Scott Pruitt, EPA Administrator promoted a goal of “investing in infrastructure . . . to eradicate lead in our drinking water within a decade” in testimony before the Senate Committee on the Environment and Public Works. Some commentators have expressed skepticism as to whether the so-called War on Lead is a political ploy and whether downsized EPA budget proposals would support such an effort. Nevertheless, budget items for the relevant grant programs have actually been increased and a War on Lead effort would be consistent with Pruitt’s “back to basics” regulatory philosophy.

After the testimony, Pruitt sent out a letter in February inviting the leaders of 17 agencies that make up President Trump’s Task Force on Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks to Children to discuss a draft plan to eliminate lead exposure to children in the U.S. and mitigate health risks. Pruitt asked the leaders to consider any actions that the government could undertake in the next three years to reduce lead’s health impacts on children and the population.

The EPA reported little of what occurred at the February Task Force meeting. However, the agency did issue a press release celebrating the “progress” made, including multiple commitments to establish five goals that frame the new Federal Strategy to Reduce Childhood Lead Exposures and Eliminate Associated Health Impacts. These five goals include: 1) to reduce sources of lead in children’s environment; 2) improve identification and monitoring of lead exposure to children; 3) improve the health of children identified as lead-exposed; 4) communicate effectively and consistently with stakeholders about childhood lead exposure; and 5) plan cross-federal research to advance scientific understanding of the effects, evaluation and control of lead hazards in children’s environments.

EPA continues to work with task force members within EPA and among other federal agencies to identify key actions and future opportunities.

More information can be found HERE.

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