The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced that it has fined 16 firms for violating the Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule (LRRP). More than half of the firms cited were fined for failing to obtain firm certification prior to performing or offering to perform renovation activities on pre-1978 homes.
According to an announcement on 14 November, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has fined 16 firms for violating the Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule (LRRP). The 16 enforcement actions include 13 administrative settlements and three filed administrative complaints.
More than half of the firms cited were fined for failing to obtain firm certification prior to performing or offering to perform renovation activities on pre-1978 homes. This violates the RRP rule requiring contractors that work on pre-1978 dwellings and child-occupied facilities be trained and certified to use lead-safe work practices. Other alleged violations included firms’ failure to provide EPA’s ‘Renovate Right’ pamphlet to homeowners and occupants.
Some companies are paying relatively modest fines “pursuant to the Pilot RRP Penalty Program for Micro-Businesses,” according to the EPA. “Under the Micro-Business pilot, significantly reduced penalties are offered to respondents who have annual sales or gross pre-tax revenue of USD 300,000 or less,” as stated by EPA officials on the Agency’s website.
Of the 16 companies fined, not all are contractors. Those cited also included property managers and a training firm. Only one of the companies mentioned window replacement as part of its business.