Bill Summary
This bill, known as the Lead Elimination and Data Guidance Act, requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to create guidance for identifying high-risk locations where lead reduction efforts should be focused. This includes testing drinking water for lead levels and replacing lead service lines. The guidance will utilize data from the American Community Survey and geospatial data to identify these locations. The Administrator must publish the guidance within 180 days of the bill's enactment and submit a report to Congress detailing the methodology used and who was consulted in its development. The bill also defines key terms such as high-risk locations, lead service lines, and public water systems. The purpose of this legislation is to ensure that efforts to reduce lead exposure are targeted towards areas most at risk, particularly environmental justice communities.
Possible Impacts
1. This legislation could affect people living in areas with older infrastructure, as they may be more likely to have lead service lines and therefore be designated as "high-risk locations."
2. The legislation could also affect members of environmental justice communities, as these areas may be more likely to have lead service lines and be designated as "high-risk locations."
3. The development of guidance and report submission could involve input and consultation from various stakeholders, potentially giving a voice to community members and affected individuals.
[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3255 Introduced in House (IH)]
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117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3255
To require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to
develop guidance for identifying high-risk locations to focus lead
reduction efforts, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 14, 2021
Mr. Norcross introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Energy and Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to
develop guidance for identifying high-risk locations to focus lead
reduction efforts, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Lead Elimination and Data Guidance
Act'' or the ``LEAD Guidance Act''.
SEC. 2. IDENTIFICATION OF HIGH-RISK LOCATIONS.
(a) Development of Guidance.--
(1) In general.--In accordance with the deadline
established in subsection (b), the Administrator of the
Environmental Protection Agency shall develop guidance to help
public water systems identify high-risk locations for purposes
of focusing efforts to--
(A) test drinking water for the concentration of
lead in such drinking water; and
(B) replace lead service lines.
(2) Use of data.--The guidance developed under paragraph
(1) shall include information on how a public water system may
use data from the American Community Survey conducted by the
Department of Commerce and, where available, geospatial data to
identify high-risk locations for the purposes described in
subsection (a).
(b) Availability of Guidance.--Not later than 180 days after the
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Environmental
Protection Agency shall--
(1) publish the guidance developed under subsection (a) in
the Federal Register; and
(2) make such guidance available on a publicly accessible
website.
(c) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency
shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of
Representatives and the appropriate committee of the Senate a report
that--
(1) includes the guidance developed under subsection (a);
(2) describes the methodology used to develop such
guidance; and
(3) provides information about who was consulted in the
development of such guidance.
(d) Definitions.--In this Act:
(1) High-risk location.--The term ``high-risk location''
means an area--
(A) that is likely to have lead service lines; and
(B) in which an environmental justice community is
located.
(2) Lead service line.--The term ``lead service line'' has
the meaning given such term in section 1459B(a) of the Safe
Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300j-19b(a)).
(3) Public water system.--The term ``public water system''
has the meaning given such term in section 1401 of the Safe
Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300f).
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