Latest news with #leadpipes
E&E News
7 days ago
- Politics
- E&E News
EPA to defend Biden-era lead drinking water rule
The Trump administration will defend a Biden-era drinking water regulation that mandates the replacement of virtually all lead pipes by 2037, EPA said Monday. In a short legal filing, the Justice Department said it will allow litigation to continue on the regulation, which was paused in February by the Trump administration. Water utilities have sued to overturn the rule. Still, the department and an EPA spokesperson stopped short of saying whether the administration planned to tweak the rule, one of the last major environmental regulations of the Biden administration. Advertisement 'DOJ is now moving forward with the process of defending the rule. At the same time, EPA will develop new tools and information to support practical implementation flexibilities and regulatory clarity,' the EPA spokesperson said in an email, adding that next steps would be announced 'in the coming months.'
CNN
04-08-2025
- Politics
- CNN
5 things to know for August 4: Jobs report, Texas redistricting, Montana bar shooting, Abortion, Covid-19
5 Things Respiratory viruses Job market Vaccines FacebookTweetLink After more than a decade since a water crisis devastated Flint, Michigan, there has been some progress. In July, the state told a federal court that it had replaced 11,000 lead pipes and restored 28,000 damaged properties. Federal officials say Flint's water is now safe and meets the requirements of the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Act, but some residents remain skeptical. Here's what else you need to know to get up to speed and on with your day. President Donald Trump plans to announce a new commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics over the next few days. He fired Commissioner Erika McEntarfer on Friday, shortly after the release of a weaker-than-expected jobs report that showed the US economy added just 73,000 jobs in July. The monthly totals for May and June were also revised down by a combined 258,000 jobs. Trump responded to the report on his social media site: 'In my opinion, today's Jobs Numbers were RIGGED in order to make the Republicans, and ME, look bad.' In an appearance that aired on 'Fox News Sunday,' National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett defended Trump's decision to fire McEntarfer, claiming the president 'wants his own people there.' Yet Hassett did not provide any evidence that the report was incorrect. Whoever the president nominates to be the new commissioner will need to be confirmed by the Senate. In an attempt to block Republicans from aggressively redrawing Texas' congressional map in their favor, House Democrats left the state on Sunday. The Texas Constitution requires two-thirds of state House members to be present to conduct legislative business and the Democrats' absence denies the GOP a quorum. The proposed map the GOP put forward last week could potentially eliminate five Democratic US House seats ahead of the 2026 midterms. Such a partisan change may have significant repercussions in Washington, where House Republicans are entering a challenging midterm landscape with a razor-thin majority. 'We will not be complicit in the destruction of our own communities,' Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Gene Wu said. Gov. Greg Abbott has threatened to remove any lawmakers who don't appear when the state House convenes this afternoon. A manhunt continues for the person who allegedly opened fire on patrons and staff at a bar in Anaconda, Montana, last Friday morning. The mass shooting — one of at least 256 mass shootings in the US so far this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive — claimed the lives of four people, including a bartender and two customers. The suspect has been identified as Michael Paul Brown, a 45-year-old military veteran who lived next door to The Owl Bar. He was last spotted in the Stump Town area and is believed to be armed and dangerous. Officials are offering a $7,500 reward for any information that could lead to his arrest. On Sunday, the authorities released the names of the shooting victims, all of whom were local residents. The Department of Veterans Affairs wants to end certain abortion services for veterans. In a proposed rule filed last Friday, the VA is seeking to revoke access to abortions and abortion counseling for veterans and their beneficiaries, except in cases where 'a physician certifies that the life of the mother would be endangered if the fetus were carried to term.' This new rule would roll back a Biden-era move that provided access to abortions when a pregnant veteran's life or health was at risk if their pregnancy were carried to term, or if the pregnancy was the result of rape or incest — regardless of state laws. To date, 20 states have banned or limited access to the procedure. In states where abortion is limited, higher rates of maternal and infant mortality, as well as greater economic insecurity, have been reported. The VA's proposed rule is open for public comment for 30 days starting today. As Covid-19 transmission ramps up in the US, many Americans are confused about the Trump administration's latest policies concerning access to vaccines. In recent months, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has said that the Covid-19 shot will no longer be recommended for healthy children and pregnant women, replaced a federal vaccine advisory panel and announced plans to examine the well-established federal childhood vaccine schedule. Now, those who want to be vaccinated in the fall are unsure if the vaccine will be available to them and if their insurance will cover the cost. Epidemiologist Caitlin Rivers recommends that Americans who want their annual Covid-19 shot get it sooner rather than later. 'The big drawback is, it is not updated yet; the new formulation will be released closer to autumn,' she said, but getting a shot now will offer protection against the summer wave. GET '5 THINGS' IN YOUR INBOX If your day doesn't start until you're up to speed on the latest headlines, then let us introduce you to your new favorite morning fix. Sign up here for the '5 Things' newsletter. The Britpop icons were performing at London's Wembley Stadium when the incident occurred. The killing of Blondie, who wore a research collar for an Oxford University study, has been condemned by wildlife groups. This wellness hack has been trending on TikTok and Instagram lately. Found in a remote rainforest in Australia (of course!) — the creature is nearly 16 inches long and weighs about as much as a golf ball. Did Carrie Bradshaw just break up with us? Or did we break up with her? 'WKRP in Cincinnati' star Loni Anderson dies at 79The actress earned two Emmy Award and three Golden Globe nominations for playing Jennifer, the fictional station's receptionist, who used her sex appeal to deflect unwanted business calls for her boss. Yet it was her character's efficiency that often kept the station running in the face of others' incompetence. Over 400 millionThat's how many metric tons of plastic are produced annually — and only a small fraction is recycled. The rest ends up in landfills or leaks into the natural environment, which is impacting everything from human health to the climate. 'It's really immature. Whoever's doing it just needs to grow up.' — Chicago Sky center Elizabeth Williams, speaking to reporters after someone threw a sex toy onto the basketball court during the WNBA game against the Golden State Valkyries on Friday. 🌤️ Check your local forecast to see what you can expect. Two-thirds of US families started looking for deals in July — the largest number on record. Today's edition of 5 Things AM was edited and produced by CNN's Andrew Torgan.
The Independent
01-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Years after problems with Flint's water emerged, the town has finally replaced all of its lead pipes
Michigan is set to announce that it has finally replaced all of the lead water pipes in the city of Flint, according to a report. The news comes a decade after lead-contaminated water was first found in its water system, resulting in extensive legal battles and national outrage over one of the country's most damaging water crises. There is no safe level of exposure to lead, which can result in reproductive issues, high blood pressure, hypertension, nerve disorders, muscle and joint pain, and memory and concentration problems in adults. In children, it can lead to hearing problems, slowed growth, headaches, learning and behavioral difficulties, lowered IQ, and damage to the brain and nervous system. Now, eight years after a court-ordered settlement required Flint officials to replace the pipes, nearly 11,000 have been replaced and more than 28,000 properties have been restored, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council. In a release, it cited a progress report the state submitted to a federal court. 'Flint residents never gave up fighting for safe drinking water in the face of government indifference, mistruths, and incompetence. I've been angry that officials poisoned the drinking water in my home and community. But I will always be proud that Flint inspired a federal rule requiring that every lead pipe in the country be replaced in the next decade. Flint changed America, for the better,' Melissa Mays, of the organization Water You Fighting For, said in a statement shared by the council. 'In these challenging times for our country — marked by chaos and pain for so many — the story of Flint is a shining beacon of hope,' President Manish Bapna added. 'It is a reminder of the power that we the people of this country hold. It's a reminder of why preserving American democracy is so essential. It's a reminder of what's possible if we stand up to powerful forces and refuse to back down.' Neither Michigan attorney general's office nor Flint Mayor Sheldon Neeley immediately responded to requests for comment from The Independent. The water crisis began in 2014, after a state-appointed emergency manager ended a contract with Detroit's water system, switching to the Flint River to save money. The state did not require treatment to prevent corrosion that caused lead to leach into the water supply of the majority-Black city. Nearly 100,000 Flint residents were exposed to lead through their drinking water, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. One study found that the number of children with elevated lead levels in their blood doubled or even tripled. The switch coincided with an outbreak of Legionnaire's disease, or a severe form of pneumonia, that killed a dozen people and sickened at least 87 between June 2014 and October 2015, the council reported. It was the third-largest outbreak of Legionnaires' disease recorded in U.S. history. Three years later, the city's residents — a third of whom live in poverty — sued Flint and Michigan officials for access to safe water, resulting in a landmark settlement in 2017. A federal court in Detroit ordered Flint to give every resident the opportunity to have their lead pipe replaced at no cost to them and to provide comprehensive tap water testing, implement a faucet filter distribution and education program, and maintain funding for health programs to help residents. The council has said the Covid pandemic and 'ineffective' management of the program stalled the work by years. Since then, Flint's story has inspired action at a national level, and the Biden administration's Environmental Protection Agency issued a federal rule requiring every lead pipe to be replaced in the next ten years. The agency estimates that as many as 9 million homes are served through lead pipes across the country and that replacing them could cost at least $45 billion. A decision on whether to honor that commitment is due from the Trump administration later this summer.
Washington Post
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Flint completes replacement of lead pipes, ending a decade-long crisis
Michigan is set to announce Tuesday that it has completed the replacement of the lead water pipes in Flint, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council, an advocacy group that has been briefed on the move, putting an end to one of the nation's most devastating water crises after more than a decade.
CBS News
29-06-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Flint's still-unfinished lead pipe replacement serves as cautionary tale for other cities
Jeffrey Bell watched as crews dug up and replaced neighbors' lead water pipes, hoping his mother's house would be next. Workers told him it wasn't on their list but was probably assigned to another contractor. With Flint's lead pipe replacement program winding down this year, Bell and his elderly mother worried the home they share was forgotten. Betty Bell repeatedly called the city while continuing to buy bottled drinking water, as she had for years. Finally someone called to say the water line was fine — records indicate it was checked in 2017. But the Bells hadn't known that, exemplifying residents' confusion over a process marred by delays and poor communication. "I have even more questions now," Jeffrey Bell said. About a decade after Flint's water crisis caused national outrage, replacement of lead water pipes still isn't finished. Although the city recently said it completed work required under a legal settlement, the agreement didn't cover vacant homes and allowed owners to refuse, potentially leaving hundreds of pipes in the ground. The state agreed to oversee work on those properties and says it's determined to finish by fall. Flint's missteps offer lessons for municipalities that face a recently imposed federal mandate to replace their own lead service lines. The Trump administration is expected to soon tell a federal appeals court if it will stand by that mandate. "I think other cities are racing not to be Flint," said Margie Kelly, a spokesperson with the environmental nonprofit Natural Resources Defense Council, which reached a settlement with the city to force it to replace lead pipes. Flint falters Flint's crisis was set in motion in 2014, when a state-appointed emergency manager ended a contract with Detroit's water system and switched to the Flint River to save money. But the state didn't require treatment to prevent corrosion that caused lead to leach into the water. High levels of lead eventually were detected in drinking water and children's blood. Outbreaks of Legionnaires' disease that killed a dozen people were also linked, in part, to the city's water. In 2017, Flint entered into a settlement requiring it to replace all lead pipes and fix dug-up yards for free within three years. Funds were directed first toward homes with known lead lines at the NRDC's insistence, which meant workers couldn't tackle neighborhoods systematically. And finding those homes proved challenging because many records were missing or inaccurate — some handwritten on notecards dating to the early 1900s. "The city's overall management of the program was ineffective," and it could have better coordinated work geographically, said Sarah Tallman, an attorney with the NRDC. That stalled the program and, ultimately, the city had to check every pipe anyway. COVID-19 also slowed work. Flint Department of Public Works Director Kenneth Miller, who was hired last year, said the city didn't know how many homeowners had opted out of lead pipe replacement or how many properties had simply been missed as contractors came and went. "Just like any other organization, people get lax, people stop doing things, people get laid off and the person that used to do it doesn't do it anymore," he said. Because the city didn't keep accurate records of repairs, a judge ordered officials to visually check thousands of properties that had been excavated. Yards torn up by contractors sometimes sat that way for months or years. For months, Danyele Darrough's lawn was a mess and the sidewalk and driveway were covered, she said. Grass seed that workers applied never grew. Finally this spring, nearly three years later, she bought bags of topsoil and seed to fix her lawn herself. "It was like, yeah, we knew it; we couldn't trust them," said Darrough. Miller said the city now has robust data management, which he recommends to other communities tackling lead lines. Steep population loss left thousands of vacant homes that will require contractors to cap lead lines where they're found, said Eric Oswald, drinking water director at Michigan's Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy. "The state and the city wanted to absolutely make sure that ... we leave no stone unturned," he said. Trust is key In Flint, government at every level caused the lead crisis or delayed fixing it, according to an EPA inspector general report. The scandal damaged trust in government — nearly 700 Flint homeowners declined free lead pipe replacement, the NRDC said. Flint finally adopted an ordinance last year to prevent homeowners from opting out. "It's very difficult to get across the finish line unless you've got something to enforce," Oswald said. Benton Harbor, across the state, implemented a similar provision early on, helping its work move smoothly. Now, officials are working from a list of more than 4,000 properties where there could be a lead line, sending letters and making in-person visits to homes, if needed. Miller said he hopes the outreach will show that customer service is now a priority, but it will take time to rebuild trust. Some also distrust the Environmental Protection Agency, which in May lifted a long-standing emergency order for Flint water. The agency said it's now safe to drink from the tap after years of tests showing sharply reduced lead levels. "We don't know what to believe," resident Aonie Gilcreast said at a recent community gathering. "We don't trust the system" because officials have said "time after time after time ... that everything was fine." As other cities and towns start replacing their own lead pipes — there are roughly 9 million in the U.S. — one thing should be top of mind, experts say: Digging them up isn't just a construction job, but also a test of community trust. To replace the lines that connect the water main in the street to homes, workers usually must dig in the street and yard, and enter the home. When residents trust local government, they're more willing to grant that access. "With lead, as with everything else, the first time people hear from their water utility can't be when there is a concern," said Greg Kail, spokesperson at utility industry group American Water Works Association. Instead, it is important for utilities to reach out to residents about what they plan to do and enlist trusted community groups in the effort. Newark, New Jersey, avoided Flint's pitfalls when facing its own lead crisis. In 2019, about two years after elevated levels were revealed and with funds available, the mayor said the city would replace more than 20,000 lead pipes at no cost to residents — and do it within three years. But a challenge soon emerged: Newark has lots of renters who couldn't approve the work. "We couldn't get into the houses. We couldn't find the owners," said Kareem Adeem, Newark's water and sewer director. "They don't live there. They had no interest in taking care of the lead service line." So the city passed an ordinance making lead pipe removals mandatory and giving renters permission to approve the work. Then, contractors moved quickly through the city block by block — a lesson learned from Flint. For the most stubborn holdouts, officials told them when they'd start replacement work and said they'd turn the water off until the resident allowed them to complete it. The threat was enough. They never had to actually turn off anybody's water, Adeem said. Sometimes, people would recognize Adeem from TV, and he could start a conversation — a crack in a resident's determination to say no. He worked with trusted community groups, too. And the decision that ensured people's property was cleaned up afterward? The contractors weren't fully paid until they finished the work and fixed any damage.
