The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) reached concurrent settlements with the Newark Housing Authority (NHA) in New Jersey following EPA inspections at the John W. Hyatt Court and Pennington Court properties in Newark. The investigation found that NHA did not provide tenants with complete lead hazard disclosures or ensure renovations were properly done under EPA’s Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Rule. The settlement requires NHA to conduct lead testing and abatement where lead-based paint is found across the housing authority’s 11 pre-1978 properties with a total of about 5,500 residents. EPA’s settlement assesses a $170,000 penalty, which EPA will waive if NHA takes the actions necessary to comply with the federal lead requirements.
