'Maine Cabin Masters' settles lead-safety allegations
Courtesy / Maine Cabin Masters Facebook page
"Maine Cabin Masters" is a reality-TV series on the Warner Bros. Discovery Network. As part of a settlement with the EPA, at least three episodes of the upcoming season will shine a light on compliance with federal lead-safety rules.
"Maine Cabin Masters," a reality series about revamping dilapidated cabins in rural Maine, has agreed to settle alleged lead-safety violations, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said.
The EPA reached a $16,500 settlement with Kennebec Property Services LLC of Manchester, resolving alleged violations of the Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule and requiring the company to provide information about compliance on its reality-television show.
In a consent agreement and final order, the EPA alleged that Kennebec Property Services performed five renovations in 2022 at residential properties built before 1978 without complying with applicable federal requirements.
"Lead exposure for children is extremely dangerous and is entirely preventable," said Larry Starfield, acting administrator for the EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, in a news release. "Complying with federal lead paint laws is essential to protect children across the country and is a top priority for EPA."
Starfield added, "television shows that demonstrate home remodeling have a special responsibility to model lead-safe work practices and help their viewers understand common-sense measures to protect themselves and their children from lead hazards."
In a statement emailed to Mainebiz late Wednesday afternoon, Kennebec Cabin Co. said, "We have worked collaboratively with the EPA to address their concerns."
Lead’s harmful effects
The EPA noted that lead can cause irreversible and lifelong health effects, including a decrease in IQ, focus and academic achievement in children. The agency also said that while lead is dangerous to all children, not all are equally exposed to lead, nor do they suffer the same consequences of exposure.
The harmful impacts of lead disproportionately impact environmentally overburdened, low-income families and their communities, the federal agency said.
The agency alleged that the company failed to obtain recertification before starting renovations, did not assign a certified renovator to each project, didn't provide the owner of each unit with the EPA-approved lead-hazard information pamphlet and failed to maintain records showing compliance with the measures.
Since being contacted by the EPA, the company has obtained certification related to the Lead Renovation Repair and Painting Rule, and agreed to comply with the measure in all future renovation activities. Those measures come on top of the $16,500 penalty paid by the company.
In addition, Kennebec Property Services has agreed to help raise awareness about the EPA Lead RPP program by providing information about compliance with the lead rule in at least three episodes of "Maine Cabin Masters," which is broadcast on the Warner Bros. Discovery cable network. The program will also focus on the measures in at least one epidote of its podcast, "From the Wood Shed."
The EPA has designated the reduction of childhood lead exposure as a high priority and has settled several similar enforcement cases with programs that air on the same network as "Maine Cabin Masters."
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