EPA Puts More Delay On Trump Lead And Copper In Drinking Water Rule

"The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has put another delay on a Trump-era update to a rule governing lead and copper in drinking water, according to a new federal register notice.

The notice says that the rule, which was previously expected to take effect on Thursday, will now take effect on December 16. It also pushed back the date at which it requires compliance by one month until October 16, 2024.

The Trump changes to the Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) are expected to quicken the speed at which cities need to notify people who may have been exposed to lead but give utilities a longer timeline to replace lead-tainted service lines.

The rule was originally expected to go into effect in March, but it was first delayed until this week before the latest move to push it until December."

Rachel Frazin reports for The Hill June 16, 2021.

Source: The Hill, 06/17/2021