The owner of a Baltimore broadcast tower and its painting contractor will pay $2.2 million to the state of Maryland for allowing lead paint chips and debris to spread across surrounding neighborhoods, contaminating parks, playground, and daycares.
Attorney General Anthony G. Brown and Maryland Department of Environment Secretary Serena McIlwain announced the settlement and consent decree against Television Tower, Inc. and Skyline Tower Painting, Inc.
The settlement resolves a civil lawsuit and follows separate guilty pleas by the contractor and its principal on criminal environmental charges filed by the state’s environmental crimes unit.
Television Tower, Inc. (TTI) owns an approximately 1,000-foot broadcast tower located near the 3700 block of Malden Avenue in Baltimore City.
The state’s 2023 civil complaint alleged that in May 2022, TTI, knowing the tower contained lead-based paint, hired Skyline to repaint the tower. However, Skyline was not accredited to provide lead paint abatement services in Maryland.
The complaint further alleged that Skyline removed lead paint from the Tower by scraping and forceful power washing, with no controls or containment to prevent the spreading of lead-based paint chips in the surrounding neighborhoods such as Woodberry. The work, conducted between May 28, 2022, and June 21, 2022, caused lead paint chips and debris to spread as far as a quarter to half a mile away, according to the state.
Studies have shown that repeated low-level exposure to lead from paint can cause cumulative harm to the brain, nervous system, and development of young children. Children six and under are most vulnerable and the effects are irreversible. Also, lead contamination in soil and water can harm wildlife and move through the food chain.
Since ordered to stop its paint removal in 2022, TTI has obtained a new, lead-accredited contractor to finish the tower painting using a containment system that is specially designed for the tower, and Skyline is no longer involved in the project.
“This settlement and consent decree are about addressing harm done to our some of our youngest, most vulnerable residents at places they should be safe: parks, playgrounds, and daycares,” said Mayor Brandon M. Scott.
Attorney General Brown’s complaint sought civil penalties for multiple alleged violations of Maryland environmental and public health law, including failure to hire an accredited lead abatement contractor, various lead work practice violations by Skyline, improper disposal of solid waste, failure to make a hazardous waste determination, and discharge of a controlled hazardous substance into the environment and state waterways.
Under the $2.2 million settlement filed in Baltimore City Circuit Court, TTI has agreed to complete all tower repainting work using proper containment systems and accredited contractors by June 30, 2026.
TTI will also conduct a final cleanup and inspection of the surrounding area upon completion of repainting, followed by at least three months of ongoing monitoring and response to any community complaints of paint flakes; and repeat a soil sampling study to confirm no increase in lead soil levels.
Skyline will permanently cease all lead abatement, painting, and surface remediation work in Maryland – with Skyline and its principals also prohibited from forming or controlling any company offering such services in the state.
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Contractors
Maryland
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