Enforcement of Lead Laws and Regulations in Region 1
EPA’s Region 1 office serves Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont and 10 Tribal Nations
FY 2024 Lead Enforcement and Regional Geographic Initiatives Highlights
Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act
In FY 2024, Region 1 performed Safe Drinking Water Action (SDWA) inspections, including for lead, at drinking water systems in Keene, NH; Brattleboro, VT; Portland, ME; Andover, MA; and Hanscom Airforce Base located predominantly within Bedford, MA.
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
EPA ordered, pursuant to the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) section 7003 imminent and substantial endangerment authority, that Historic Cargill Falls Mill, LLC, abate lead-based paint and/or lead dust hazards in 50 apartments in a former cotton mill built in 1850. Lead dust hazards were identified in units with children under six years old. This was the first EPA RCRA section 7003 addressing lead-based paint hazards in residential properties in approximately nine years.
Toxic Substances Control Act
Sherwood Properties LLC completed a supplemental environmental project (SEP), estimated to cost $57,700, to abate lead-based paint in its property Westbrook, ME property pursuant to the Lead-Based Paint Disclosure Rule under section 1018 of the Residential Lead Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act of 1992 (Disclosure Rule).
As part of its New Hampshire Geographic initiative, lead paint program and enforcement staff:
- Engaged with health officers at the Lead and Healthy Homes Conference in Portsmouth, NH;
- Presented outreach to health and code officers;
- Provided compliance assistance to 14,602 compliance assistance emails and hard copy flyers to regulated entities; and
- Performed over 59 lead-based paint compliance inspections in the greater Manchester area.
These actions increased the number of EPA Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule (RRP) lead-safe certified renovation firms and renovators.
Bellamy Home Improvement d/b/a Harmony Home Improvement (Bellamy) paid a $34,818 penalty pursuant to a consent agreement and final order (CAFO) resolving alleged violations of the Toxics Substance and Control Act (TSCA) and the RRP Rule in South Windsor, Connecticut.
J. Da Silva Properties, LLC of Danbury paid a $68,078 penalty pursuant to a CAFO resolving alleged violations of the Disclosure Rule. The Respondent will also complete a lead-based paint abatement SEP at two properties that it owns and will certify compliance with the Disclosure Rule. The SEP work is valued at $44,453 and will yield significant environmental and public health benefits.