Politics & Government
Washington University to Pay Penalty for Lead Paint Violation
Washington University has agreed to pay a $ 2,778 civil penalty to settle allegations that it failed to disclose the presence of lead paint in off campus housing.
Washington University will pay a $2,778 fine and replace old windows in its married student housing units as part of a settlement agreement with the Environmental Protection Agency involving a violation over lead paint.
According to the settlement agreement, Wash U is accused of leasing three off-campus apartments to students in 2008, 2009 and 2010, and not telling them that the City had previously cited the university for lead-paint violations at those properties in 2000 and 2006.
The university “neither admits nor denies the factual allegations” set forth by the EPA, said Wash U in a statement provided to University City Patch.
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High levels of lead can pose serious health risks, especially to infants and children.
The federal government banned lead-based paint from housing in 1978. By law, landlords of properties built before 1978 are required to disclose information about lead-paint hazards to tenants.
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As part of the settlement, Wash U has agreed to replace approximately 103 old windows in married student housing units located at 6317 Cates Avenue, just west of its North Campus. The project is expected to cost between $24,998 and $31,000.
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