Lead and Copper Rule Long-Term Revisions
Overview
Final Revisions to the Lead and Copper Rule
EPA’s new Lead and Copper Rule better protects children and communities from the risks of lead exposure by better protecting children at schools and child care facilities, getting the lead out of our nation’s drinking water, and empowering communities through information. Improvements under the new rule include:
- Using science-based testing protocols to find more sources of lead in drinking water.
- Establishing a trigger level to jumpstart mitigation earlier and in more communities.
- Driving more and complete lead service line replacements.
- For the first time, requiring testing in schools and child care facilities. Requiring water systems to identify and make public the locations of lead service lines.
For final materials, visit the Federal Register visit http://www.regulations.gov: Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2017-0300.
Proposed Revisions to the Lead and Copper Rule
EPA’s proposed Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) includes a suite of actions to reduce lead exposure in drinking water where it is needed the most. The proposed rule will identify the most at-risk communities and ensure systems have plans in place to rapidly respond by taking actions to reduce elevated levels of lead in drinking water.
EPA’s Lead and Copper Proposed Rule reflects input received from the agency’s state, local, and tribal partners, the Science Advisory Board, the National Drinking Water Advisory Council, and best available peer-reviewed science. The public comment period is now closed. To visit the Federal Register visit http://www.regulations.gov: Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2017-0300.
LCR White Paper
Federalism Consultation
Consistent with E.O. 13132, EPA is consulted with state and local government officials, or their representatives during the development of the proposed revisions to Lead and Copper Rule. Read more.
Lead Modeling Peer Review
As a part of EPA’s ongoing effort to understand and assess lead exposure to children, EPA conducted a peer review of draft scientific modeling approaches to inform EPA’s evaluation of potential health-based benchmarks for lead in drinking water. Read more.
Stakeholder Consultations
To help shape an updated Lead and Copper Rule, EPA engaged with multiple stakeholders representing a wide range of expertise.
National Drinking Water Advisory Council (NDWAC) Lead and Copper Rule Working Group
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Sample site selection criteria;
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Lead sampling protocols;
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Public education for copper;
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Measures to ensure optimal corrosion control treatment; and
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Lead service line replacement.
Science Advisory Board Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Partial Lead Service Line Replacements
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Associations between PLSLR and blood lead levels in children;
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Water sampling data at the tap before and after PLSLR;
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Comparisons between partial and full lead service line replacements;
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PLSLR techniques; and
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The impact of galvanic corrosion.
Stakeholder Meeting Concerning Potential Long-Term Revisions to the Lead and Copper Rule
EPA held a public meeting on November 4, 2010 to discuss potential Long-Term Revisions to the LCR. The meeting was held to obtain stakeholder feedback about key issues and options to address the issues.
- Federal Register Notice: Notice of a Public Meeting: Stakeholder Meeting Concerning EPA's Long-Term Revisions to the Regulation of Lead and Copper in Drinking Water
- Review the presentations from the Lead and Copper Rule Stakeholder Meeting - November 4, 2010
Tribal Consultations
Revisions to the Lead and Copper Rule may impact tribes. EPA previously consulted via teleconference with Indian Tribes on the proposed LCR revisions in 2011 and is conducting another round of consultation in 2018. Additional details and background information regarding this consultation can be found in the Tribal Notification Documents.
Environmental Justice
Because LCR revisions may have environmental justice impacts, in 2011 EPA held a public meeting to discuss environmental justice considerations.