From: The Nation
“The shutdown adds more disorder to the government’s halting efforts to keep communities lead-free. As the top enforcer of the Safe Drinking Water Act and lead-safety protections in the “Lead and Copper” rule, the EPA sets regulatory standards and guidelines for federal and state pollution-control programs, though states typically handle the bulk of monitoring and enforcement. Nonetheless, with state regulators strained by limited funding and resources, the EPA remains a last line of defense for financial and technical support.”