SALT LAKE CITY — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a settlement with Pacific Coast Capital Investors, LLC, the owner of North Aspen Apartments in Salt Lake City, Utah, for allegedly failing to notify tenants of lead-based paint hazards on the property.
Pacific Coast Capital agreed to pay a $74,082 penalty and modified its lead disclosure practices to settle allegations that it violated the Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act, Title X. This requirement ensures homebuyers and renters of most housing built before 1978 have the right to know whether lead-based paint and associated hazards are present before signing a contract or lease.
“EPA is committed to protecting the health and safety of communities in Utah, including in areas that have been overburdened by hazards like lead,” said KC Becker, EPA Regional Administrator. “This settlement will help ensure that Utahns have the information they need to make informed choices about where they live.”
The settlement resolves EPA’s allegations against Pacific Coast Capital. EPA will continue to assess compliance associated with the company’s properties in Salt Lake City and pursue enforcement action when appropriate.
The Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act of 1992, which is also known as Title X, protects families from exposure to lead from paint, dust and soil. Sellers, landlords, property managers and real estate agents are all responsible for compliance.
The settlement announced today is part of EPA’s ongoing national strategy to protect communities from toxic lead paint hazards. Many homes built before 1978 have lead-based paint, which was banned from use in 1978 due to its harmful health effects. Infants, children and pregnant women are especially vulnerable to lead exposure. The EPA Lead Strategy includes increasing awareness of the lead notification and renovation requirements and creating a strong deterrent for violators.
More information about Title X is available on EPA’s Section 1018 website. Violations of lead-paint regulations can be reported to EPA online.