Opinion ID: 201524
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The HUD/EPA Regulation and Legislative History

Text: 17 Having determined that Congress' intent to limit recovery under § 4852d(b)(3) to a purchaser or lessee is clear from a plain reading of the statute, it is not necessary for us to consult either the HUD/EPA regulation defining lessee or the legislative history of the RLPHRA. See Bryson, 308 F.3d at 85 (If a statute is unambiguous, we use neither legislative history, nor administrative agency interpretation.) (internal citations omitted). We briefly discuss both, however, because we do not find that our interpretation of the statute is in conflict with either. 18 First, our interpretation is consistent with the HUD/EPA definition of lessee, which essentially confirms that any entity that is capable of entering into a legally binding contract for the purchase or lease of real property is permitted to seek redress for a violation of the disclosure provision of the RLPHRA; that is, the regulation clarifies that the term lessee is not limited to individuals and that it includes sublessees. See 40 C.F.R. § 745.103; 24 C.F.R. § 35.86 & Comment IV(C)(9). Thus, the regulation, which is a reasonable clarification of the statute, does not, as the Appellants contend, impermissibly narrow the class of lessees who have standing under Section 4852(b)(3), and the Appellants do not have standing under either the regulation or the statute. 19 Similarly, our interpretation of Section 4852d does not conflict with the legislative history of the RLPHRA. To be sure, as Appellants point out, it is clear from both the legislative history and the text of the statute itself that the RLPHRA was enacted to protect children from the hazards of lead-based paint in residential housing. But, the disclosure provision is merely one method in an attempt to effectuate this goal, and does not conflict with the overarching purposes of the RLPHRA to protect children from lead poisoning. 20 Lastly, we note that the federal scheme to reduce the hazards of lead-based paint in residential housing is intended to be implemented in conjunction with state and local laws that require abatement of lead-based paint. Thus, the Mason children are not left without a remedy: they can pursue claims against the Appellees in the New Hampshire state courts.