Maryland-based pest control company facing fines in connection to polluting DC with toxic chemicals

WASHINGTON — D.C.'s Attorney General Brian Schwalb is ordering a Maryland-based pest control company to pay more than $130,000 worth of fines for polluting the city with toxic chemicals.

On Tuesday, Schwalb's office announced that Kenmore Pest Control & Termite Services LLC (Kenmore) will pay $137,006 in penalties and environmental clean-up costs for allegations that it repeatedly and illegally applied toxic pesticides. 

Kenmore is a Maryland-based company that works in the District and employs about 20 people. Under D.C. law, pest control companies must be registered with the Department of Energy and Environment, and employees overseeing or performing pesticide applications must be licensed applicators or technicians. 

An investigation showed that Kenmore applied highly toxic pesticides around apartment complexes in the city. D.C. inspectors watched as Kenmore applied restricted pesticides around the 400-unit Mayfair Mansion Apartments complex and the 400-unit Columbia Heights Village complex. 

Employees with Kenmore applied pesticides in areas accessible to children and pets and used chemicals harmful to humans, birds, fish, and wildlife. The company also had employees, without a legal license or registration, applying the pesticides. Despite advertising on its website that all employees are fully licensed and certified.

The District was forced to intervene and clean up contaminated soil around the complexes. According to Schwalb's office that was a $12,000 clean up. 

Kenmore must now pay $125,000 in civil penalties and repay the $12K clean-up fee the city took on. In addition to paying the fines, each employee must be retrained before they can return to work in the city. Each employee must undergo eight hours of training from a course approved by D.C., Maryland, or Virginia.