovation cleansing, present the EPA-needed guide-centered paint pamphlets to occupants, or establish information of compliance. Logan Square also conducts organization less than other names, which includes Weather Guard Thermal Items Co. and Studio 41.
The consent decree was lodged in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Discover of the lodging of the consent decree will surface in the Federal Sign-up allowing for for a 30-day general public remark interval ahead of the consent decree can be entered by the court as ultimate judgment. Perspective the consent decree here.
Further facts is offered from the National Lead Details Center (800-424-Direct) and on-line at www.epa.gov/lead. Accessible sources include further information and facts about the RRP plan facts for contractors and residence professionals about method specifications and downloadable lead-safety training products.
To report a feasible violation of the RRP Rule needs, please pay a visit to EPA’s web-site.