Global Community Monitor Comments on Lumber Liquidators' Admission that CARB Tests Resulted in a Preliminary Agency Finding That Some Products Exceed Formaldehyde Limits

OAKLAND, Calif., March 13, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Lumber Liquidators acknowledged that the California Air Resources Board (CARB) has tested Lumber Liquidators' products and preliminary results show that some of the products exceed the CARB formaldehyde standard.  The admission was made by the company's CEO, Robert Lynch during a conference call.  Lumber Liquidators also announced, for the first time, that it is offering free formaldehyde tests and potentially the replacement of floors which may be found to exceed acceptable levels of formaldehyde.

The transcript from today's briefing states:  "CARB has 'deconstructed' our products in routine inspections, as well as we believe others in the industry, in order to try to determine if the core materials complied. In CARB's preliminary findings, some of our samples they deconstructed and tested (due to the variability of the test) exceeded the limits for raw cores."

"CARB testing is the standard to which Lumber Liquidators' laminate products must be held," said Denny Larson, Executive Director of GCM.  "They admitted today that CARB has made a preliminary finding that some of their products have failed to pass the formaldehyde test conducted by CARB.  Lumber Liquidators must go farther to make sure that all of their laminate products comply with the standard and provide increased protection for the consumers."  GCM has asked Lumber Liquidators to disclose which products failed the CARB testing and by how much above the CARB formaldehyde standard.  Lumber Liquidators' laminate products have now failed to pass the CARB formaldehyde test conducted dozens of times by 60 Minutes, at least three independent laboratories, and apparently by CARB itself.  While Lumber Liquidators continues to dispute the test method, the test method has been adopted, published and applied by CARB itself. 

Global Community Monitor is a nonprofit environmental health and justice organization empowering communities to prevent their exposure to toxic chemicals and promote healthy outcomes for all. Global Community Monitor is joined in the Proposition 65 lawsuit by Sunshine Park, a firm affiliated with private investment companies that have substantial short financial exposure to Lumber Liquidators. Sunshine Park and its affiliates have financed extensive testing and have conducted substantial on-the-ground investigation regarding Chinese-made laminate flooring production.

CONTACTS:  Denny Larson, GCM, 415-845-4705; Richard Drury, Esq., Lozeau Drury LLP, 510-836-4200

SOURCE Global Community Monitor