A newly released Lead and Copper Rule Revisions White Paper outlines the options EPA is considering for revisions to the Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) scheduled for proposal in 2017. Drawing largely from recommendations of the National Drinking Water Advisory Council (NDWAC) as further informed by information collected in the wake of the Flint, Michigan lead crisis, the white paper does not break a lot of new ground for those following the topic. However, the paper does provide a fairly concise overview of the options EPA is considering as part of its regulatory development process. It also provides a good overview of many of the potential policy, legal and analytical challenges facing the agency as it develops a proposed regulation in accordance with Safe Drinking Water Act mandates.
In a blog post touting the white paper’s release in conjunction with National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, EPA Deputy Assistant Administrator for Water Joel Beauvais highlighted both the historic progress made in addressing lead exposures as well as the challenges that remain, particularly for the ongoing LCR revision process. He also noted that “EPA expects the paper will help facilitate our ongoing engagement with stakeholders and the public as we work to develop a proposed rule.”