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EPA group to take testimony on Flint water crisis as it weighs rule changes

November 15, 2015

EPA group to take testimony on Flint water crisis as it weighs rule changes

Congressman Dan Kildee says he intends to tell the story of Flint's water crisis during testimony to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Drinking Water Advisory Council on Wednesday, Nov. 18. "My statement will be largely pushing for EPA to answer whether its oversight is adequate when there is a fairly dramatic change in the source of water," Kildee said. The Flint Township Democrat said he plans to focus his comments also on what the state and EPA can do to improve drinking water quality in Flint and to restore public confidence in the system. The EPA is considering changes in the federal Lead and Copper Rule, and a news release from Kildee's office says he will speak in favor of changes aimed at promoting greater transparency and to ensure that another public health crisis doesn't reoccur in Flint. The public health emergency was declared in Flint despite the city never having been found to be in violation of the Lead and Copper Rule. Researcher who tested water independent of sampling done by the city have said testing methods allowed under EPA current rules, including pre-flushing of lines in which water is being tested, contributed to artificially low lead readings in Flint. Last week, the EPA announced it would audit the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality's water quality program after the state acknowledged it mistakenly never required the city to treat Flint River to make it less corrosive. Kildee and state Senate Minority Leader Jim Ananich, D-Flint, had made the request for an audit of the MDEQ.
Issues:Local Issues