EPA’s Lead-based Paint Enforcement Helps Protect Children and Vulnerable Communities - 2018

Lead Resources

WASHINGTON  – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or the Agency) announced its federal enforcement actions completed from October 2017 through September 2018 to protect the public, especially young children, from exposure to lead in paint.  The cases involved alleged noncompliance with at least one of the Agency’s lead-based paint requirements: the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Rule; TSCA’s Lead-based Paint Activities Rule; and the Residential Lead-based Paint Hazard Reduction Act’s Section 1018 Lead Disclosure Rule. 

This year’s lead-based paint enforcement actions included civil administrative settlements, civil complaints and default orders by EPA; and civil judicial settlements and criminal prosecutions by the U.S. Department of Justice.  Several cases resulted from referrals, tips and complaints from state/local authorities, consumers and others, including referrals related to children with elevated blood-lead levels.  Also, EPA obtained commitments in settlements to perform lead-based paint abatement projects.

The dollar categories reflect the civil penalty; or the civil penalty plus the value of, or funding commitments for, any projects to address lead-based paint.  

On this page:

Pollution Reductions

Each enforcement action is expected to obtain compliance, and significant reductions in actual and potential lead exposure and environmental contamination.  Each settlement requires the alleged violator to come into compliance, resulting in reduced risk of lead exposure and contamination. Each Complaint contributes to reduced lead exposure by increasing awareness of, and ultimately compliance with, lead-based paint requirements.

Lead-based Paint Criminal Prosecutions

Lead-based Paint Civil Settlements/Orders

Actions $1 Billion or More

Actions $150,000 or More

Actions $90,000 or More

Actions $50,000 or More

Actions $40,000 or More

Actions $30,000 or More

Actions $20,000 or More

Actions $10,000 or More

Actions Less Than $10,000

Expedited Settlement Agreements

EPA entered into Expedited Settlement Agreements for alleged violations with the companies listed below.  These agreements allow violators to quickly resolve certain minor infractions with a reduced penalty, typically $2,000 or less. 

Lead-based Paint Civil Complaints

The Complaints propose civil penalties up to the statutory maximum per violation under the Toxic Substances Control Act.

Clean Air Act Cases with Lead-based Paint Supplemental Environmental Projects

The following settlements involving violations of the Clean Air Act obtained lead-based abatement SEPs, based on a nexus between the violations and lead poisoning risks.

Enforcement

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Last updated on August 16, 2024