The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a new grant exceeding $1 million to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services for lead testing in schools and daycare centers. The announcement was made at an event in Durham, where EPA Acting Regional Administrator Jeaneanne Gettle was joined by Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff, U.S. Representative Valerie Foushee (NC-04), Durham Mayor Leonardo Williams, and North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kody H. Kinsley.
"At EPA, our mission is to protect all people and our planet, and fulfilling that mission requires that every single person in this country – especially our children – have clean water to drink when they turn on their tap," said EPA Acting Regional Administrator Jeaneanne Gettle. She noted that last year Durham received $1 million for a lead service line inventory Field Verification Project for disadvantaged areas. This year, North Carolina was allocated over $200 million through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, with more than $76 million designated specifically for lead pipe identification and replacement.
Durham Mayor Leonardo Williams emphasized the importance of the visit: "This visit exemplifies the Biden-Harris Administration’s continued commitment to ensuring that families in Durham and across the country have access to safe, lead-free drinking water."
The State of North Carolina will use this award to continue its program to test for lead contamination in drinking water at licensed childcare centers, including Head Start/pre-Kindergarten programs in elementary schools. The goal is to reduce lead exposure using the EPA's 3Ts: Training, Testing, and Taking action.
"Every child, no matter where they live, deserves clean and lead-free drinking water," said Congresswoman Valerie Foushee (NC-04). "Thanks to the Biden Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency, North Carolina will receive nearly $1.3 million in federal funding."
North Carolina Health and Human Services Secretary Kody H. Kinsley reiterated the state's commitment: "Ensuring the health and safety of our children is a top priority... This is public health in action – working together for the health and well-being of North Carolinians."
Lead exposure can cause serious health impacts, including irreversible harm to brain development in children. President Biden has committed to replacing every lead pipe in the country as part of his Justice40 Initiative.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law invests $15 billion to identify and replace lead service lines nationwide. It mandates that 49% of funds provided through specific programs must be grants or forgivable loans to disadvantaged communities.
For more information on North Carolina’s lead testing programs:
https://www.cleanwaterforcarolinakids.org/Exit
https://www.cleanwaterforuskids.org/en/carolina/about_funding/Exit
