As you may be aware, late last year the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) released proposed revisions to the Lead and Copper Rule to reduce lead exposure in drinking water. This action represents the first major overhaul of the Lead and Copper Rule since its inception in 1991. The rule is applicable to all 68,000 public water systems, requiring them to sample water from households with plumbing materials that contain lead or copper and take action to reduce exposure to these harmful metals in drinking water.
The League is working with other stakeholders and our national affiliate, the National League of Cities, to draft comments on the proposed revisions. While the League is supportive of any efforts to provide consumers with safe drinking water we remain mindful of the unique characteristics of New Jersey’s water systems and urge the EPA to keep such differences in mind when adopting any rule revisions.
The EPA is accepting comments on the proposed rule through February 12, 2020. If you wish to submit comments you can do so through the Federal Register [Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2017-0300]. The League intends to submit comments and we encourage you, if able, to do the same.
Contact: Frank Marshall, Esq., Associate General Counsel, fmarshall@njlm.org, 609-695-3481 x137.
