On March 31, 2021, EPA announced that it will hold “listening sessions” and “roundtables” to “obtain further input on EPA’s revision to the Lead and Copper Rule…particularly from individuals and communities that are most at-risk of exposure to lead in drinking water.” EPA held two “listening” sessions, one on April 28, 2021 and one on May 5, 2021.
In May 2021 EPA announced the location of the ten communities that have been selected to host LCR “roundtable” discussions. The location and date for the first “roundtable” will be June 3, 2021 in Pittsburgh (start time for the roundtable is not available). The additional nine locations are as follows (no dates have been announced): Newark, N.J.; Washington, D.C.; Milwaukee, Wis.; Chicago, Ill.; Benton Harbor and Highland Park, Mich. (combined); Flint and Detroit, Mich. (combined); Malden, Mass.; Memphis, Tenn.; and Newburgh, N.Y.
EPA statements regarding the LCR roundtables: “The roundtables will foster dialogue on the experience of communities that are affected by lead in drinking water as the agency reviews the LCR to ensure that it supports EPA’s priorities….The community roundtables will include local public water utilities, community organizations, environmental groups, and public officials….In addition to these geographically focused roundtables, EPA will also host national stakeholder roundtables with drinking water utilities, intergovernmental associations, environmental organizations, environmental justice organizations, public health organizations, and consumer associations.”
The ten roundtables will be live-streamed and can be viewed at this location (link for viewing not yet available, no registration required):
EPA May 26, 2021 Press Release announcing the ten LCR roundtable locations:
Recordings of the Two Listening Sessions
Recordings of the April 28, 2021 and May 5, 2021, listening sessions can be viewed here (there 6 separate YouTube videos at this location, with a little over 8 hours of recorded material);
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0VBG2o4x4XIfp8XilDA1wQ/live
