Wedoany.com Report-Nov. 26, Lowe's Companies has agreed to pay a $12.5 million civil penalty to settle allegations by the U.S. Department of Justice and Environmental Protection Agency that contractors it hired failed to follow required lead-safety practices during home renovations.

An employee uses a fork lift outside a Lowe's hardware store in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. November 4, 2020.

The settlement, announced on Tuesday, resolves claims that more than 250 renovation projects across 23 states, mainly between 2019 and 2021, violated the EPA's Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Rule and a 2014 consent decree. Lowe's, headquartered in Mooresville, North Carolina, denied any wrongdoing as part of the agreement, which also establishes a new consent decree.

Under federal regulations, any renovation work that disturbs lead-based paint in homes built before 1978 must be performed by certified firms using certified renovators and specific lead-safe methods. The government stated that in the affected projects, contractors often did not provide required warnings to residents, failed to use certified personnel, omitted dust containment measures, and neglected to cover windows or use plastic sheeting to capture paint chips and debris.

As part of the resolution, Lowe's will strengthen its compliance program to ensure future renovations in pre-1978 housing follow all lead-safety requirements, including proper training, documentation, and oversight of contractors.

The EPA estimates that approximately 29 million U.S. homes still contain lead-based paint hazards. Exposure to lead dust and chips can cause serious health effects, including developmental delays and learning difficulties in children, as well as memory issues, mood disorders, and other conditions in adults.

The settlement concludes the federal investigation without admission of liability by Lowe's, while reinforcing procedures designed to protect residents during renovation work in older properties. The company will implement enhanced monitoring and training measures to prevent similar issues going forward.