Lead Free Schools Act of 2017

Bill: 115-hr-2094
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5]
Introduced: 2017-04-14
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures

Child health

Education programs funding

Educational facilities and institutions

Elementary and secondary education

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Environmental regulatory procedures

Hazardous wastes and toxic substances

Metals

Water quality

Water use and supply
Latest action: action_date: 2017-04-14
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment.

Summaries:
action_date: 2017-04-14
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Lead Free Schools Act of 2017</b></p> <p>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: </p> <ul> <li>corrosion controls are reevaluated anytime source water or treatment is changed;</li> <li>test results are valid by prohibiting techniques that artificially lower lead levels; </li> <li>monitoring includes school sites for all public water systems serving schools;</li> <li>notification of lead problems is clear and effective; and</li> <li>lead service lines, which are controlled by public water systems, are fully replaced on a set timetable and whenever contamination is detected.</li> </ul> <p>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.</p> <p>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.</p> <p> The bill reauthorizes for FY2018-FY2022 the voluntary school and child care program lead testing grant program.</p>

tv_txt: I 115th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2094 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 14, 2017 Mr. Gottheimer (for himself and Mr. Fitzpatrick ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce A BILL 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) ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (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 -dioxane 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 ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (17) Lead service line The term lead service line means a pipe and its fittings, which are not lead free (as defined in section 1417(d)), that connect the drinking water main to the building inlet. . (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 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: 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) ) is amended by inserting or drinking water fountain after water cooler each place it appears. 5. School remedial action program Section 1464(d)(7) of the Safe Drinking Water Act ( 42 U.S.C. 300j–24(d)(7) ) is amended— (1) by striking $20,000,000 and inserting $100,000,000 ; and (2) by striking 2017 through 2021 and inserting 2018 through 2022 .