The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Tuesday announced Global Home Improvements, Inc. (GHI) of Feasterville, Bucks County will pay a $28,000 penalty to resolve alleged violations of the lead-based paint Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Rule.

This rule protects the public from toxic lead hazards created by renovation activities involving lead-based paint. RRP safeguards are designed to ensure “lead safe” practices in the renovation and repair activities involving “target housing” built before the 1978 federal ban on lead-based paint.

EPA alleged that during multiple renovations of target housing in 2016 and 2017, GHI violated the RRP “lead safe” requirements by:

-- Performing renovations after its lead-safe firm certification expired on June 28, 2015;

-- Failing to document whether 16 target housing owners who contracted with GHI for renovations had timely received the required lead hazard information pamphlet, titled “Renovate Right: Important Lead Hazard Information for Families, Child Care Providers and Schools;”

-- Failing to document GHI’s compliance with the “lead safe” work practice standards during 17 target housing renovations.

As part of the settlement, the company did not admit these alleged violations, but has cooperated with EPA in resolving this matter and certifying its compliance with applicable RRP requirements.

Infants, children, and pregnant women are especially vulnerable to lead exposure, which can cause lifelong impacts including developmental impairment, learning disabilities, impaired hearing, reduced attention span, hyperactivity, and behavioral problems.

Because of these health risks, the U.S. banned lead-based paint in 1978. However, EPA estimates that lead-based paint is still present in more than 30 million homes nationwide.

For more information on this program, visit EPA’s Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Rule webpage.

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[Posted: Oct. 23, 2018]

10/29/2018