Lawmakers Seek to Ban Chinese Drywall

U.S. Sens. Bill Nelson, D.-Fla., and Mary Landrieu, D.-La., have filed federal legislation for a recall and immediate ban on tainted building products from China, as people around the country are reporting problems in their homes built with imported drywall.

The legislation presses the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) for a recall on Chinese-made drywall, based in part on findings by a Florida homebuilder and state officials who have confirmed the presence of sulfide gases in homes built with the drywall.

Congressman Robert Wexler, D.-Fla., has filed similar legislation in the House. In addition, Wexler has urged Florida Governor Charlie Crist to declare a state of emergency in Florida over the product, which would allow homeowners to apply for federal loans.

Nelson and Landrieu’s legislation also asks the CPSC to work with federal testing labs and the Environmental Protection Agency to determine the level of hazard posed by certain chemicals and as yet unidentified organic compounds in the drywall. In addition, the legislation calls on the commission to issue an interim ban on imports until it can create federal drywall safety standards.

The drywall is linked to seeping sulfide gases that can corrode electrical wiring and components of air-conditioning and other household appliances.

The lawmakers said they’re hoping to jump-start a process for helping affected homeowners with the costs of repairs or replacement, which under their bill would be the responsibility of the manufacturers.

The problem is potentially big. Officials believe between 60,000 and 100,000 homes nationwide may contain tainted drywall. In Florida, an estimated 36,000 homes are believed to be affected. Problems also have been reported in New Orleans, Virginia, Alabama, Mississippi and California.

A number of homeowners have filed lawsuits and some developers are suing the manufacturers of the drywall.

Topics Florida Legislation China Pollution