Lowe’s Agrees to Nationwide Lead-Safe Settlement
Late last month, the Justice Department and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a proposed nationwide settlement with Lowe’s Home Centers LLC, a subsidiary of Lowe’s Companies Inc., to resolve alleged violations of EPA’s Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Rule.
The settlement stems from renovation work performed by Lowe’s contractors at hundreds of homes across the country between 2019 and 2021. As part of the agreement, Lowe’s will pay a $12.5 million penalty and implement a comprehensive, corporate-wide program to ensure contractors follow lead-safe practices in homes that may contain lead-based paint.
“Careless handling of lead paint endangers the health of children and other Americans. The stiff penalty Lowe’s will pay reflects the importance of using certified firms and contractors in older home renovations,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD).
“Noncompliance with EPA regulations aimed at reducing or preventing health risks from lead paint exposure during renovations, repairs, and painting can endanger families, especially young children and infants,” said Acting Assistant Administrator Craig Pritzlaff of the EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA). “Through this enforcement action, Lowe’s will help protect their customers from the harmful effects of lead by ensuring that renovation work in homes built before 1978 is conducted by certified contractors using lead-safe practices.”
The consent decree, lodged in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, is subject to a 30-day public comment period and final court approval.
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Lowe’s: Fixing homes, fixing mistakes ....
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