GAO Report Promotes New Way To Advance LSL Remediation
In a report released just four days before the U.S. EPA issued its final revisions to the Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) on December 22, 2020, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) provided insights that water utilities can use to achieve better protections for water customers in neighborhoods at higher risk of lead exposure. Here are links to the complete GAO risk-of-lead-exposure report and an overview of its four recommendations, which the GAO anticipated updating in response to the EPA’s LCR final revisions. Water utilities can use the experience outlined in the report to focus attention on high-risk areas in their systems and accelerate their own efforts to identify and replace problematic lead service lines (LSLs).
TSCA/FIFRA/TRI
EPA Seeks Comments On Draft Compliance Guide Addressing Surface Coatings Under PFAS SNUR: On December 16, 2020, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the availability of a draft compliance guide that outlines which imported articles are covered by EPA’s July 2020 final significant new use rule (SNUR) that prohibits companies from manufacturing, importing, processing, or using certain long-chain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) without prior EPA review and approval. 85 Fed. Reg. 81466. The draft guide provides additional clarity on what is meant by a “surface coating,” identifies which entities are regulated, describes the activities that are required or prohibited, and summarizes the notification requirements of the final SNUR. More information on the draft compliance guide is available in our December 14, 2020, memorandum, “EPA Publishes Draft Compliance Guide Addressing Surface Coatings under PFAS SNUR.” Comments on the draft g
Change-Ups: Mendez joins GR Chamber as talent development manager
Monica Mendez is the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce’s new talent development manager. She is responsible for overseeing Leading Edge, Leadership Advantage, and expanding upon ATHENA Grand Rapids programming, as well as providing support to chamber members. An immigrant from Mexico, Mendez came to the United States 20 years ago. She spent the first 15 years of her career as a business professional in a variety of different sales roles, but the magna cum laude graduate from Eastern Michigan University with a degree in International Business said she always felt drawn to other causes related to creating positive change within the community.
Hometown: Richvale
A race for a seat on the U.S. House of Representatives is different from other elections, especially for those running for the 1st Congressional District.
Democrat Audrey Denney and Republican U.S. Rep. Doug LaMalfa are running to represent an area that comprises the northeastern part of the state. The district includes 11 counties, or portions of them, and includes a large part of Nevada County.
Compare that to most local races on the Nov. 6 ballot, which are county or only special district wide.
Democrats hope to unseat LaMalfa, a three-term congressman, in a “blue wave” on Nov. 6.