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Effective Dates Delayed for New Lead and Copper Rule Revisions

Posted By Kurt Wanninger on March 17, 2021

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On December 22, 2020, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the Federal Register Notice of the new Lead and Copper Rule, emphasizing better protection from exposure of lead in drinking water and empowering community leaders through information. These sweeping rule changes were published January 15, 2021.

Through President Biden’s executive order of March 10, EPA officials announced the extension of the effective date of the Revised Lead and Copper Rule from March 16, 2021 to June 17, 2021. The extension was provided to seek additional public input from communities whose residents are most at risk of lead exposure. Extending the Rule to June will provide more time for stakeholders, including those who have been disproportionally impacted by lead in drinking water to provide valued input. EPA officials will be posting details on their website in the coming weeks regarding this additional 30-day comment period.

The second notice proposes an extension to the effective date of the Rule until December 16, 2021 and proposes a corresponding compliance date of the Rule until September 16, 2024. This action would provide drinking water system officials a full three years to ensure continued action and that their communities are in compliance with the Safe Drinking Act.

Even with a three-month extension, community drinking water system teams are encouraged to continue preparing for the new requirements.

Interested in more information on the revisions? Check out the EPA’s website.

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