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US S2587

US S2587
CLEAR Act Copper and Lead Evaluation and Reporting Act of 2016


summary

Introduced
02/25/2016
In Committee
02/25/2016
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
01/03/2017

Introduced Session

114th Congress

Bill Summary

CLEAR Act Copper and Lead Evaluation and Reporting Act of 2016 This bill amends the Safe Drinking Water Act to require the Environmental Protection Agency to promulgate new lead and copper regulations that would set a health-based, household action level for lead and copper that triggers: (1) a consumer notification of drinking water contamination; (2) a report to the appropriate public health agency; and (3) an examination by the public water system of service line material and, if applicable, the removal of lead portions of the service line. That action level must be based on the amount of lead that would result in a blood lead level greater than five micrograms per deciliter in an average, healthy infant who consumes infant formula made with water. The regulations must also: provide outreach about the health risk and protection available to consumers with known or suspected lead service lines, institutions and facilities that serve other vulnerable populations, and the caregivers and health care providers of those consumers or populations; require reporting by public water systems for each monitoring period to the populations they serve on information concerning lead and copper levels; require public water systems to provide a public statement of lead service line ownership where a community has such lines; modify monitoring requirements to provide for voluntary, consumer-requested tap samples for lead; and provide for utilizing the results of those samples.

AI Summary

This bill, known as the Copper and Lead Evaluation and Reporting Act of 2016 (CLEAR Act), amends the Safe Drinking Water Act to require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to create new regulations for lead and copper in drinking water. These regulations will establish a health-based "action level" for lead and copper in households, which, if exceeded, will trigger immediate consumer notification, a report to public health agencies, and an examination of the water system's service lines, potentially leading to the removal of lead portions. This action level will be determined based on the amount of lead that could cause a blood lead level of over five micrograms per deciliter in an infant. The bill also mandates outreach to vulnerable populations, including children and the elderly, and their caregivers about the risks of lead exposure and available protections. Public water systems will be required to report lead and copper levels to their communities, disclose ownership of lead service lines, and offer voluntary tap sampling for lead, with the results used to inform consumers, public health agencies, and assess treatment effectiveness.

Committee Categories

Agriculture and Natural Resources

Sponsors (2)

Last Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. (on 02/25/2016)

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