BALTIMORE, MD—The Maryland Department of the Environment is invalidating more than 1,400 lead inspection certificates across the state after a lead inspector failed to follow work practice standards, requiring that any affected rental properties be reinspected.
The department announced this week that it is revoking certificates issued by Rodney Bryan Barkley, the owner of Green Environmental, LLC. Three children are known to have tested positive for elevated lead levels at properties with the now-invalidated certificates.
“We are reaching out to rental property owners and their tenants to be sure that families are protected from the serious health hazards of lead paint,” said MDE Secretary Serena McIlwain. “Parents of children residing at these properties should contact their child’s pediatrician or primary care physician to get tested.”
The department is notifying property owners and tenants by mail. The affected rental units must be reinspected for lead paint hazards, which can cause lifelong learning and behavior problems in children. In Maryland, rental homes built before 1978 are assumed to contain lead paint and are required to pass safety inspections.
Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown has filed a civil complaint against Barkley and his company in Baltimore City Circuit Court for multiple violations, including the improper use of a lead detection device that uses radioactive materials. Additionally, the Attorney General’s office has filed criminal charges against Barkley for falsifying and submitting lead paint certificates.
A criminal information is a formal accusation of wrongdoing, and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. The cases are ongoing.
A full list of the affected properties is available online here (PDF).
Photo by Sora Shimazaki from Pexels
