Four builders fined, agree to new policies
11 June 2008 21:11 [Source: ICIS news]
HOUSTON (ICIS news)--Four major US homebuilders were fined $4.3m (€2.8m) and agreed to internally enforce policies designed to reduce sediment build up in waterways, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said on Wednesday.
The settlement comes at a time when the
Housing is an important chemical end market, as each house containing an average of $16,000 (€10,000) worth of chemistry, according to the American Chemistry Council (ACC).
The action was meant to “get the attention of many others in the industry to get them into compliance”, said assistant Attorney General Ronald Tenpas during a conference call with reporters.
Under the agreement, KB Home, Centex Homes, Pulte Homes and Richmond American Homes will adopt improved pollution prevention plans, conduct pre-construction site inspections and fix any problems found in those inspections, provide formalised training for employees and contractors, regularly monitor conditions around their worksite and provide the government annual reports, Tenpas said.
The settlement stems from offences in 34 states and the
“We’re hoping this settlement will set a new bar in the construction industry,” said Granta Nakayama, assistant administrator at the EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “We’re hoping this will give incentives to other companies.”
When excess dirt and sediment made its way into local water, the pollution would make life difficult for animals and plants, Nakayama said.
($1 = €0.65)
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