Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird has joined with a 15-state coalition in opposing a new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule that mandates the replacement of lead pipes at homeowners’ expense. The EPA’s original 2021 rule required pipe replacement only when lead levels were hazardous, with a reasonable timeframe for compliance. However, Bird says the recent Biden administration’s rule goes further, mandating complete lead pipe removal within ten years. Critics argue that the unrealistic deadlines and estimated $60 billion cost unfairly burden homeowners. The estimated replacement cost is four times higher than the $15 billion Congress allocated to assist with replacements. Attorney General Bird contends that the mandate exceeds EPA’s authority and urges a withdrawal of the rule, asserting that it places an additional financial strain on Iowa residents already grappling with rising costs and inflation. The coalition, led by Kansas, argues that the proposed rule violates the Commerce Clause and lacks Congressional approval. Iowa’s neighbors in Nebraska and South Dakota also joined the growing coalition. A copy of the attorneys general letter is included below.
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