EPA Cracking Down on Contractors

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has taken enforcement action against thirty-five home renovation contractors for failure to follow Lead Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) standards. For varied reasons, including not being properly trained, general contractors who’s subcontractor’s weren’t trained, and not following lead safe work practices protocol; the EPA’s enforcement actions led to more than $274,000 in penalties.  The RRP standards are extremely effective in limiting exposure to lead dust that can be spread during renovation projects.

EPA reports that between May 2013 and January 2014, EPA has settled enforcement action with the following companies:

Environmental Engineering & Technology, Inc. of Newport News, VA
The Training Network, Inc. of Oak Hill, VA
Professional Training Associates, Inc. of Duquesne, PA
The Home Hero, LLC of Philadelphia, PA
Thermo-Twin Industries, Inc. of Oakmont, PA
Samuel M. Lewis of Columbus, OH
Midwest College Painters, LLC of Bloomfield, MI
D&S Construction of Western Ohio, LLC of Sidney, OH
M&J Environmental Institute of Maple Grove, MN
Hannegan Construction Company of St. Charles, MO
HarenLaughlin Construction of Lenexa, KS
Jason Madura of Warsaw, MO
Nezerka Enterprises LLC d/b/a Certa Pro Painters of Shawnee Mission, KS
James L. and Dona D. Jungers of Lincoln, NE
Dennis Barker of Fairbury, NE
Painting Done Right of Lincoln, NE
Prudent Technologies, Inc. of Kansas City, MO
Rothers Inc., d/b/a Rothers Design/Build of Kansas City, KS
Ritchie Enterprises, Inc. d/b/a Puroclean Emergency Restoration Services of Sullivan, MO
Exterior Energy Consultants, Inc. of Gladstone, MO
Philip Thornton and Stanley Thornton of Marshall, MO
Van Dyk Construction of Littleton, CO
Devex Construction LLC of Greenwood Village, CO
Thomas Breuer Construction of Sioux Falls, SD
Alaska Commercial Contractors, Inc. of Juneau, AK
VanPool Painting, Inc. of Juneau, AK
Kachina Contractor Solutions, LLC of Elkins Park, PA

Collegiate Entrepreneurs, Inc. of Braintree, MA
Bill Vizzo Contractors, LLC of Shelton, CT
James J. Welch & Co., Inc. of Salem, MA
New Hampshire Plate Glass Corp. of Portsmouth, NH
Dura-Plex, Inc. of Brick, NJ
Hernandez Painting of Hempstead, NY
Consortium for Workforce and Economic Development / New Jersey Council of Community Colleges of Trenton, NJ
Schryer Thompson Construction, Inc. of Concord, CA

Three of the companies agreed to fund environmental projects to benefit communities. HarenLaughlin Construction and Exterior Energy Consultants will fund lead abatement work at local properties, while the New Jersey Council of Community Colleges will provide tuition-free, EPA accredited training courses to renovators expected to work on projects impacted by Hurricane Sandy.

If you need help getting certified or have any questions about proper RRP protocol, please give our office a call.