EPA, HUD Reach Settlements with Newark Housing Authority to Address Lead Hazards

The Newark Housing Authority has reached settlements with EPA and HUD to address lead paint hazards at 11 properties, requiring testing, abatement, and improved compliance to better protect thousands of residents.

• By Stasia DeMarco
• September 29, 2025

The EPA and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) have reached coordinated settlements with the Newark Housing Authority (NHA) to resolve violations of federal lead-based paint regulations and strengthen protections for residents and staff.

Under the agreements, NHA must conduct lead testing and abatement at 11 pre-1978 housing developments, which are home to roughly 5,500 residents. The housing authority will also improve staff training, follow federal disclosure rules, and ensure safer renovation practices. EPA issued a $170,000 penalty but will waive it if NHA fulfills its corrective actions, allowing funds to be directed toward tenant needs. HUD assessed a $7,500 civil penalty.

The settlements stem from EPA inspections at two Newark properties, which found that NHA failed to provide complete lead hazard disclosures and did not meet requirements under EPA’s Lead Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) Rule. To address these violations, NHA has agreed to create compliance plans, submit quarterly reports to both agencies, conduct lead abatements, train staff and contractors, and hold tenant education sessions.

“With over two-thirds of New Jersey’s housing stock built before 1980, the risks from lead remain real,” said HUD Region II Administrator Jason Loughran. “This agreement ensures that the Newark Housing Authority takes steps to protect residents, especially children, from the harmful dangers of lead exposure.” EPA Regional Administrator Michael Martucci added that the settlements build on decades of progress in reducing children’s blood lead levels.

This is the first joint enforcement action with a public housing authority since EPA and HUD signed a Memorandum of Understanding to coordinate inspections and enforcement. The agencies will continue to provide oversight and technical assistance to ensure NHA meets its obligations.

Lead paint, banned in 1978, remains in millions of older homes nationwide. Exposure can cause serious health problems, especially in children. Federal law requires landlords and contractors to disclose lead hazards and use certified personnel during renovations.