EPA LCR Revisions and Lead-Free Plumbing Rule

Final LCRR Sent to OMB for Review

July 29, 2020, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a Press Release indicating that the Agency has submitted the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCCR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for their review. OMB has 90 days to review the regulations (OMB can extend their review by 30 days).

Link to EPA Press Release (see fourth paragraph of Press Release):

https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-announces-another-significant-step-effort-reduce-lead-drinking-water

EPA and Lead-Free Plumbing

As indicated in the Press Release (link above), EPA has also released a pre-publication Federal Register final rule, codifying Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) requirements regarding lead-free plumbing (pre-publication_final_lead_free_rule).

Link to EPA Web Page on Lead-Free Plumbing:

https://www.epa.gov/sdwa/use-lead-free-pipes-fittings-fixtures-solder-and-flux-drinking-water#:~:text=In%201996%20Congress%20further%20amended,that%20is%20not%20lead%20free.

Background.  The lead-free requirements were first enacted in the 1986 SDWA Amendments.  The 1986 Amendments defined lead free as “solder and flux with no more than 0.2% lead and pipes with no more than 8%.”  The 1996 Amendments to the SDWA made it illegal for any pipe or plumbing fixture that was not lead-free to be introduced into commerce except for pipes used in manufacturing or industrial processing, and required lead leaching standards be developed by 3rd party certifiers.