Public Engagement Opportunities for EPA Lead and Copper Rule Revisions
curated by Jo Miller
The impact of lead exposure, including through drinking water, is a public health issue of paramount importance, and its adverse effects on children and public health are serious and well known. The goal of public engagement is to obtain further input on EPA’s Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR), including from individuals and communities that are most at risk of exposure to lead in drinking water.
Public Listening Sessions
EPA started hosting virtual engagements in April 2021. The goal of the events is to obtain further public input on EPA’s revision to the Lead and Copper rule (LCRR), particularly from individuals and communities that art at greatest risk of exposure to lead in drinking water. 
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will be holding a listening session and roundtable on April 28, 2021, and May 5, 2021, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET. This is an opportunity to provide comments on the impact of lead in drinking water and the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions.
People who are interested in speaking can sign up for a three-minute slot by submitting a registration form. Individuals in the community are encouraged to sign up for EPA’s public listening sessions. More information is available on EPA’s website.
Community Roundtables
Starting in May 2021, EPA intends to host community virtual roundtables, during which local organizations can participate in a discussion of LCRR-related topics and provide their unique perspectives to EPA. These roundtables will focus on communities that are disproportionately impacted by the challenges of lead in drinking water.
Stakeholder Roundtables
Starting in June 2021, EPA intends to host stakeholder roundtables where representatives of national organizations (e.g., environmental, industry, consumer, intergovernmental) can participate in a discussion of LCRR-related topics and provide their perspective to the agency. EPA intends to make each roundtable available for viewing to those who are not participating but are interested in listening. EPA will posting meeting materials and additional event details on their site as they become available.
National Co-Regulator Meeting
EPA intends to host a national co-regulator meeting in July 2021 to discuss the feedback received from communities. EPA expects to reach out directly to primacy agencies (e.g., states, tribes, territories) with a specific date, time, and details of this meeting in the coming months. EPA will post meeting materials and additional event details on their website as they become available.
Understanding EPA’s Proposed Changes to the Lead and Copper
Rule
To learn more about the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed revisions to the Lead and Copper Rule, our nation’s principal regulation concerning lead in drinking water, the National Safe and Healthy Housing Coalition offered a webinar, Understanding EPA’s Proposed Changes to the Lead and Copper Rule, in January 2020. Presenters summarize the proposed changes to the rule, including impacts on monitoring, lead service lines, and public education.
Presenters:
- Nsedu Obot Witherspoon, Executive Director, Children’s Environmental Health Network
- Lindsay McCormick, Program Manager, Chemicals and Health, Environmental Defense Fund
- Tom Neltner, Chemicals Policy Director, Environmental Defense Fund
Jo Miller, GPC, NCHH’s Senior Development and Communications Officer, has worked as a part of the NCHH team since 2016. A 20-year healthy housing and lead poisoning prevention veteran, she has worked with lead and healthy homes programs throughout the country to build stronger partnerships, innovative approaches, and secure grant funds.