EPA Press Office:

EPA Region 7 to Host Open House for Cherokee County Superfund Site in Historic Tri-State Mining District

EPA officials will present site updates and information about the new residential soil lead guidance to the community on Oct. 28

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 7 - 11201 Renner Blvd., Lenexa, KS 66219

Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Nine Tribal Nations

Contact Information: Kellen Ashford, ashford.kellen@epa.gov, 816-610-2132

LENEXA, KAN. (OCT. 22, 2024) – Representatives from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 will host an open house in Baxter Springs, Kansas, to provide Cherokee County community members with site cleanup updates regarding the Cherokee County Superfund Site and information about EPA’s residential soil lead guidance.

The updated residential soil lead guidance, released in January 2024, lowered the screening level at residential properties from 400 parts per million (ppm) to 200 ppm. Screening levels are not cleanup levels, rather they are used when initially investigating a release to determine if the level of contamination warrants further investigation. Updating the screening levels ensures that EPA uses the latest and best available science to protect children living and playing near sites contaminated by lead in soil.

EPA’s open house in Cherokee County, Kansas, takes place during EPA’s observance of Children’s Health Month. During the last month, EPA Region 7 has held several open houses focused on the new residential soil lead guidance and lead health education in Missouri’s Old Lead Belt and Jasper County, Missouri, which is also a part of the Tri-State Mining District.

The Cherokee County Health Department will be available to provide free blood lead testing for eligible children and adults at the event.

EPA’s community meeting will be held:

Monday, Oct. 28, 2024

Open House: 6 to 8 p.m.

• Presentation begins at 6:30 p.m.

New Community Building

1101 East Avenue

Baxter Springs, Kansas

Background

The Cherokee County Superfund Site is a former mining area in southeast Kansas, part of the larger regional mining area known as the Tri-State Mining District. It covers about 115 square miles. Over 100 years of widespread lead and zinc mining from the mid-1800s to 1970 created piles of mine tailings covering more than 4,000 acres. The primary contaminants of concern at the site are lead, zinc, and cadmium.

Site-wide, nearly 3 million cubic yards of mining wastes have been remediated on over 2,800 acres; over 800 residential yards have been remediated; and over 500 homes have been supplied with a clean, permanent source of drinking water.

• Visit the Site Profile page for the Cherokee County Superfund Site.

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 EPA Press Office:

EPA Finalizes Cancellation of the Pesticide Dacthal

WASHINGTON – Today, Oct. 22, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is announcing the cancellation of all products containing the pesticide dimethyl tetrachloroterephthalate (DCPA or Dacthal) under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA).

In making this decision, EPA relied on the best available science, which included robust studies demonstrating thyroid toxicity. Unborn babies whose pregnant mothers are exposed to DCPA from handling, entering or working in areas where DCPA has already been applied, could experience changes to fetal thyroid hormone levels. These changes are generally linked to low birth weight, impaired brain development, decreased IQ, and impaired motor skills later in life, some of which may be irreversible.

“With the final cancellation of DCPA, we’re taking a definitive step to protect pregnant women and their unborn babies,” said Assistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention Michal Freedhoff. “The science showing the potential for irreversible harm to unborn babies’ developing brains, in addition to other lifelong consequences from exposure, demands decisive action to remove this dangerous chemical from the marketplace.”

Background on DCPA and Biden-Harris Administration Efforts to Assess and Address Risks

DCPA is a pesticide that was registered to control weeds in both agricultural and non-agricultural settings, but was primarily used on crops such as broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage and onions.

In 2013, the agency issued a Data Call-In (DCI) to AMVAC Chemical Corporation (AMVAC), the sole manufacturer of DCPA, requiring it to submit more than 20 studies to support the then-existing registrations of DCPA. The required data, due in January 2016, included a comprehensive study of the effects of DCPA on thyroid development and function in adults and in developing young before and after birth. Several of the studies that AMVAC submitted from 2013-2021 were considered insufficient to address the DCI, while the thyroid study and other studies were not submitted at all.

In April 2022, EPA issued a very rarely used Notice of Intent to Suspend the DCPA technical-grade product (used to manufacture end-use products) based on AMVAC’s failure to submit the complete set of required data for almost 10 years, including the thyroid study. Although AMVAC submitted the required thyroid study in August 2022, EPA suspended the registration based solely on AMVAC’s continued failure to submit other outstanding data following an administrative hearing. In November 2023, EPA lifted the data submission suspension after AMVAC submitted sufficient data. Most DCPA use on turf was voluntarily canceled by AMVAC in December 2023, but unacceptable risks from other uses remained.

In May 2023, EPA released its assessment on the risks of occupational and residential exposure to products containing DCPA, following its analysis of the thyroid study submitted by AMVAC. The assessment found health risks associated with DCPA use and application, even when personal protective equipment and engineering controls are used. The most serious risks were to the unborn babies. EPA estimated that some pregnant mothers handling DCPA products could be subjected to exposures four to 20 times greater than what EPA had estimated is safe for unborn babies. Also of concern were risks to unborn babies of pregnant mothers entering or working in areas where DCPA had been applied or living near areas where DCPA was used. Levels of DCPA in a treated field could remain at unsafe levels for 25 days or more.  In April 2024, EPA issued a public warning regarding the significant health risks to unborn babies of pregnant mothers exposed to DCPA and its intent to pursue action to address the health risks associated with the pesticide as quickly as possible.

The August 2024 emergency suspension issued by EPA was the first time in almost 40 years EPA has taken this type of emergency action. Following EPA’s emergency suspension EPA received a letter from AMVAC stating its intent to voluntarily cancel the remaining pesticide products containing DCPA in the U.S. AMVAC subsequently announced that it intends to cancel all international registrations as well. On Aug. 29, 2024, EPA published a notice in the Federal Register requesting public comments on the voluntary cancellation. The comment period has concluded, and EPA is publishing the final cancellation order.

The final cancellation prohibits anyone from distributing, selling or carrying out other similar activities for the remaining pesticide products containing DCPA. It also means that no person can continue using existing stocks of those products. AMVAC has developed a voluntary return program for existing DCPA products. In advance of the cancellation order, AMVAC implemented a plan to identify existing stocks and coordinated a collection process. When the return program concludes in the fall of 2024, EPA will continue monitoring this process to ensure that the collected DCPA products are disposed in a manner in accordance with applicable laws. EPA plans to release additional information about any remaining stocks in the coming months.

Read the public inspection version of the Federal Register notice on the DCPA Final Cancellation Order for Pesticide Registrations. Upon publication of the Federal Register notice, the final order will be is available at docket EPA-HQ-OPP-2011-0374 at the Regulations.gov page.  

For answers to frequently asked questions about DCPA, please see the DCPA Questions and Answers webpage. For additional background on the DCPA and EPA’s efforts to assess and address risks, see the Aug. 6, 2024, or Aug. 28, 2024, press releases. 

For further information: Contact: EPA Press Office (press@epa.gov)

 EPA Press Office:

EPA Finalizes Rule to Protect Farmworkers, Families and Communities from Pesticide Exposures

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 7 - 11201 Renner Blvd., Lenexa, KS 66219
Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Nine Tribal Nations

Contact Information: EPA Press Office, press@epa.gov

LENEXA, KAN. (OCT. 9, 2024) – On October 2, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a final rule to restore the pesticide Application Exclusion Zone (AEZ) requirements under the 2015 Agricultural Worker Protection Standard (WPS). The AEZ is an area surrounding outdoor pesticide application equipment where people are prohibited while pesticides are applied. This rule finalizes the agency’s 2023 proposed rule without change and advances the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to environmental justice, protecting farmworkers, pesticide handlers, their families and agricultural communities. It reinstates AEZ protections, extends protections for neighboring communities, makes requirements easier to understand, and provides flexibilities for family farms without compromising protections.

“Farmworkers help to provide the food we feed our families every day and it’s EPA’s job to keep them safe from pesticides,” said Assistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention Michal Freedhoff. “No one should be at risk from pesticide related illness because of their job or where they live. Today’s rule is another significant step by the Biden-Harris Administration to protect public health and deliver on environmental justice.”

Application Exclusion Zone

The WPS regulation protects over two million agricultural workers (and their families) and pesticide handlers who work on over 600,000 agricultural establishments. In 2015, EPA made significant changes to the regulation to reduce incidents of pesticide exposure among farmworkers and their family members. Less pesticide exposure means a healthier workforce and fewer lost wages, medical bills, and absences from work and school.

These changes include creating the “Application Exclusion Zone” (AEZ), an area with additional requirements to protect workers and bystanders. This area immediately surrounds the pesticide application equipment during an outdoor pesticide application. The AEZ only exists during the application, moves with the equipment during application, and can extend outside of an agricultural establishment (e.g., school grounds, residential neighborhoods). The 2015 regulation required that pesticide applicators suspend their applications if anyone is in the AEZ. It also required employers to ensure that the AEZ requirements are understood and followed and prohibited employers from directing or allowing any of their workers to enter an AEZ. By requiring additional precautions in an AEZ, the 2015 regulation aimed to prevent pesticides from contacting farmworkers and bystanders.

In 2020, the previous administration published a rule limiting AEZ protections to agricultural establishments and shrinking the size of the AEZ from 100 feet to 25 feet for some ground-based spray applications. These changes would have meant that applicators no longer had to suspend applications if people in the AEZ were outside of an agricultural establishment, such as a neighboring property or in an easement. Additionally, some AEZs would have been sized smaller (e.g., 25 feet instead of 100 feet) even for some fine sprays, which tend to drift farther. Prior to the effective date of the 2020 AEZ Rule, petitions were filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York (SDNY) and in the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals challenging the 2020 Rule. The SDNY issued an order granting the petitioners’ request for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction enjoining the effective date of the rule. As a result, the 2020 AEZ Rule never went into effect.

In 2021, EPA began reviewing the 2020 AEZ Rule in accordance with Executive Order 13990, Protecting Public Health and the Environment and Restoring Science to Tackle the Climate Crisis. The agency determined that the provisions in the 2020 AEZ Rule that weakened protections for farmworkers and nearby communities from pesticide exposure should be rescinded. The proposed rule to reinstate several provisions of the 2015 rule was published in March of 2023.

Final Rule Provisions

With today’s action, EPA is finalizing its 2023 proposed rule without change. The final rule reinstates several 2015 WPS provisions protecting farmworkers and bystanders, including:

1. The AEZ suspension requirement will apply beyond the boundaries of the agricultural establishment.
2. The AEZ suspension requirement will apply in easements on the establishment (for example, easements for utility workers to access telephone lines).
3. The AEZ distance for ground-based applications will be:
   1. 25 feet for applications with medium or larger droplets when sprayed from a height greater than 12 inches from the soil surface or planting medium.
   2. 100 feet for applications with fine droplets.

Additionally, the final rule includes two revisions that the agency believes provide clarity and flexibility for growers and farming families without increasing risk to farmworkers and bystanders:

1. An “immediate family exemption” that allows farm owners and their immediate family to remain inside enclosed structures or homes during pesticide application. This exemption, which is limited to farming families, provides them the flexibility to decide whether to stay on-site during pesticide applications, rather than compelling them to leave even when they feel safe remaining in their own homes.
2. A clarification that suspended pesticide applications can resume only after people leave the AEZ.

These changes are a critical part of EPA’s efforts to protect the health of farmworkers and support the agency’s priority to advance equity and justice for all communities. Learn more about EPA’s extensive efforts to train, support and enhance safe working conditions for agricultural workers at local, state and national levels on EPA’s website.

EPA will release interim guidance by the end of October to support the regulated community in complying with the new rule and will accept feedback on how to improve the guidance after its release.

The new rule will be effective 60 days after publication of the federal register notice and will be available in docket EPA-HQ-OPP-2022-0133 at the Regulations.gov page.

# # #

 EPA Press Office:

EPA Region 7 to Host Oct. 16 Open House for Oronogo-Duenweg Mining Belt Superfund Site

EPA officials will present the Community Involvement Plan and findings from the Technical Assistance Needs Assessment

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 7 - 11201 Renner Blvd., Lenexa, KS 66219

Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Nine Tribal Nations

Contact Information: Kellen Ashford, ashford.kellen@epa.gov, 816-610-2132

LENEXA, KAN. (OCT. 8, 2024) – Representatives from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 will host an open house session to provide community members with the opportunity to learn more about EPA’s Community Involvement Plan (CIP) and the findings from the Technical Assistance Needs Assessment (TANA) for the Oronogo-Duenweg Mining Belt Superfund Site in Jasper County, Missouri.

EPA Region 7 representatives will also provide attendees with an update about EPA’s residential soil lead guidance, released in January 2024, that lowered the screening level at residential properties from 400 parts per million (ppm) to 200 ppm.

A Community Involvement Plan is a site-specific strategy to enable meaningful community involvement throughout the Superfund cleanup process. CIPs are a requirement at Superfund sites, as mandated by the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP).

A TANA is a site-specific process that identifies whether a community requires additional support from EPA to understand technical information and to enable meaningful community involvement in the Superfund decision-making process.

The community meeting will be held:

Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024

Presentation: 6:15 to 8 p.m.

Open House: 8 to 9 p.m.

Carthage Memorial Hall

407 South Garrison

Carthage, MO 64836

Individuals unable to attend the community meeting are encouraged to visit with representatives from EPA Region 7 at Joplin’s Third Tuesday on Oct. 17 at the EPA booth.

• Learn more about the Oronogo-Duenweg Mining Belt Superfund Site.
• Read more about community involvement at Superfund sites.
• Learn more about TANAs.

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 EPA Press Office:

EPA Issues Final Rule Requiring Replacement of Lead Pipes Within 10 Years, Announces over $40.5M in Funding to Missouri to Provide Clean Water to Schools and Homes

EPA announces new final regulations and new funding under the Biden-Harris administration’s Investing in America Agenda for clean drinking water

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 7 - 11201 Renner Blvd., Lenexa, KS 66219

Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Nine Tribal Nations

 

EPA Issues Final Rule Requiring Replacement of Lead Pipes Within 10 Years, Announces over $40.5M in Funding to Missouri to Provide Clean Water to Schools and Homes 

 

EPA announces new final regulations and new funding under the Biden-Harris administration’s Investing in America Agenda for clean drinking water
 

Contact Information: Jonathan Klusmeyer, 913-343-2991, klusmeyer.jonathan@epa.gov

LENEXA, KAN. (OCT. 8, 2024) – Today, the Biden-Harris administration issued a final rule requiring drinking water systems across the country to identify and replace lead pipes within 10 years. The Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) also require more rigorous testing of drinking water and a lower threshold for communities to take action on lead in drinking water to protect people from lead exposure. In addition, the final rule improves communication within communities so that families are better informed about the risk of lead in drinking water, the location of lead pipes, and plans for replacing them. This final rule is part of the President’s commitment to replace every lead pipe in the country within a decade, making sure that all communities can turn on the tap and drink clean water. 

Alongside the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements, EPA is announcing $40,535,000 in newly available drinking water infrastructure funding for Missouri through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This funding will flow through the Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (DWSRFs) and is available to support lead pipe replacement and inventory projects. Additionally, 49% of the funding must be provided to disadvantaged communities as grant funding or principal forgiveness that does not have to be repaid. EPA is also announcing the availability of $35 million in competitive grant funding for reducing lead in drinking water. Communities are invited to apply directly for grant funding through this program. Additional federal funding is available to support lead pipe replacement projects and EPA has developed a website identifying available funding sources. 

EPA estimates that up to 9 million homes are served through legacy lead pipes across the country, many of which are located in lower-income communities and communities of color, creating disproportionate lead exposure burden for these families. Eliminating lead exposure from the air people breathe, the water people drink, and the homes people live in is a crucial component of the Biden-Harris administration’s historic commitment to advancing environmental justice. 

The Lead and Copper Rule Improvements establish achievable, common-sense practices which have been implemented by several states and cities. The public health and economic benefits of the final rule are estimated to be up to 13 times greater than the costs, and together with new funding announced today under Biden-Harris administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, water systems will be able to accelerate removal of lead pipes and create good-paying local jobs in the process. 

“We’ve known for decades that lead exposure has serious long-term impacts for children’s health. And yet, millions of lead service lines are still delivering drinking water to homes,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “President Biden is putting an end to this generational public health problem. With the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements and historic investments in lead pipe replacement, the Biden-Harris administration is fulfilling its commitment that no community, regardless of race, geography, or wealth, should have to worry about lead-contaminated water in their homes.” 

“For generations, lead in our water has jeopardized the health of our children and most vulnerable Americans,” said EPA Region 7 Administrator Meghan A. McCollister. “With these rule improvements and funding, now is the time to get the lead out.”

The science is clear: Lead is a potent neurotoxin and there is no safe level of lead exposure, particularly for children. In children, lead can severely harm mental and physical development, slow down learning, and irreversibly damage the brain. In adults, lead can cause increased blood pressure, heart disease, decreased kidney function, and cancer. If someone is impacted by lead exposure, there is no known antidote, according to the Centers for Disease Control. The Lead and Copper Rule Improvements strengthen nationwide requirements to protect children and adults from these significant and irreversible health effects from lead in drinking water. 

Communities across the country have already begun to tackle lead pipes: 

·       Milwaukee Water Works is on track to replace all remaining lead pipes within the EPA’s ten-year timeframe. In 2024 alone, Milwaukee received approximately $30 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding to replace 3,400 lead service lines.  

·       The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department has received $90 million from the Administration and will replace more than 8,000 lead service lines this year, putting the city on track to replace all lead pipes in 10 years. 

·       The Erie, Pennsylvania Water Works has received $49 million from EPA to enable the city to replace all lead pipes within 5 years instead of 25 years.    

·       Denver Water has accelerated its efforts through $76 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, allowing the city to be on track to replace all lead pipes within a decade. 

The Lead and Copper Rule Improvements will help protect millions of Americans from exposure to lead in drinking water. EPA estimates that on average, every year after the LCRI is issued, it will: 

·       Protect up to 900,000 infants from having low birthweight. 

·       Prevent Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in up to 2,600 children. 

·       Reduce up to 1,500 cases of premature death from heart disease. 

·       Prevent up to 200,000 IQ points lost in children. 

Investments in identifying lead pipes, planning for their removal, and replacing them will create jobs in local communities, while strengthening the foundation of safe drinking water that supports economic opportunity. 

For more information about the final rule, including a pre-publication version of the Federal Register notice and fact sheets, visit the rule webpage. 

Background 

EPA is taking a comprehensive approach to getting the lead out, including: 

·       Regulatory Framework: EPA’s final Lead and Copper Rule Improvements follow the science and EPA’s authority under the Safe Drinking Water Act to strengthen regulatory requirements to address lead in drinking water. 

·       Funding: The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides $50 billion to support upgrades to the nation’s drinking water and wastewater infrastructure. This includes $15 billion over five years dedicated to lead service line replacement and $11.7 billion of general Drinking Water State Revolving Funds that can also be used for lead service line replacement. There are a number of additional pathways for systems to receive financial support for lead service line replacement. These include billions available as low- to no-cost financing through annual funding provided through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) program and low-cost financing from the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program. Funding may also be available from other federal agencies, state, and local governments. These efforts also advance the Biden-Harris administration’s Justice40 Initiative, which sets the goal that 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution. 

·       Technical Assistance: EPA’s water technical assistance (WaterTA), including the LSLR Accelerators and the Get the Lead Out Initiative, helps communities identify lead services lines, develop replacement plans, and apply for funding, including DWSRF funding, to get the lead out. 

·       Practical Implementation Tools: Through training, tools, webinars, and case studies, EPA provides support to drinking water systems to reduce lead exposure. 

 

# # #

 EPA Press Office:

EPA Issues Final Rule Requiring Replacement of Lead Pipes Within 10 Years, Announces over $37.4M in Funding to Iowa to Provide Clean Water to Schools and Homes

EPA announces new final regulations and new funding under the Biden-Harris administration’s Investing in America Agenda for clean drinking water

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 7 - 11201 Renner Blvd., Lenexa, KS 66219

Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Nine Tribal Nations

 

EPA Issues Final Rule Requiring Replacement of Lead Pipes Within 10 Years, Announces over $37.4M in Funding to Iowa to Provide Clean Water to Schools and Homes

 

EPA announces new final regulations and new funding under the Biden-Harris administration’s Investing in America Agenda for clean drinking water
 

Contact Information: Jonathan Klusmeyer, 913-343-2991, klusmeyer.jonathan@epa.gov

LENEXA, KAN. (OCT. 8, 2024) – Today, the Biden-Harris administration issued a final rule requiring drinking water systems across the country to identify and replace lead pipes within 10 years. The Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) also require more rigorous testing of drinking water and a lower threshold for communities to take action on lead in drinking water to protect people from lead exposure. In addition, the final rule improves communication within communities so that families are better informed about the risk of lead in drinking water, the location of lead pipes, and plans for replacing them. This final rule is part of the President’s commitment to replace every lead pipe in the country within a decade, making sure that all communities can turn on the tap and drink clean water. 

Alongside the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements, EPA is announcing $37,434,000 in newly available drinking water infrastructure funding for Iowa through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This funding will flow through the Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (DWSRFs) and is available to support lead pipe replacement and inventory projects. Additionally, 49% of the funding must be provided to disadvantaged communities as grant funding or principal forgiveness that does not have to be repaid. EPA is also announcing the availability of $35 million in competitive grant funding for reducing lead in drinking water. Communities are invited to apply directly for grant funding through this program. Additional federal funding is available to support lead pipe replacement projects and EPA has developed a website identifying available funding sources. 

EPA estimates that up to 9 million homes are served through legacy lead pipes across the country, many of which are located in lower-income communities and communities of color, creating disproportionate lead exposure burden for these families. Eliminating lead exposure from the air people breathe, the water people drink, and the homes people live in is a crucial component of the Biden-Harris administration’s historic commitment to advancing environmental justice. 

The Lead and Copper Rule Improvements establish achievable, common-sense practices which have been implemented by several states and cities. The public health and economic benefits of the final rule are estimated to be up to 13 times greater than the costs, and together with new funding announced today under Biden-Harris administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, water systems will be able to accelerate removal of lead pipes and create good-paying local jobs in the process. 

“We’ve known for decades that lead exposure has serious long-term impacts for children’s health. And yet, millions of lead service lines are still delivering drinking water to homes,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “President Biden is putting an end to this generational public health problem. With the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements and historic investments in lead pipe replacement, the Biden-Harris administration is fulfilling its commitment that no community, regardless of race, geography, or wealth, should have to worry about lead-contaminated water in their homes.” 

“For generations, lead in our water has jeopardized the health of our children and most vulnerable Americans,” said EPA Region 7 Administrator Meghan A. McCollister. “With these rule improvements and funding, now is the time to get the lead out.”

The science is clear: Lead is a potent neurotoxin and there is no safe level of lead exposure, particularly for children. In children, lead can severely harm mental and physical development, slow down learning, and irreversibly damage the brain. In adults, lead can cause increased blood pressure, heart disease, decreased kidney function, and cancer. If someone is impacted by lead exposure, there is no known antidote, according to the Centers for Disease Control. The Lead and Copper Rule Improvements strengthen nationwide requirements to protect children and adults from these significant and irreversible health effects from lead in drinking water. 

Communities across the country have already begun to tackle lead pipes: 

·       Milwaukee Water Works is on track to replace all remaining lead pipes within the EPA’s ten-year timeframe. In 2024 alone, Milwaukee received approximately $30 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding to replace 3,400 lead service lines.  

·       The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department has received $90 million from the Administration and will replace more than 8,000 lead service lines this year, putting the city on track to replace all lead pipes in 10 years. 

·       The Erie, Pennsylvania Water Works has received $49 million from EPA to enable the city to replace all lead pipes within 5 years instead of 25 years.    

·       Denver Water has accelerated its efforts through $76 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, allowing the city to be on track to replace all lead pipes within a decade. 

The Lead and Copper Rule Improvements will help protect millions of Americans from exposure to lead in drinking water. EPA estimates that on average, every year after the LCRI is issued, it will: 

·       Protect up to 900,000 infants from having low birthweight. 

·       Prevent Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in up to 2,600 children. 

·       Reduce up to 1,500 cases of premature death from heart disease. 

·       Prevent up to 200,000 IQ points lost in children. 

Investments in identifying lead pipes, planning for their removal, and replacing them will create jobs in local communities, while strengthening the foundation of safe drinking water that supports economic opportunity. 

For more information about the final rule, including a pre-publication version of the Federal Register notice and fact sheets, visit the rule webpage. 

Background 

EPA is taking a comprehensive approach to getting the lead out, including: 

·       Regulatory Framework: EPA’s final Lead and Copper Rule Improvements follow the science and EPA’s authority under the Safe Drinking Water Act to strengthen regulatory requirements to address lead in drinking water. 

·       Funding: The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides $50 billion to support upgrades to the nation’s drinking water and wastewater infrastructure. This includes $15 billion over five years dedicated to lead service line replacement and $11.7 billion of general Drinking Water State Revolving Funds that can also be used for lead service line replacement. There are a number of additional pathways for systems to receive financial support for lead service line replacement. These include billions available as low- to no-cost financing through annual funding provided through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) program and low-cost financing from the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program. Funding may also be available from other federal agencies, state, and local governments. These efforts also advance the Biden-Harris administration’s Justice40 Initiative, which sets the goal that 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution. 

·       Technical Assistance: EPA’s water technical assistance (WaterTA), including the LSLR Accelerators and the Get the Lead Out Initiative, helps communities identify lead services lines, develop replacement plans, and apply for funding, including DWSRF funding, to get the lead out. 

·       Practical Implementation Tools: Through training, tools, webinars, and case studies, EPA provides support to drinking water systems to reduce lead exposure. 

# # #

 EPA Press Office:

EPA Issues Final Rule Requiring Replacement of Lead Pipes Within 10 Years, Announces over $24.8M in Funding to Nebraska to Provide Clean Water to Schools and Homes

EPA announces new final regulations and new funding under the Biden-Harris administration’s Investing in America Agenda for clean drinking water

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 7 - 11201 Renner Blvd., Lenexa, KS 66219

Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Nine Tribal Nations

 

EPA Issues Final Rule Requiring Replacement of Lead Pipes Within 10 Years, Announces over $24.8M in Funding to Nebraska to Provide Clean Water to Schools and Homes 

 

EPA announces new final regulations and new funding under the Biden-Harris administration’s Investing in America Agenda for clean drinking water
 

Contact Information: Jonathan Klusmeyer, 913-343-2991, klusmeyer.jonathan@epa.gov

LENEXA, KAN. (OCT. 8, 2024) – Today, the Biden-Harris administration issued a final rule requiring drinking water systems across the country to identify and replace lead pipes within 10 years. The Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) also require more rigorous testing of drinking water and a lower threshold for communities to take action on lead in drinking water to protect people from lead exposure. In addition, the final rule improves communication within communities so that families are better informed about the risk of lead in drinking water, the location of lead pipes, and plans for replacing them. This final rule is part of the President’s commitment to replace every lead pipe in the country within a decade, making sure that all communities can turn on the tap and drink clean water. 

Alongside the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements, EPA is announcing $24,898,000 in newly available drinking water infrastructure funding for Nebraska through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This funding will flow through the Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (DWSRFs) and is available to support lead pipe replacement and inventory projects. Additionally, 49% of the funding must be provided to disadvantaged communities as grant funding or principal forgiveness that does not have to be repaid. EPA is also announcing the availability of $35 million in competitive grant funding for reducing lead in drinking water. Communities are invited to apply directly for grant funding through this program. Additional federal funding is available to support lead pipe replacement projects and EPA has developed a website identifying available funding sources. 

EPA estimates that up to 9 million homes are served through legacy lead pipes across the country, many of which are located in lower-income communities and communities of color, creating disproportionate lead exposure burden for these families. Eliminating lead exposure from the air people breathe, the water people drink, and the homes people live in is a crucial component of the Biden-Harris administration’s historic commitment to advancing environmental justice. 

The Lead and Copper Rule Improvements establish achievable, common-sense practices which have been implemented by several states and cities. The public health and economic benefits of the final rule are estimated to be up to 13 times greater than the costs, and together with new funding announced today under Biden-Harris administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, water systems will be able to accelerate removal of lead pipes and create good-paying local jobs in the process. 

“We’ve known for decades that lead exposure has serious long-term impacts for children’s health. And yet, millions of lead service lines are still delivering drinking water to homes,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “President Biden is putting an end to this generational public health problem. With the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements and historic investments in lead pipe replacement, the Biden-Harris administration is fulfilling its commitment that no community, regardless of race, geography, or wealth, should have to worry about lead-contaminated water in their homes.” 

“For generations, lead in our water has jeopardized the health of our children and most vulnerable Americans,” said EPA Region 7 Administrator Meghan A. McCollister. “With these rule improvements and funding, now is the time to get the lead out.”

The science is clear: Lead is a potent neurotoxin and there is no safe level of lead exposure, particularly for children. In children, lead can severely harm mental and physical development, slow down learning, and irreversibly damage the brain. In adults, lead can cause increased blood pressure, heart disease, decreased kidney function, and cancer. If someone is impacted by lead exposure, there is no known antidote, according to the Centers for Disease Control. The Lead and Copper Rule Improvements strengthen nationwide requirements to protect children and adults from these significant and irreversible health effects from lead in drinking water. 

Communities across the country have already begun to tackle lead pipes: 

·       Milwaukee Water Works is on track to replace all remaining lead pipes within the EPA’s ten-year timeframe. In 2024 alone, Milwaukee received approximately $30 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding to replace 3,400 lead service lines.  

·       The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department has received $90 million from the Administration and will replace more than 8,000 lead service lines this year, putting the city on track to replace all lead pipes in 10 years. 

·       The Erie, Pennsylvania Water Works has received $49 million from EPA to enable the city to replace all lead pipes within 5 years instead of 25 years.    

·       Denver Water has accelerated its efforts through $76 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, allowing the city to be on track to replace all lead pipes within a decade. 

The Lead and Copper Rule Improvements will help protect millions of Americans from exposure to lead in drinking water. EPA estimates that on average, every year after the LCRI is issued, it will: 

·       Protect up to 900,000 infants from having low birthweight. 

·       Prevent Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in up to 2,600 children. 

·       Reduce up to 1,500 cases of premature death from heart disease. 

·       Prevent up to 200,000 IQ points lost in children. 

Investments in identifying lead pipes, planning for their removal, and replacing them will create jobs in local communities, while strengthening the foundation of safe drinking water that supports economic opportunity. 

For more information about the final rule, including a pre-publication version of the Federal Register notice and fact sheets, visit the rule webpage. 

Background 

EPA is taking a comprehensive approach to getting the lead out, including: 

·       Regulatory Framework: EPA’s final Lead and Copper Rule Improvements follow the science and EPA’s authority under the Safe Drinking Water Act to strengthen regulatory requirements to address lead in drinking water. 

·       Funding: The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides $50 billion to support upgrades to the nation’s drinking water and wastewater infrastructure. This includes $15 billion over five years dedicated to lead service line replacement and $11.7 billion of general Drinking Water State Revolving Funds that can also be used for lead service line replacement. There are a number of additional pathways for systems to receive financial support for lead service line replacement. These include billions available as low- to no-cost financing through annual funding provided through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) program and low-cost financing from the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program. Funding may also be available from other federal agencies, state, and local governments. These efforts also advance the Biden-Harris administration’s Justice40 Initiative, which sets the goal that 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution. 

·       Technical Assistance: EPA’s water technical assistance (WaterTA), including the LSLR Accelerators and the Get the Lead Out Initiative, helps communities identify lead services lines, develop replacement plans, and apply for funding, including DWSRF funding, to get the lead out. 

·       Practical Implementation Tools: Through training, tools, webinars, and case studies, EPA provides support to drinking water systems to reduce lead exposure. 

 

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