Apartment House Owner Settles Violations of Lead-Paint Notification Rule in Reading, Pa.

PHILADELPIA (January 10, 2012) -- Wyomissing Park Apartments, owner of several apartment houses in Reading, Pa., has settled alleged violations of a federal law requiring disclosure of lead-based paint hazards to residential tenants, the E.P.A. announced today.

In a consent arrangement with EPA, Wyomissing Park Apartments has agreed to pay a $26,880 penalty for failing to provide required information about lead-based paint hazards in 13 residential leases between 2007 and 2009. These leases involves properties on Ridge Avenue and Pershing Boulevard in Reading.

The company was cited under the Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act of 1992. Under this law, sellers and landlords of residential housing built before the 1978 federal ban on lead-based paint must provide homebuyers and tenants with warning statements about lead-based paint hazards. The law also requires homesellers and landlords to disclose known lead-based paint hazards to homebuyers and tenants (or to disclose their lack of knowledge of such hazards).

As part of the settlement, Wyomissing Park Apartments did not admit liability for the alleged violations, but has certified that it is now in compliance with applicable regulations on lead-based paint hazards, and has presented evidence of compliance with the requirements of the Reduction Act.

E.P.A. is working with other federal, state, and local agencies to protect tenants and homeowners from the health risks of lead-based paint. High blood levels of lead can cause permanent damage to the nervous system and widespread health problems, such as a reduced intelligence and attention span, hearing loss, stunted growth, reading and learning problems and behavioral difficulties. Young children, in particular, are most vulnerable because their nervous systems are still developing.

For more information on environmental, health, and legal issues involving lead, please visit http://www.epa.gov/lead/index.html

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