March 8, 2005--The MWRA received informal notification this week that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has altered its interpretation of the Lead and Copper Rule. Specifically, EPA's revision now mandates lead education and lead service replacement in communities that do not individually register two consecutive rounds of sampling below lead and copper action levels. This most recent interpretation by the EPA, if implemented, means the communities of Medford, Norwood, Somerville, Weston, Winthrop, Boston, Lexington, Malden, and Milton would be required to continue under the mandatory lead testing requirement until each municipality has two rounds below the lead action level. Only the towns of Everett, Framingham, Lynnfield, Melrose, and Newton would be relieved of mandatory requirements immediately. Lead action levels became an area of concern following MWRA's September 2003 lead and copper sampling round, when the water system exceeded the lead action level. Mandatory lead education and lead service replacement requirements were consequently imposed on individual communities that had local sample results exceeding the lead action level. However, following the Authority's September 2004 water sampling, when the entire water system achieved two consecutive rounds below action level, MWRA believed mandatory lead requirements would be lifted for all communities. Although the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) originally agreed with MWRA's interpretation of the regulations, it requested guidance from the EPA, which relayed its new position this week. |
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