Nineteen AGs Pushed EPA to Protect Communities against Lead Poisoning

MARCH 16, 2022

New York Attorney General Letitia James led a coalition of 19 attorneys general in comments in response to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) draft strategy to reduce lead exposures and disparities in communities across the country. The AGs commended the agency’s approach as a “strong starting point” for tackling the pervasive public health concerns caused by lead exposure and agreed with EPA’s decision centering environmental justice in its strategy. But the coalition argued the agency could be doing even more to ensure that its plans do not “miss opportunities to reach its goals or omit critical pathways of lead exposure.” The comments laid out specific standards and initiatives to mitigate lead exposure from critical pathways such as paint, drinking water, soil, air, food, and occupational transmission.