The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently fined two companies, Calspec Enterprises Inc. and Waypoint Homes Inc., a total of $46,550 for failing to comply with federal lead-based paint rules at several residential properties in Southern California.

“Lead-based paint is the main source of lead poisoning for children, which can cause learning disabilities and behavior problems,” says Jared Blumenfeld, EPA’s regional administrator for the Pacific Southwest. “The EPA will take enforcement action against companies that fail to take the necessary steps to notify tenants or train workers to protect children, families and workers.”

Calspec Enterprises is a general contractor located in Santa Ana, Calif., that performs residential bathroom and kitchen renovations. Under the settlement order, CalSpec will pay $21,210 for the violations of the Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) rule. The EPA found that between April 2012 and May 2014, Calspec renovated three residential properties in Cypress, Newport Beach, and Norwalk without the following:

• Ensuring that residents received the federal ‘Renovate Right’ brochure before the renovations took place;
• Assigning a certified renovator to the renovations and ensuring that all workers were certified renovators or trained by a certified renovator; and
• Maintaining required records documenting that warning signs were posted, work areas were contained, and a certified renovator performed post-renovation cleaning verifications.

Waypoint Homes, based in Oakland, Calif., leases single-family homes in the United States. In 2013, the EPA discovered that Waypoint entered into leases at five pre-1978 homes located in Riverside and San Bernardino without properly disclosing information about lead-based paint or lead hazards to tenants—including the federal ‘Lead Warning Statement’ in the lease contract—and confirming that tenants received the federal ‘Protect Your Family from Lead in Your Home’ brochure. As a result of this violation of the lead-based paint disclosure rule, Waypoint has paid a fine of $25,340.