In other news below:
-- EPA orders NM dairies to comply with Clean Water Act
-- Grants to improve better chemical exposure monitoring
-- Ranch ordered to cease, desist unauthorized discharges
-- EPA, Midland agree on dioxin sampling information
-- Experts to discuss Lake Michigan, Great Lakes beaches
-- European Commission joins Methane to Markets
-- EPA seeks public comment on analysis of MACT standards
-- EPA announces winners of Green Building Design Competition
• EPA strengthens lead in drinking water rule
WASHINGTON, DC, Sept. 26, 2007 -- EPA is helping to reduce lead in drinking water by issuing a final rule that will improve requirements in the areas of monitoring, customer awareness and lead service line replacement. Specifically, the agency will require water suppliers to provide consumers with information to help them make decisions about how to limit their exposure to lead in drinking water.
"Today's action will help get the lead out and keep it out of our drinking water," said Benjamin H. Grumbles, EPA's assistant administrator for Water. "The public must have confidence in the safety of their tap water, which is, ounce-for-ounce, one of America's greatest and most affordable assets. EPA's targeted improvements will clarify requirements for utilities, and provide more timely and useful information for the public."
The final rule is one outcome of EPA's March 2005 Drinking Water Lead Reduction Plan which arose from EPA's analysis of the current regulation and state and local implementation. Since release of the plan, the agency has released guidance to help public water systems better understand the potential impacts of treatment changes on their ability to control lead and asked the National Drinking Water Advisory Council to provide recommendations on public education requirements. The agency has also provided new or updated guidance and tools to help schools and child care facilities to monitor for lead in drinking water.
Lead is a highly toxic metal that was used for many years in products found in and around homes. Even at low levels, lead may cause a range of health effects including behavioral problems and learning disabilities. Children six years old and under are most at risk because this is when the brain is developing. The primary source of lead exposure for most children is lead-based paint in older homes. Lead in drinking water can add to that exposure.
For a copy of the rule and more information on lead in drinking water, see: epa.gov/safewater/lcrmr/index.html
Among other recent EPA announcements:
• EPA orders New Mexico dairies to comply with Clean Water Act
DALLAS, TX, Sept. 25, 2007 -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has issued 11 administrative orders to dairies located in southeast New Mexico requiring them to keep proper records in their Pollution Prevention Plans indicating properly lined waste lagoons. The orders also require that animal waste generated at the dairies be properly handled and disposed of without causing any environmental harm...
• Grants to improve better chemical exposure monitoring
WASHINGTON, DC, Sept. 25, 2007 -- EPA announced $4 million in grants to five institutions that will work on improving biomonitoring at the Public Health Applications of Human Biomonitoring Meeting. The meeting of experts was sponsored by EPA and the International Council of Chemical Associations (ICCA) Monday and Tuesday at EPA's Research Triangle Park campus...
• Ranch ordered to cease, desist unauthorized discharges
DALLAS, TX, Sept. 25, 2007 -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has issued a cease and desist administrative order to the Rocking BS Ranch near Wetumka, Oklahoma, for violations of the Clean Water Act, including an unauthorized discharge of pollutants flowing into an unnamed tributary to Middle Creek and then into Middle Creek in Hughes County, Oklahoma...
• EPA, Midland agree on dioxin sampling information
CHICAGO, IL, Sept. 25, 2007 -- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the city of Midland, Mich., have reached consensus on the dioxin information that the city will provide the Agency. The city will submit the sampling protocol and spatial distribution of data points without identifying specific property locations or property owners...
• Experts to discuss Lake Michigan, Great Lakes beaches
CHICAGO, Sept. 25, 2007 -- -- Experts will discuss Lake Michigan and Great Lakes beaches at concurrent conferences in Traverse City, Mich., Oct. 3 to 5. Scientists and beach managers will present the latest research on sustainability and environmental issues affecting the lake, Grand Traverse Bay and Great Lakes beaches...
• European Commission joins Methane to Markets
WASHINGTON, DC, Sept. 24, 2007 -- The Methane to Markets Partnership marked a major milestone this week as the European Commission became its 21st partner. Methane to Markets is a public-private partnership that reduces greenhouse gas emissions by promoting the cost-effective, near-term recovery and use of methane, while providing clean energy to markets around the world. The addition of the EC will provide additional expertise and resources to advance methane capture and use in Europe and other partner countries...
Also see: "The European Commission Becomes the 21st Methane to Markets Partner"
• EPA seeks public comment on analysis of MACT standards
WASHINGTON, DC, Sept. 21, 2007 -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is seeking public comment on an analysis of the 2005 Hazardous Waste Combustor Maximum Achievable Control Technology rule. In March 2007, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit issued an opinion that vacated the standards included in another of EPA's MACT rules. In light of the court's opinion, EPA has reexamined the standards in the 2005 Hazardous Waste Combustors MACT rule to determine if they are compliant with the court's opinion...
• EPA announces winners of Green Building Design Competition
ATLANTA, Sept. 21, 2007 -- During a ceremony at the West Coast Green Conference in San Francisco, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response Assistant Administrator Susan Bodine announced the winners of the inaugural Lifecycle Building Challenge competition...
More news from EPA:
• "EPA to regulate ion generators as pesticides"
• "Montanta Ph.D. candidates receive EPA Research Fellowships"
• "Grand Junction earns EPA Clean Water Act award"
• "Longmont receives EPA award for water treatment plant"
• "NM Environment Dept. gets EPA inspection credentials"
• "SC watershed organization among finalists to receive $13M"
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• In earlier "EPA Action" reports, see: "EPA, Navajo Nation inspect 40 underground tanks on tribal lands"
• For water-related news releases at the EPA website, click here.
• For the latest news releases from the EPA website, click here.
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