Attorney General Anthony G. Brown of Maryland has joined forces with a coalition of states to intervene in a lawsuit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) new Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI), which took effect on December 30, 2024. The coalition filed a motion to intervene in the case titled American Water Works Association v. EPA, Case No. 24-1376 (D.C. Cir.), to support the EPA’s efforts to ensure safer drinking water standards across the nation.
The 2024 LCRI replaces the previous 2021 Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR), which were criticized for their insufficient protection against lead in drinking water. The new rule mandates the replacement of millions of lead pipes within the next decade, aiming to mitigate the health risks associated with lead exposure.
Lead exposure is known to be particularly harmful to children, affecting their brain and nervous system development, and can also cause cardiovascular and kidney issues in adults. The EPA asserts that there is no safe level of lead in drinking water, prompting these stringent new standards.
The motion by Attorney General Brown and counterparts from California, New York, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, North Carolina, and Wisconsin, aims to uphold these improved standards, which are crucial for protecting vulnerable communities often most at risk from lead exposure. These communities, frequently low-income and minority, typically have older housing and water infrastructures that are more likely to contain lead pipes.
Previously, Maryland’s Office of the Attorney General had challenged the 2021 LCRR, leading to a review and the eventual implementation of the stronger 2024 LCRI. Attorney General Brown emphasized the importance of securing access to clean drinking water as a fundamental right and an essential health and safety measure for future generations.
