Leaders say federal funding provides opportunity to replace lead lines.

Milwaukee Wis. -- Yesterday, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan visited Milwaukee to discuss the ways that President Biden’s bipartisan infrastructure proposal will benefit the state of Wisconsin.

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: EPA chief visits Milwaukee, leaders say federal funding provides opportunity to replace lead lines

Key Points:

The $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure framework that the Biden administration supports includes a goal to eliminate all lead service lines and pipes in the country. It also includes providing all homes with high-speed internet and repairing roads and bridges.

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Milwaukee faces a historic opportunity to replace lead paint and pipes by using federal funding flowing to the city. Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett hopes to use funds from the city's $394.2 million American Rescue Plan allocation for lead paint remediation and hopes to see more funding from the infrastructure plan to address lead laterals.

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The Biden administration estimates that Wisconsin's drinking water infrastructure will need $8.6 billion in funding over the next 20 years. The framework includes $55 billion for clean drinking water efforts.

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"We really want to focus on looking at setting a drinking water standard that addresses PFAS," Regan said. "Number two, there are resources in the president's budget asks for EPA that focuses on research and mitigation of pervasive PFAS situations across the country. So, it is not left out of the suite of options that the president wants to take advantage of."

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Municipalities across Wisconsin are adapting to flooding events as climate change brings heavier rains. The infrastructure framework includes $47 billion for infrastructure resiliency and to help communities recover from extreme weather events.