This rulemaking will incorporate by reference the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations for Lead and Copper: Short Term Regulatory Revisions and Clarifications; Final Rule, promulgated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on October 10, 2007. Incorporation by reference ensures that Idaho’s rules will be neither more nor less stringent than the federal rule.

The purpose of the Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) is to protect populations from exposure to lead and copper in drinking water and reduce potential health risks associated with lead and copper. The purpose of the short-term revisions is to strengthen the implementation of the LCR in the following areas: monitoring, treatment processes, public education, customer awareness, and lead service line replacement. The short-term changes finalized in this action are expected to ensure and enhance protection of public health by reducing exposure to lead in drinking water. The revisions to the LCR neither amend the portion of the regulations related to copper nor change the action levels for lead or copper.

DEQ received no public comments; however, Section 350 has been revised to remove unnecessary obsolete subsections (350.07.a. and 350.07.b.).  The remainder of the rule has been adopted as proposed.