Defaria Wood Floor Supplies, a retailer in Long Branch, N.J., received a warning letter after a representative from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection caught the company selling wood floor finish containing more than 350 g/L VOC content, the permissible state maximum for varnishes, according to documents obtained by Hardwood Floors through an open records request.
A DEP investigation conducted in September 2015 discovered that Defaria sold eight wood floor finish products from three manufacturers with VOC content higher than allowed in New Jersey. The highest VOC content totaled 525 g/L.
The state’s administrative code provides for a maximum civil penalty of $1,000 per gallon of non-compliant floor finish, but in this case the DEP decided not to consider enforcement actions, according to DEP spokesperson Larry Hajna.
Company owner Alexandro Defaria did not respond to requests for comment.
The state investigation began after the DEP received an anonymous tip that Defaria was selling non-compliant finish.
Updated Aug. 8 to clarify the regulatory category referenced in the DEP inspector's report. The correct category for these specific floor finish products is Varnish, not Floor Coatings.
