Attorney General announces compliance plan for lead paint
Posted by Administrator (admin) on Nov 24 2008 at 2:27 PM
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BURLINGTON, Vermont - Attorney General William Sorrell Friday announced the launching of a Burlington-based project, which will focus on enforcement of the state’s lead safety regulations.

Sorrell said that there are many children in the Burlington area suffering from the hazards of lead poisoning.

“This is a serious public health problem, but it can be avoided,” he said.

From January, the attorney general’s office will send letters to landlords in the Burlington area whose maintenance compliance records are not up to date. The first round of letters will be sent to the chief landlords in the city.

Per state law, certain steps should be taken to protect against the release of lead in rental housing construction before 1978. Annual compliance reports are also required.

Brian Pine, the assistant director of housing in Burlington, said that the Burlington Lead Program and the Burlington Housing Authority offer educational and financial resources to Burlington area landlords that can assist them as they bring their properties into compliance.

“These resources have gone overlooked and unused in many instances. Hopefully, more landlords will take advantage of the help and support these groups are willing to offer as part of this project,” he said.

The state will send similar mails to the landlords outside Burlington later this year.

Most of the lead exposure incidents are caused by lead-based paint. This paint has not been sold since 1978, but it is still present in many old homes and apartments. During renovations of these buildings, large amount of lead dust is released. Children may also be exposed to lead when the paint chips away from shelves or door frames. Even low levels of lead exposure can affect the brain development of children.

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