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Greenbytes: December 2, 2003 Edition
In this IssueGreetings from EPA New England. We hope you find this edition of Greenbytes useful and we encourage you to give us feedback. For information on subscribing or unsubscribing see the section at the end of this message.
EPA New England just completed a record year on the lead paint enforcement front. During the fiscal year that ended Sept 30, the region carried out more than 100 inspections to ensure that landlords and property owners around the region are complying with federal lead disclosure rules. More than a half-dozen enforcement actions were initiated in response to those inspections and earlier inspections. The cases were in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire and Rhode Island. “Lead poisoning continues to be a problem for too many children in New England,” said EPA NE’s Regional Administrator Robert W. Varney. “These cases serve notice that everyone who rents or sells real estate must take the required steps to inform tenants and purchasers about lead hazards.” Federal law requires that sellers and landlords selling or renting housing built before 1978 must: provide an EPA-approved lead hazard information pamphlet, called “Protect Your Family from Lead in Your Home”; include lead notification language in sales and rental forms; disclose any known lead-based paint and lead-based paint hazards in the living unit and provide available reports to prospective buyers or renters, prior to signing purchase and sales contracts and lease documents; allow a lead inspection or risk assessment by home buyers; and maintain records certifying compliance with federal laws for a period of three years. Sellers, lessors, real estate agents and property managers all share responsibility for such compliance. Compliance with the lead disclosure rule has been a major focus of the EPA’s regional office for the past several years. The initiative has also included numerous compliance assistance workshops to help property owners and property managers understand their requirements under the federal lead disclosure law. More compliance assistance workshops will be held in 2004. For more information about the lead-paint issue and the agency’s enforcement initiative, visit EPA NE’s web site at www.epa.gov/ne/topics/pollutants/lead.html
Press Releases EPA Seeking Applications for Environmental Education Grants EPA Awards $100,000 Targeted Brownfields Assessment to Hopedale, MA EPA Awards $100,000 Targeted Brownfields Assessment to Greenfield, MA Agencies Celebrate Riverbank Restoration at Historic Site in Charlestown, NH EPA Finds Cleanup to be Effective at Conway, NH, Superfund Site
Events and conferences are not archived. Please refer to the Regional Calendar for upcoming events and conferences.
Boston Harbor - updated text and links Brownfields - what’s new Connecticut State Unit - updated press General Electric Pittsfield Superfund Site - new meetings and reports, including: In The News - new subscription information MWRA Permit - updated text and links Raymark Superfund Site - new bulletin Schools Assistance - updated text and links Science Inventory - new epa hq page Scrap Tires in New England - new page Silresim Chemical Corp. Superfund Site - report added ‘explanation of significant differences, operable unit 01, september 30, 2003" Supplemental Environmental Projects - updated text and links
"In The News" is a free daily service that provides links to today's top newspaper stories about the New England environment and links to related EPA New England information. In The News Email Service: As soon as today's edition of "In The News" has been posted we will email you a listing of the day's environmental news. |
