NEWARK, NJ — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development have reached a first-of-its-kind joint settlement with the Newark Housing Authority to correct widespread violations of federal lead paint safety laws across its public housing portfolio, officials announced last week.
Under the agreements, the Newark Housing Authority must test for and remove lead-based paint hazards across 11 properties built before 1978, which house roughly 5,500 residents. The settlements come after federal inspections revealed failures to disclose lead risks to tenants and lapses in renovation safety practices.
EPA assessed a $170,000 civil penalty but agreed to waive it if the housing authority completes all corrective actions. HUD imposed a separate $7,500 penalty. Officials said the focus is on ensuring compliance while preserving funds for tenant safety improvements.
“We’ve made major progress in reducing lead exposure, but it still poses a serious risk—especially to children,” said EPA Regional Administrator Michael Martucci. “Our partnership with HUD ensures families in Newark have homes that are safe and healthy.”
The settlement requires Newark Housing Authority to develop a comprehensive compliance plan, submit quarterly reports, train maintenance staff in lead-safe renovation practices, and host tenant education sessions on reducing exposure risks.
“With over two-thirds of New Jersey’s housing built before 1980, the dangers of lead remain real,” said HUD Region II Administrator Jason Loughran. “This agreement ensures Newark families—particularly children—are better protected.”
The coordinated action marks the first joint EPA-HUD settlement under a new federal memorandum of understanding designed to strengthen interagency enforcement of lead safety laws in public housing.
Lead-based paint was banned for residential use in 1978, yet millions of older homes still contain it. When improperly managed, deteriorating lead paint can contaminate dust and soil, posing lifelong health risks, including developmental delays and neurological damage in children.
Federal officials said they will continue to oversee Newark’s compliance and provide technical support to ensure all lead abatement and disclosure requirements are met.
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