On May 26, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the ten communities that have been selected for virtual roundtable discussions on EPA’s Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) Revisions.

EPA’s community roundtables will kick-off on June 3 in Pittsburgh.  The roundtable will be live-streamed.

The roundtables will foster dialogue on the experience of communities that are affected by lead in drinking water as the agency reviews the LCR to ensure that it supports EPA’s priorities.

“Under the Biden-Harris Administration, EPA is committed to ensuring that the revised Lead and Copper Rule protects communities from lead—especially lower income people, communities of color, and other vulnerable populations,” said EPA’s Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator for Water Radhika Fox. “These roundtable discussions will highlight the challenge of lead in drinking water facing hundreds of communities, from big cities to small towns.”

The agency will also host other roundtables with Newark, N.J.; Washington, D.C.; Milwaukee, Wis.; Chicago, Ill.; Benton Harbor and Highland Park, Mich. (combined); Flint and Detroit, Mich. (combined); Malden, Mass.; Memphis, Tenn.; and Newburgh, N.Y.

The community roundtables will include local public water utilities, community organizations, environmental groups, and public officials.

In addition to these geographically focused roundtables, EPA will also host national stakeholder roundtables with drinking water utilities, intergovernmental associations, environmental organizations, environmental justice organizations, public health organizations, and consumer associations.

In July 2021, EPA will also host a Tribal roundtable discussion and a national co-regulator meeting with primacy agencies to discuss the feedback received from communities and stakeholders.

How To Comment

Members of the public may also submit comments via the docket at: Regulations.gov, Docket ID: EPA-HQ-OW-2021-0255 until June 30, 2021.

How To Watch

Click  Here for more information on the virtual roundtables, including how to watch.

Click Here for more background on this initiative.

Related Article:

-- Pittsburgh Water Authority Reports Lead Levels In Drinking Water Well Under EPA Action Standard

[Posted: May 27, 2021]

5/30/2021