Lead Free Schools Act of 2017

To amend the Safe Drinking Water Act to establish deadlines for promulgation of national primary drinking water regulations for certain contaminants, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Lead Free Schools Act of 2017 2. Requirements for regulation of contaminants Section 1412(b)(2) of the Safe Drinking Water Act ( 42 U.S.C. 300g–1(b)(2) (D) Lead and copper rule (i) In general Notwithstanding any other deadline established in this subsection, not later than 9 months after the date of enactment of the Lead Free Schools Act of 2017, the Administrator shall issue revised national primary drinking water regulations for lead and copper. (ii) Requirements The revised regulations issued under clause (i) shall ensure that— (I) corrosion controls are reevaluated anytime source water or treatment is changed; (II) test results are valid, by prohibiting techniques that artificially lower lead levels, including flushing before samples are taken; (III) monitoring includes school sites for all public water systems serving schools (as defined in section 1461); (IV) notification of lead problems is clear and effective, including, to the extent practicable, notification, at least annually, of any testing and such problems at school sites on the Internet website of the applicable local educational agency; and (V) lead service lines are fully replaced on a set timetable and whenever contamination is detected. (iii) Scope of lead line replacement requirements Requirements to replace lead service lines under the revised regulations issued under clause (i) shall extend to all service lines controlled by public water systems, regardless of ownership. (E) Perfluorinated compounds Notwithstanding any other deadline established in this subsection, not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of the Lead Free Schools Act of 2017, the Administrator shall publish a maximum contaminant level goal and promulgate a national primary drinking water regulation for perfluorinated compounds. (F) 1,4 Notwithstanding any other deadline established in this subsection, not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of the Lead Free Schools Act of 2017, the Administrator shall make a determination, pursuant to paragraph (1)(B)(ii), on whether to regulate 1,4-dioxane under this section. . 3. Definition of lead service line (a) In general Section 1401 of the Safe Drinking Water Act ( 42 U.S.C. 300f (17) Lead service line The term lead service line . (b) Conforming amendment Section 1459B(a) of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300j–19b(a)) is amended by striking paragraph (4). 4. Competitive grant pilot program for drinking water fountain replacement for schools (a) In general Part F of the Safe Drinking Water Act ( 42 U.S.C. 300j–21 1465. Competitive grant pilot program for drinking water fountain replacement for schools (a) Establishment Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this section, the Administrator shall establish a competitive pilot grant program to provide assistance to local educational agencies for the replacement of drinking water fountains manufactured prior to 1988. (b) Use of funds Funds awarded under the competitive pilot grant program— (1) shall be used to pay the costs of replacement of drinking water fountains in schools; and (2) shall be awarded on a competitive basis, as determined by the Administrator. (c) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section not more than $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2018 through 2022. . (b) Definitions Section 1461(5) of the Safe Drinking Water Act ( 42 U.S.C. 300j–21(5) or drinking water fountain water cooler 5. School remedial action program Section 1464(d)(7) of the Safe Drinking Water Act ( 42 U.S.C. 300j–24(d)(7) (1) by striking $20,000,000 $100,000,000 (2) by striking 2017 through 2021 2018 through 2022

Summary: Lead Free Schools Act of 2017 This bill amends the Safe Drinking Water Act to direct the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to revise national primary drinking water regulations for lead and copper within nine months. The revised regulations must ensure that: corrosion controls are reevaluated anytime source water or treatment is changed; test results are valid by prohibiting techniques that artificially lower lead levels; monitoring includes school sites for all public water systems serving schools; notification of lead problems is clear and effective; and lead service lines, which are controlled by public water systems, are fully replaced on a set timetable and whenever contamination is detected. The EPA must: (1) publish a maximum contaminant level goal and promulgate a national primary drinking water regulation for perfluorinated compounds within two years, and (2) determine whether to regulate 1,4-dioxane within two years. The EPA must establish a grant program for replacing drinking water fountains manufactured prior to 1988 that are located in schools or day care facilities with fountains that are lead free. The bill reauthorizes for FY2018-FY2022 the voluntary school and child care program lead testing grant program.