New Deadline: Public Input for Lead and Copper Rule

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)'s Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) has been in a long revision period, culminating in Trump administration final revisions that were published on January 15, 2021.

On January 20, 2021, the Biden administration issued a “regulatory freeze” memorandum for the heads of executive departments and agencies. The purpose of the “freeze” was to ensure that President Biden’s appointees or designees have an opportunity to review and approve any new or pending rules, including those already sent to the Office of the Federal Register but have not yet been published. The memo also directs department and agency heads to consider postponing rules already published in the Federal Register but not yet in effect, in order to seek additional public comment on issues of fact, law and policy.

On April 14, EPA posted:

EPA is extending the effective date of the Revised Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) so that the agency can seek further public input, particularly from communities that are most at-risk of exposure to lead in drinking water…and for review of the LCR revision undertaken in the previous administration in a manner consistent with public health purposes.

The public is invited to submit comments in an extended comment period that now ends on July 30, 2021:

• Go to https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/04/05/2021-06926/lead-and-copper-rule-lcrr-virtual-engagements to submit a comment (click the green button).

  • Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2021-0255

• Read the Federal Register entry for background.

See our earlier posts on the Lead and Copper Rule revision process:

• Support a Strong Lead in Water Rule: Provide Your Comments Now! (posted 2/3/2020)

• Proposed New Lead and Copper Rule Released for Comment Period (posted 10/11/2019)

• Towards a Much-Needed Health-Based Benchmark for Lead in Drinking Water (posted 3/27/2017)