“EPA promoted “National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week” on Twitter yesterday even though the agency hasn’t yet rolled out updated regulations to control lead and copper in drinking water. EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler has said the updated rule would be released by the end of this month, but the proposal has been under White House review for nearly 90 days, the limit for the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs. EPA sent its proposal to the White House on July 31.
“Wheeler is negotiating directly with OIRA on the rule,” said Kyla Bennett, a director with Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility. “That must mean there are substantive issues at play.””