EPA says two St. Louis home renovators must pay thousands over lead paint
A total of four companies across Missouri are paying penalties for alleged lead paint violations
ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) - Two St. Louis home renovators will be paying thousands of dollars in penalties over alleged violations of EPA toxic substance violations tied to lead paint. A total of four companies were named by the agency today, two in St. Louis and two in other areas of the Show Me State.
The two local companies are BBW Homes LLC, and Kim Roberts Properties LLC, listed by the Environmental Protection Agency as being in St. Louis. Officials say they failed to comply with regulations aimed at reducing the “hazards of lead-based paint exposure during renovations.”
The EPA says lead paint is a major concern for blood and brain health. Dust from lead paint from before 1978 “is one of the most common causes” of high lead levels in human blood, according to the agency.
“Lead exposure may lead to irreversible and lifelong health effects among infants and children because their growing bodies absorb more lead than adults do, and their brains and nervous systems are more sensitive to the damaging effects of lead.”
Renovation work done to lead-based paint can cause dust -- which can be very dangerous, according to federal information. Even window installation, demolition of old walls or repainting houses can expose lead and lead to health problems.
The renovations in question were all done to structures built before the 1970s. The EPA says these four businesses did not get proper certification from the EPA under federal law for this work, and they also failed to produce records and lead safety practices during the work done.
EPA officials say the home renovators will pay more than $27,000 in penalties to the agency for allegedly violating the Toxic Substances Control Act, also known as the TSCA. The other two companies are DSH Legacy in Hayti, and Nygard Construction in Bernie.
EPA Region 7 says that renovator certification is a key piece of making sure the companies know what they’re doing to minimize risk from lead-paint exposure; removal and treatment. The director of the Enforcement and Compliance Division, David Cozed, says a top priority is reducing exposure to lead exposure in communities already facing pollution problems.
The point of the required compliance regulations is to make sure employees are trained and warned about the dangers of lead paint. EPA requires some employees to have certification and warn homeowners about the dangers of lead paint and how to remove it safely.
Avery Martinez covers water, ag & the environment for First Alert 4. He is also a Report for America corps member, as well as a member of the Mississippi River Basin Ag & Water Desk. His coverage goes from corn farms to hunting concerns, and local water rates to rancher mental health.
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