42 USC 300 - Lead contamination in school drinking water

Collapse to view only § 300j-24. Lead contamination in school drinking water

§ 300j-21. Definitions
§ 300j-22. Recall of drinking water coolers with lead-lined tanks
§ 300j-23. Drinking water coolers containing lead
§ 300j-24. Lead contamination in school drinking water
§ 300j-25. Drinking water fountain replacement for schools
§ 300j-26. Certification of testing laboratories
§ 300j-27. Registry for lead exposure and Advisory Committee

§ 300j–21. Definitions

As used in this part—

(1) Drinking water cooler

(2) Lead free

(3) Local educational agency

The term “local educational agency” means—

(A) any local educational agency as defined in section 7801 of title 20,

(B) the owner of any private, nonprofit elementary or secondary school building, and

(C) the governing authority of any school operating under the defense dependent’s education system provided for under the Defense Dependent’s Education Act of 1978 (20 U.S.C. 921 and following).

(4) Repair

(5) Replacement

(6) School

(7) Lead-lined tank

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title XIV, § 1461, as added Pub. L. 100–572, § 2(a), Oct. 31, 1988, 102 Stat. 2884; amended Pub. L. 103–382, title III, § 391(p), Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 4024; Pub. L. 104–182, title V, § 501(f)(7), Aug. 6, 1996, 110 Stat. 1692; Pub. L. 107–110, title X, § 1076(x), Jan. 8, 2002, 115 Stat. 2093; Pub. L. 114–95, title IX, § 9215(ooo), Dec. 10, 2015, 129 Stat. 2188; Pub. L. 115–270, title II, § 2006(b)(2), Oct. 23, 2018, 132 Stat. 3844.)

§ 300j–22. Recall of drinking water coolers with lead-lined tanks

For purposes of the Consumer Product Safety Act [15 U.S.C. 2051 et seq.], all drinking water coolers identified by the Administrator on the list under section 300j–23 of this title as having a lead-lined tank shall be considered to be imminently hazardous consumer products within the meaning of section 12 of such Act (15 U.S.C. 2061). After notice and opportunity for comment, including a public hearing, the Consumer Product Safety Commission shall issue an order requiring the manufacturers and importers of such coolers to repair, replace, or recall and provide a refund for such coolers within 1 year after October 31, 1988. For purposes of enforcement, such order shall be treated as an order under section 15(d) of that Act (15 U.S.C. 2064(d)).

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title XIV, § 1462, as added Pub. L. 100–572, § 2(a), Oct. 31, 1988, 102 Stat. 2885; amended Pub. L. 104–182, title V, § 501(f)(8), Aug. 6, 1996, 110 Stat. 1692.)

§ 300j–23. Drinking water coolers containing lead

(a) Publication of lists

(b) Prohibition

(d) Civil penalty

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title XIV, § 1463, as added Pub. L. 100–572, § 2(a), Oct. 31, 1988, 102 Stat. 2885; amended Pub. L. 104–182, title V, § 501(f)(9), Aug. 6, 1996, 110 Stat. 1692.)

§ 300j–24. Lead contamination in school drinking water

(a) Distribution of drinking water cooler list

(b) Guidance document and testing protocol

(d) Voluntary school and child care program lead testing and reduction grant program

(1) DefinitionsIn this subsection:

(A) Child care program

(B) Local educational agencyThe term “local educational agency” means—

(i) a local educational agency (as defined in section 7801 of title 20);

(ii) a tribal education agency (as defined in section 5502 of title 20); and

(iii) a person that owns or operates a child care program facility.

(2) Establishment

(A) In generalNot later than 180 days after December 16, 2016, the Administrator shall establish a voluntary school and child care program lead testing, compliance monitoring, and lead reduction grant program to make grants available to—

(i) States to assist local educational agencies, public water systems that serve schools and child care programs under the jurisdiction of those local educational agencies, and qualified nonprofit organizations in voluntary testing or compliance monitoring for and remediation of lead contamination in drinking water at schools and child care programs under the jurisdiction of those local educational agencies; and

(ii) tribal consortia to assist tribal education agencies (as defined in section 5502 of title 20), public water systems that serve schools and child care programs under the jurisdiction of those tribal education agencies, and qualified nonprofit organizations in voluntary testing or compliance monitoring for and remediation of lead contamination in drinking water at schools and child care programs under the jurisdiction of those tribal education agencies.

(B) Direct grants to local educational agenciesThe Administrator may make a grant for the voluntary testing or compliance monitoring for or remediation of lead contamination described in subparagraph (A) directly available to—

(i) any local educational agency described in clause (i) or (iii) of paragraph (1)(B) located in a State that does not participate in the voluntary grant program established under subparagraph (A);

(ii) any local educational agency described in clause (ii) of paragraph (1)(B);

(iii) any public water system that is located in a State that does not participate in the voluntary grant program established under subparagraph (A) that—(I) assists schools or child care programs in lead testing;(II) assists schools or child care programs with compliance monitoring;(III) assists schools with carrying out projects to remediate lead contamination in drinking water; or(IV) provides technical assistance to schools or child care programs in carrying out lead testing; or

(iv) a qualified nonprofit organization, as determined by the Administrator.

(C) Technical assistanceIn carrying out the grant program under subparagraph (A), beginning not later than 1 year after October 23, 2018, the Administrator shall provide technical assistance to recipients of grants under this subsection—

(i) to assist in identifying the source of lead contamination in drinking water at schools and child care programs under the jurisdiction of the grant recipient;

(ii) to assist in identifying and applying for other Federal and State grant programs that may assist the grant recipient in eliminating lead contamination described in clause (i);

(iii) to provide information on other financing options in eliminating lead contamination described in clause (i); and

(iv) to connect grant recipients with nonprofit and other organizations that may be able to assist with the elimination of lead contamination described in clause (i).

(3) Application

(4) Priority

(5) Limitation on use of funds

(6) Guidance; public availabilityAs a condition of receiving a grant under this subsection, the recipient State, local educational agency, public water system, tribal consortium, or qualified nonprofit organization shall ensure that each local educational agency, public water system, tribal consortium, or qualified nonprofit organization to which grant funds are distributed shall—

(A) expend grant funds in accordance with—

(i) the guidance of the Environmental Protection Agency entitled “3Ts for Reducing Lead in Drinking Water in Schools: Revised Technical Guidance” and dated October 2006 (or any successor guidance); or

(ii) applicable State or tribal regulations or guidance regarding voluntary testing or compliance monitoring for and remediation of lead contamination in drinking water in schools and child care programs that are not less stringent than the guidance referred to in clause (i); and

(B)

(i) make available, if applicable, in the administrative offices and, to the extent practicable, on the Internet website of the applicable local educational agency for inspection by the public (including teachers, other school personnel, and parents) a copy of the results of any voluntary testing for lead contamination in school and child care program drinking water carried out using grant funds under this subsection; and

(ii) notify parent, teacher, and employee organizations of the availability of the results described in clause (i).

(7) Maintenance of effort

(8) Authorization of appropriationsThere are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection—

(A) $30,000,000 for fiscal year 2022;

(B) $35,000,000 for fiscal year 2023;

(D) $45,000,000 for fiscal year 2025; and

(E) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2026.

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title XIV, § 1464, as added Pub. L. 100–572, § 2(a), Oct. 31, 1988, 102 Stat. 2886; amended Pub. L. 104–182, title V, § 501(f)(10), Aug. 6, 1996, 110 Stat. 1692; Pub. L. 114–322, title II, § 2107(a), Dec. 16, 2016, 130 Stat. 1727; Pub. L. 115–270, title II, § 2006(a), Oct. 23, 2018, 132 Stat. 3843; Pub. L. 117–58, div. E, title I, § 50110, Nov. 15, 2021, 135 Stat. 1150.)

§ 300j–25. Drinking water fountain replacement for schools

(a) Establishment

(b) Use of funds

Funds awarded under the grant program—

(1) shall be used to pay the costs of replacement of drinking water fountains in schools; and

(2) may be used to pay the costs of monitoring and reporting of lead levels in the drinking water of schools of a local educational agency receiving such funds, as determined appropriate by the Administrator.

(d) Authorization of appropriations

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title XIV, § 1465, as added Pub. L. 115–270, title II, § 2006(b)(1), Oct. 23, 2018, 132 Stat. 3844.)

§ 300j–26. Certification of testing laboratories

The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency shall assure that programs for the certification of testing laboratories which test drinking water supplies for lead contamination certify only those laboratories which provide reliable accurate testing. The Administrator (or the State in the case of a State to which certification authority is delegated under this subsection) shall publish and make available to the public upon request the list of laboratories certified under this subsection.1

1 So in original. Probably should be “section.”

(Pub. L. 100–572, § 4, Oct. 31, 1988, 102 Stat. 2889.)

§ 300j–27. Registry for lead exposure and Advisory Committee

(a) Definitions

In this section:

(1) City

(2) Committee

(3) Secretary

(b) Lead exposure registry

(1) Membership

(A) In general

The Secretary shall establish, within the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry an Advisory Committee in coordination with the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other relevant agencies as determined by the Secretary consisting of Federal members and non-Federal members, and which shall include—

(i) an epidemiologist;

(ii) a toxicologist;

(iii) a mental health professional;

(iv) a pediatrician;

(v) an early childhood education expert;

(vi) a special education expert;

(vii) a dietician; and

(viii) an environmental health expert.

(B) Requirements

(2) Chair

(3) Terms

(4) Application of FACA

(5) Responsibilities

The Committee shall, at a minimum—

(A) review the Federal programs and services available to individuals and communities exposed to lead;

(B) review current research on lead poisoning to identify additional research needs;

(C) review and identify best practices, or the need for best practices, regarding lead screening and the prevention of lead poisoning;

(D) identify effective services, including services relating to healthcare, education, and nutrition for individuals and communities affected by lead exposure and lead poisoning, including in consultation with, as appropriate, the lead exposure registry as established in subsection (b); and

(E) undertake any other review or activities that the Secretary determines to be appropriate.

(6) Report

Annually for 5 years and thereafter as determined necessary by the Secretary or as required by Congress, the Committee shall submit to the Secretary, the Committees on Finance, Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, and Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate and the Committees on Education and the Workforce, Energy and Commerce, and Agriculture of the House of Representatives a report that includes—

(A) an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Federal programs and services available to individuals and communities exposed to lead;

(B) an evaluation of additional lead poisoning research needs;

(C) an assessment of any effective screening methods or best practices used or developed to prevent or screen for lead poisoning;

(D) input and recommendations for improved access to effective services relating to health care, education, or nutrition for individuals and communities impacted by lead exposure; and

(E) any other recommendations for communities affected by lead exposure, as appropriate.

(d) Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated for the period of fiscal years 2017 through 2021—

(1) $17,500,000 to carry out subsection (b); and

(2) $2,500,000 to carry out subsection (c).

(Pub. L. 114–322, title II, § 2203, Dec. 16, 2016, 130 Stat. 1734.)