This year the EPA banned the use of the R-22 refrigerant in the manufacturing of air conditioners. Because R-22 depletes the Earth’s ozone layer, EPA is gradually reducing amounts of that chemical that can be produced. But to preserve the useful life of R-22 equipment people have already purchased, EPA allows R-22 to be used [...]
A bill with an amendment to modify a controversial Environmental Protection Agency regulation passed in the Senate on May 27 and the two houses of Congress have made plans to conference their two versions of the bill. The regulation in question—the “Lead Renovation, Repair, and Painting Program LRRP”—implements a new rule that requires renovation and [...]
Maytag Recalls Dishwashers Due to Fire Hazard WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer [...]
A Connecticut landlord has agreed to pay a penalty of $2,140 and perform a lead abatement project valued at $20,360 for allegedly violating federal lead-based paint disclosure requirements. These violations potentially put tenants at risk of exposure to lead hazards. In a recent enforcement action, EPA alleged that Michael Perugini violated the federal Lead Disclosure [...]
A leading East Coast homebuilder learned four years ago that the Chinese-manufactured drywall it had installed in several Florida homes was emitting foul odors, according to documents obtained by ProPublica and the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. The company, WCI Communities, was so concerned that it started planning to tear out the material and rebuild the houses. But [...]