Environmental News FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Kansas…
Environmental News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Kansas City, Kan., Aug. 31, 2011) - Washington
University of St. Louis, Mo., has agreed to pay a $2,778 civil
penalty to the United States and spend at least $24,998 to replace
old windows in its married student housing units to settle
allegations that it failed to disclose the presence of lead-based
paint or lead-based paint hazards to tenants prior to the leasing
of some of its other housing units.
According to a civil consent agreement filed by
EPA Region 7 in Kansas City, Kan., Washington University leased
three apartments at 6012 McPherson Avenue and 6048 McPherson
Avenue, northeast of its Danforth Campus, to student tenants in
2008, 2009 and 2010, without disclosing to them that the City of
St. Louis Health Department had previously cited the university for
lead-based paint violations at those properties in 2000 and
2006.
The settlement alleges that Washington
University stated in lead warning statements attached to those
property leases that it had no knowledge of the presence of
lead-based paint or lead-based paint hazards in the units. The
university also failed to provide tenants with records and reports
of the city’s citations of the units.
Those actions were in violation of the
Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act of 1992, and the
Toxic Substances Control Act, which require landlords and sellers
of properties built before 1978 to disclose certain types of
information about lead-based paint hazards to tenants and buyers
prior to a lease or sale.
The federal government banned lead-based paint
from housing in 1978. Lead that remains in pre-1978 housing can
pose serious health risks to children when old paint chips or
cracks away or turns to dust. High levels of lead in children can
cause permanent damage to the brain and nervous system and other
widespread health problems, such as reduced intelligence and
attention span, hearing loss, stunted growth, reading and learning
problems, and behavioral difficulties.
As part of its settlement with EPA, Washington
University has agreed to perform a supplemental environmental
project that will involve the replacement of approximately 103 old
windows in married student housing units located at 6317 Cates
Avenue, just west of its North Campus. Lead-based paint on surfaces
subjected to regular friction, such as windows and door jams,
commonly results in the deterioration of the paint and the increase
of lead paint dust in a residence. This project, which will
eliminate that particular source of lead-based paint dust in these
residences, is expected to cost between $24,998 and
$31,000.
Learn more about legal requirements for landlords and property sellers to disclose lead-based paint hazards
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