By Jonathan Stempel
(Reuters) -Lowe's will pay a $12.5 million civil fine to resolve U.S. government accusations that contractors hired by the home improvement retailer did not take appropriate safety precautions when renovating homes containing lead paint.
The Department of Justice and the Environmental Protection Agency said more than 250 home renovations in 23 U.S. states, primarily between 2019 and 2021, violated the EPA's Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting rule, as well as a 2014 consent decree.
Lowe's denied wrongdoing in agreeing to Tuesday's settlement, which includes a new consent decree.
The Mooresville, North Carolina-based company did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Residential lead-based paint use was banned in 1978, and firms renovating older homes must use certified firms and renovators to minimize residents' potential exposure to lead paint chips and dust.
Lowe's alleged violations included failing to warn residents about lead paint risks before starting work, not using certified renovators and lead-safe work practices, failing to contain dust and cover windows, and not using plastic sheeting to catch exterior dust and paint chips.
The settlement also requires Lowe's to improve its compliance program for renovating homes that may contain lead-based paint.
About 29 million U.S. homes have lead-based paint hazards, the government said.
Lead poisoning can lead to mood disorders, memory problems and miscarriages, and in children can lead to learning difficulties and seizures, among other symptoms.
(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Leslie Adler and Richard Chang)
