Panning Federal Lead Rule, Michigan Proposes Its Own

Michigan Governor Rick Snyder unveiled a plan last week to impose water-quality regulations more stringent than federal mandates.

“The federal Lead and Copper Rule is dumb and dangerous. We need a Michigan rule that is smart and safe,” Snyder said in a statement. “We are taking action to provide safe and reliable drinking water infrastructure that will protect the health and well-being of all Michiganders. By implementing these smarter standards, Michigan communities can better safeguard residents from lead and our residents can be assured that they have access to safe, clean drinking water.”

Snyder wants to lower the limit on lead in drinking water from the federal limit of 15 parts per billion to 10 parts per billion by 2020, the Detroit Free Press reported.

“Snyder called for a new rule because he says the federal lead and copper rule is confusing and contributed to the Flint water crisis. Snyder and other critics say the U.S. EPA is taking too long to update the rule,” Michigan Radio reported.

Snyder’s proposal does not require approval from state lawmakers, but it will need to wend through state regulatory processes, including public hearings, The Detroit News reported.

“The seven-part initiative, inspired by the Flint water contamination crisis, calls for administrative rule changes to ‘phase in’ a reduction in the amount of lead that is allowed in public water supplies before the state orders corrective steps,” The Detroit News reported.

The speed of the phase-in has not yet been determined, The Detroit News reported.

“Flint tested at 12 ppb lead during the second half of 2016, dropping below the federal action limit, and has shown continual improvement this year. The city had tested at 20 ppb during the first half of 2016,” The Detroit News reported.

The plan also proposes to replace all lead water lines in Michigan, and implement the following changes, according to Michigan Radio:

• Faster action by state officials when lead levels in a water system exceed what’s allowed;
• A citizen advisory council on lead policies;
• Requiring local governments to compile a water infrastructure inventory, including the location of lead pipes.

Critics say the proposal does not go far enough, arguing that 5 parts per billion would be a safer standard, the Detroit Free Press reported.

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