According to the EPA New England Office of Public Affairs, a Weston, Mass. landlord, Dr. Anthony Ping Zuo, and Great Wall Properties LLC, will pay a fine and take action to reduce the risk of lead poisoning in apartment units in Springfield, Lawrence and New Bedford. This settles EPA claims that he and his company violated lead paint disclosure laws at rental properties located in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut.

Under the settlement, Dr. Zuo and Great Wall Properties will pay a $17,800 fine, replace over 125 old windows, and perform other projects to remove both interior and exterior lead hazards associated with over 20 apartments in the three Massachusetts communities. The window replacement and lead abatement projects will cost approximately $179,000.

“Lead poisoning is a serious health threat for children in New England, because so much of our housing is older and may contain lead paint,” said Robert W. Varney, regional administrator for the EPA's New England office. “It is critically important that renters and buyers get the information they need to protect themselves and their children from potential exposure to lead paint. This is especially important for pregnant women and families with young children.”

The violations were identified during the course of an investigation begun in July 2003, and were included in a complaint filed in June 2005. The EPA claimed that Zuo and Great Wall did not comply with federal laws that require property owners, managers and sellers to provide information about lead-based paint present in housing built before 1978.