Federal Lead Paint Police Hit Lewiston-Auburn, Maine, Putting Local Landlords, Contractors On Notice To Comply w/ Applicable Laws Relating To Pre-1978-Built Homes Or Face Being Belted w/ Fines

In Lewiston, Maine, the Sun Journal reports:

• The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has launched an effort to clean up lead paint in Lewiston-Auburn.
  
  Curt Spaulding, the EPA's regional administrator in Boston, said the effort was unique to Lewiston-Auburn, the area with the highest number of lead-poisoned children in the state.
  
  The agency has put painting and renovation contractors, landlords and property management companies on notice that it will begin inspecting work projects in Lewiston-Auburn in June. Inspectors will work to ensure federal law is being followed and the EPA may fine those who are not in compliance, according to a news release.

For more, see EPA focuses on Lewiston-Auburn landlords in new lead paint effort.

For the Environmental Protection Agency press release, see EPA Begins Effort to Reduce Children's Exposure to Lead Paint in Lewiston/Auburn, Maine Area:

• Under the initiative, EPA will provide educational materials on lead paint rules to affected companies. EPA will also outline steps the Agency is taking to increase compliance on the part of these entities with the federal lead-based paint Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Rule under the Toxic Substances Control Act. EPA's RRP Rule became effective in April 2010.

Go here for links to examples of landlords getting hammered by the EPA for getting tripped up by the federal RRP Rule, and here to file a complaint reporting violations with EPA.

Go here for Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Rule Frequently Asked Questions.

Go here for the federal Renovate Right brochure that landlords and contractors are required to give to tenants before renovating more than six square feet of painted surfaces in a room for interior projects or more than twenty square feet of painted surfaces for exterior projects or window replacement or demolition in housing, child care facilities and schools built before 1978.

Go here for EPA Lead Paint Renovation Compliance Guide for landlords, property managers, contractors, and maintenance personnel working in homes, schools, and child-occupied facilities built before 1978.