EPA reaches settlements with 41 Idaho, Oregon, and Washington home renovators for lead-based paint violations

Lead paint safety training for contractors, community education workshops offered this fall

October 25, 2021

Seattle (October 25, 2021) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Region 10 has reached settlements with 41 residential home renovators in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington for violations of federal lead-based paint regulations.

Renovators of pre-1978 housing are required by federal law to obtain EPA Firm Certification under the Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Rule. They must also obtain renovator certification or assign certified renovators to projects; inform tenants and residents of possible lead-based paint and/or known lead hazards; and comply with work practice requirements intended to reduce lead-based paint exposure. This fall, EPA is providing free RRP training for contractors to become RRP certified. Spanish-language RRP training will be offered on November 4 in Boise, Idaho. RRP trainings in English will also be offered.

Under the terms of the settlements, the companies agreed to pay civil penalties and to certify that they are complying with the Renovation, Repair and Painting certification requirements prior to offering and performing renovations, as required by the RRP Rule.

“By bringing companies into compliance with the lead safety Renovation, Repair and Painting rule, which includes firm certification and training to work safely with lead-based paint, it protects future customers and their families and the  construction workers. In this way, the impact of these settlements is exponential,” said Ed Kowalski, Director of EPA Region 10’s Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division.

A full list of the companies whose enforcement cases were concluded this year can be found in the table at the end of this announcement, below, titled: EPA Region 10 Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Rule Enforcement in 2021.

EPA’s Lead-Safe Home Repair Certification Program protects consumers – and contractors

Children are especially vulnerable to the effects of lead because their brains and nervous systems are still developing, and exposure may lead to irreversible and lifelong health effects. Lead-contaminated dust from disturbed, 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. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 500,000 American children between 1 and 5 have blood lead levels at or above the CDC’s blood lead advisory level for public health actions.

It’s important to remember that lead-based paint on walls and other surfaces that is still in good condition is not a health hazard because it can’t be ingested or inhaled. However, improperly removing, or disturbing, lead-based paint can create lead dust and paint chips that create a health hazard. People planning a renovation, repair, or painting project on a home or an apartment built before 1978 should make sure to do the work safely and/or use a certified lead-safe contractor. If a property owner hires someone to do the work on their properties, they must hire a contractor certified under EPA’s, or their state’s, Lead renovation, repair, and painting (RRP) program. Contractors intending to work on properties built before 1978 must be certified under the program and failure to do so can result in penalties against a contractor.

Enhancing Lead-Safe Work Practices through Education and Outreach

EPA launched the Enhancing Lead-Safe Work Practices through Education and Outreach (ELSWPEO) training initiative, to raise awareness about childhood lead exposure and protect environmentally overburdened and underserved communities from lead exposure. ELSWPEO aims to serve local communities and advance environmental justice by increasing both the number of RRP certified firms and consumer demand for lead-safe work practices through the following initiatives:

Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) training for contractors: EPA is providing free trainings, in both English and Spanish depending on the location, for contractors working in selected communities, offering an opportunity for them to become RRP certified. More information on upcoming training is available at: https://www.epa.gov/lead/local-training-and-outreach#RRPtraining.

Local RRP training event on November 4: On November 4, home repair contractors can attend a free Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) certification training offered in Spanish in Boise, Idaho. If interested, please call to register: 513-372-6232 or register online with the coupon code Leadsafety21: https://www.epa.gov/lead/local-training-and-outreach.

Evento de capacitación de RRP local el 4 de noviembre: Los contratistas de construcción y reparación de viviendas pueden asistir a una capacitación gratuita de certificación de Renovación, Reparación y Pintura (RRP) en español el 4 de noviembre en Boise, ID. Llame para registrarse: 513 372-6232 o regístrese en línea con el código Leadsafety21: https://espanol.epa.gov/plomo/capacitiacion-y-alcance-publico-local.

Lead Awareness Curriculum Train-the-Trainer sessions for community leaders: EPA offers free Lead Awareness Curriculum Train-the-Trainer sessions, in English with simultaneous Spanish interpretation, designed to equip community leaders with tools and resources needed to educate their communities about lead, lead exposure and actions that can be taken to reduce and prevent childhood lead exposure, including hiring RRP certified contractors. The series of four modules include lesson plans, key messages, and kids’ activity sheets that community leaders and other instructors can use to improve public awareness of the dangers from lead exposure and encourage preventative actions.

More information on ELSWPEO training dates and locations, outreach materials, and general information can be found at https://www.epa.gov/lead/local-training-and-outreach. Information on ELSWPEO in Spanish can be found at https://espanol.epa.gov/plomo/capacitiacion-y-alcance-publico-local. 

Visit these EPA websites for additional lead paint information:

• EPA’s Lead Site: www.epa.gov/lead
• Lead Paint RRP Rule: www.epa.gov/lead/renovation-repair-and-painting-program
• Lead Paint Disclosure Rule: www.epa.gov/lead/real-estate-disclosure
• Find a Lead-Safe Certified Firm: https://cfpub.epa.gov/flpp/pub/index.cfm?do=main.firmSearch
• Apply for Lead-Safe Certification: www.epa.gov/lead/getcertified
• Lead Poisoning Awareness Infographics: www.epa.gov/lead/shareable-infographics-lead-poisoning-awareness
• Report Lead-Based Paint Complaints, Tips and Violations: www.epa.gov/lead/report-lead-based-paint-complaints-tips-and-violations

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Companies whose enforcement cases were concluded in EPA's Region 10 this year are listed below: