司法部与 Harry D. Silverstein 遗产达成和解：纽约逾千套公寓铅漆违规罚400万美元
纽约——美国司法部10月22日宣布，联邦政府与已故房东 Harry D. Silverstein 的遗产达成和解，该遗产将支付400万美元罚款，了结其在纽约市逾1,000套公寓中长期违反联邦铅漆安全法规的民事诉讼。和解协议已于10月21日获美国联邦地区法官 Dale E. Ho 批准。
宣布和解的包括纽约南区联邦检察官 Jamie McDonald、住房与城市发展部（HUD）幕僚长 Drew McCall 与 HUD 监察长办公室代理监察长 Brian D. Harrison。检方指控，Silverstein 及其遗产多年来系统性违反两项联邦法规：一是要求房东在签约前向租客披露已知铅漆及铅危害信息的《铅披露规则》，二是环境保护署（EPA）的《翻修、维修与涂装规则》，该规则对扰动可能含铅油漆表面的工程规定了承包商认证、培训与作业规范。
据检方诉状，Silverstein 生前拥有、管理和控制纽约市14栋建于1978年之前的建筑、共逾1,000套公寓，直至2016年去世；此后其遗产继续持有管理这些公寓，部分直到2020年才出售。期间，Silverstein 与遗产多次未按规定向新租客提供铅危害警告声明与 EPA 认可的铅危害信息手册，也未在翻修时使用经认证的承包商。诉状称，2012年之后，这些建筑中至少有11名儿童被检出铅中毒。
在和解中，遗产承认并接受责任，包括承认纽约市住房保护与发展局曾在这些建筑中开出铅漆违规记录，以及在部分租约中找不到曾向租客提供铅警告声明或信息手册的证据。
McDonald 表示，其办公室致力于保护纽约居民的健康与安全，房东与翻修者违反旨在保护儿童免于铅中毒的法律时，检方将采取行动。McCall 表示，1978年之前建造的住房的房东必须就已知铅危害警告租客，被告忽视了这一要求，使儿童面临铅中毒风险。Harrison 表示，HUD 监察长办公室对将家庭置于风险中的房东零容忍。
司法部称，铅有毒性，铅中毒会影响儿童大脑与发育中的神经系统，可导致智商下降、学习障碍与行为问题；儿童铅中毒最常见的来源是摄入老化剥落的铅漆或翻修产生的铅尘。本案由纽约南区联邦检察官办公室民事部环境保护组办理，助理联邦检察官 Jacob Lillywhite 与 Jessica F. Rosenbaum 负责。
United States Obtains $4 Million Penalty in Settlement With Estate of Harry D. Silverstein Over Lead Paint Violations
NEW YORK — The U.S. Department of Justice on October 22 announced a $4 million penalty in a settlement with the Estate of Harry D. Silverstein, resolving a civil lawsuit alleging routine violations of federal lead paint safety laws across a portfolio of more than 1,000 apartments in New York City. The settlement was approved on October 21 by U.S. District Judge Dale E. Ho.
The settlement was announced by U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Jamie McDonald, Drew McCall, Chief of Staff of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and Acting Inspector General Brian D. Harrison of the HUD Office of Inspector General. Prosecutors alleged that Silverstein and the Estate systematically violated two federal rules: the Lead Disclosure Rule, which requires landlords to inform tenants about lead exposure risks and disclose known lead paint hazards before lease agreements, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule, which sets certification, training and work-practice requirements for renovations that disturb painted surfaces.
According to the complaint, Silverstein owned, managed and controlled more than 1,000 apartments in 14 New York City buildings built before 1978 until his death in 2016. The Estate then owned and managed those apartments, in some cases until they were sold in 2020. For years, prosecutors said, Silverstein and the Estate failed to provide tenants with lead disclosures and failed to use certified contractors when disturbing painted surfaces. At least 11 children tested positive for lead poisoning in the buildings after 2012 while Silverstein or the Estate owned or managed them.
In the settlement, the Estate admits and accepts responsibility, including that the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development issued lead-based paint violations in the buildings, and that on one or more occasions it could not locate evidence that Silverstein provided a Lead Warning Statement or EPA-approved lead hazard pamphlet to tenants entering new leases.
McDonald said his office is committed to protecting the health and safety of New Yorkers and that landlords and renovators who violate laws designed to protect children from lead poisoning will face action. McCall said landlords of homes built before 1978 must warn tenants about known lead, and that the defendant ignored the requirement. Harrison said the HUD Office of Inspector General has zero tolerance for landlords who place families at risk.
The Justice Department said lead is toxic and lead poisoning can affect children's brains and developing nervous systems, causing reduced IQ, learning disabilities and behavioral problems, with deteriorated lead paint and renovation dust the most common source for children. The case is being handled by the Environmental Protection Unit of the Civil Division of the U.S. Attorney's Office, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jacob Lillywhite and Jessica F. Rosenbaum in charge.
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图片来源：图：开裂剥落的含铅油漆。含铅油漆是儿童铅中毒最常见的来源之一。照片：Ich，CC BY-SA 4.0，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / Cracking and flaking lead paint. Lead paint is a major source of childhood lead poisoning. Photo: Ich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
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