Lewiston cos. fined for violating lead disclosure law
Two developers in Lewiston are facing more than $715,000 in fines for not adequately disclosing the presence of lead paint to some building tenants, including families with children that were found to have high levels of lead in their bodies.
Developer Travis Soule, through seven companies he owns, faces more than $560,000 in federal fines for violating federal lead paint disclosure regulations, while PropSys Management Co., owned by Lee and Steve Griswold, faces $150,000 in fines for the same violation, according to a press release from the Environmental Protection Agency.
The EPA's complaints -- there are 51 against Soule's companies -- were brought under the federal Toxic Substances Control Act, which requires owners and managers to disclose the presence of lead-based paint to potential tenants or buyers.
The EPA first inspected Soule's properties in 2004, according to the Sun Journal. Since then, the Maine Department of Health and Human Services has imposed three lead abatement orders on properties owned by Soule because of elevated lead levels found in children living there, according to the newspaper. In all, the EPA alleges Soule failed to notify tenants about the presence of lead paint in apartments where at least 23 children lived. He could face $11,000 fine on each of the 51 allegations.
Soule's seven companies are:
• Landmark Real Estate Management Inc.
• Solo Affordable Housing Solutions LLC
• Solo Development 2004 LLC
• Minbar Properties LLC
• 87 Bartlett Street Associates LLC
• LA Italian Properties LLC
• Travis Soule, dba Fish Properties
PropSys Management is being cited for violations that date as far back as 2000, the paper reported.
Soule and the Griswolds have 30 days to respond to the complaint, according to the paper.
Go to the press release from the EPA >>
Go to the article from the Sun Journal >>
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