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EPA Recognizes McCoy’s Building Supply Stores for Environmental Information Assistance

Release Date: 07/23/2009
Contact Information: Dave Bary or Anthony Suttice at 214-665-2200 or r6press@epa.gov

(Dallas, Texas – July 23, 2009) The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recognized McCoy’s Building Supply for the company’s assistance in preventing childhood lead poisoning.

Since January 2005, McCoy’s has been a partner with EPA Region 6 in preventing childhood lead poisoning in vulnerable populations living in Texas. McCoy’s has assisted in the distribution of environmental information such as “Protect Your Family from Lead in Your Home,” “The Lead-Based Paint Pre-Renovation Education Rule,” and “The Lead-Based Paint Renovation, Repair and Painting Regulation.” Over the past four years McCoy’s has distributed over 16,000 pieces of literature through its stores.

“EPA thanks McCoy’s for its assistance in this important right-to-know program,” said EPA Region 6 Multimedia Planning and Permitting Division Director Carl Edlund. “There is no more serious environmental concern than America’s older homes with lead-based paint. Our young children are the most at risk and must be protected from lead poisoning.”

Many houses and apartments built before 1978 have lead-based paint. Lead from paint, chips, and dust can pose serious health problems if not taken care of properly. If not detected early, children with high levels of lead in their bodies can suffer from brain and nervous system damage, behavior and learning problems, and slowed growth. Lead is also harmful to adults and can cause reproductive problems, high blood pressure, digestive problems, nerve disorders, and memory and concentration problems.

“As one of the largest family-owned businesses in the building supply industry, we know that we have a responsibility to promote environmentally-responsible building practices,” said McCoy’s Vice President of Marketing Dan Stauffer. “We work hard to bring our customers information about green building procedures, sustainable building techniques and healthier building supplies, so they can make better choices for their families. Our Building Science Library at mccoys.com lets consumers learn about environmental building standards, and they can get breaking environmental news on our blog.”

Since the opening of their first store in Houston, Texas, in 1923, McCoy’s has been a family-owned building supplies retailer with 83 stores located in Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi, New Mexico and Oklahoma. This includes 43 stores located in areas defined by the Texas Department of State Health Services Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program as high risk areas for lead poisoning. Unlike larger home improvement chain stores, McCoy’s stores are mostly located in or in close proximity to neighborhoods with predominantly pre-1978 built housing.

More information on EPA’s lead-based paint program is available at https://www.epa.gov/lead

More about activities in EPA Region 6: https://www.epa.gov/region6

EPA audio file is available at https://www.epa.gov/region6/6xa/podcast/jul2009.html