https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/10/08/epa-biden-lead-pipes-homes-rule/75571817007/

The White House has made removing every lead pipe within 10 years in the United States a centerpiece of its plan to address racial disparities and environmental concerns in the wake of water contamination crises in recent years, including in Newark, New Jersey, and Flint, Michigan.

Long-Term Impacts on Children’s Health

“We’ve known for decades that lead exposure has serious long-term impacts for children’s health. And yet, millions of lead service lines are still delivering drinking water to homes,” said Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael S. Regan. “President Biden is putting an end to this generational public health problem."

President Joe Biden is scheduled to visit Wisconsin to tout the new policy, widely seen as popular in the industrial Midwestern states expected to play a major role in deciding the presidential election next month.

Vice President Kamala Harris, who is running for president this November, has also called for replacing lead pipes, an issue especially important for underserved communities.

The Strictest Limits on Lead in Drinking Water

The rule, initially proposed by the EPA in 2023, imposes the strictest limits on lead in drinking water since federal standards were first set decades ago and requires utilities to review their systems and replace them over the next 10 years.

The 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provided $50 billion to support upgrades to the nation’s drinking water and wastewater infrastructure, including $15 billion over five years dedicated to lead service line replacement.

Lead poisoning can cause irreversible damage to the nervous system and the brain and poses a specific risk to infants and children. Service lines that bring water into homes are thought to be a major source of lead exposure.

The dangers of lead contamination came into sharp relief in Flint, Michigan, a decade ago.

Discussion Questions

1. Describe the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

According to its website, (https://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/our-mission-and-what-we-do), the EPA’s mission is to protect the human health and the environment. To do so, the EPA works to ensure that: (1) Americans have clean air, land, and water; (2) national efforts to reduce environmental risks are based on the best available scientific information; (3) Federal laws protecting human health and the environment are administered and enforced fairly, effectively, and as the U.S. Congress intended; (4) environmental stewardship is integral to U.S. policies concerning natural resources, human health, economic growth, energy, transportation, agriculture, industry, and international trade, and these factors are similarly considered in establishing environmental policy; (5) all parts of society, including communities, individuals, businesses, and state, local and tribal governments, have access to accurate information sufficient to effectively participate in managing human health and environmental risks; (6) contaminated lands and toxic sites are cleaned up by potentially responsible parties and revitalized; and (7) chemicals in the marketplace are reviewed for safety.

To accomplish its mission, the EPA: (1) develops and enforces regulations; (2) gives grants; (3) studies environmental issues; (4) sponsors partnerships; (5) teaches people about the environment; and (6) publishes information about its activities.

 

2. Does it surprise you that the federal government has not previously required the removal of lead pipes in the nation’s drinking water infrastructure? Why or why not?

This is an opinion question, so student responses may vary. This certainly surprises your author. Although the investment to remove lead pipes in the nation’s drinking water infrastructure is expensive (as indicated in the article, the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provided $50 billion to support upgrades to the nation’s drinking water and wastewater infrastructure, including $15 billion over five years dedicated to lead service line replacement), it is an investment that promotes the health and safety of the over 333 million Americans who depend on the nation’s drinking water infrastructure in some capacity. What could be more important than the health and safety of the people?

 

3. As the article indicates, the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provided $50 billion to support upgrades to the nation’s drinking water and wastewater infrastructure, including $15 billion over five years dedicated to lead service line replacement. Are you encouraged by this bipartisanship in the federal government? Explain your response.

This is an opinion question, so student responses may vary. Your author is encouraged by this bipartisan effort, arguably the most important accomplishment of the U.S. Congress in the last four years. This law is testament to the fact that for Congress to do its job for the American people, bipartisanship is crucial and indispensable.