New EPA Administrator on Flint visit: ‘We are here to learn’

FLINT, MI -- New EPA Administrator Michael Regan visited the McKenzie Patrice Croom Flint Community Water Testing Lab in one of his first community visits after being appointed by President Joe Biden.

Regan met Mayor Sheldon Neeley, U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee, D-Flint Township, students that work at the water testing lab and other members of the community during his Wednesday, July 7 visit.

He said he wanted to come to Flint to learn about how cities are taking control of their own futures.

Regan spoke to ensure the public that the upcoming infrastructure bill, currently still in the U.S. Senate, will help provide water infrastructure resources and other key infrastructure projects that can tackle water infrastructure in America.

The member of Biden’s cabinet said Flint’s Community Water Testing lab is an example of something that all communities should operate. That’s one specific idea that he plans to bring back to Washington, he said.

“Looking at the technical capabilities here to test water as good as any third party, and having it done by young people who are residents of this community -- that’s an idea that we need to see all around this country,” Regan said. “Flint, Michigan isn’t the only community struggling with water quality issues or trusting those who are responsible for delivering good, clean drinking water.”

Regan acknowledged the distrust of government that many Flint residents still subscribe to after the city’s history with the Flint water crisis. Kildee called the crisis a failure of government on many different levels, and said Flint residents have a reason to be hesitant.

“People, and rightfully so, don’t necessarily trust the government in 2021. That’s no secret,” Regan said. “We’ve got to work hard to rebuild the trust of our communities. We cannot do that by sitting behind a desk and watching. We have to get out and get in to the community.”

Neeley said it is important to grow a strong relationship with the EPA as the city continues to recover from the pandemic and the water crisis.

In the most recent lead and copper testing of city water, completed in December, the 90th percentile for lead in Flint water was 6 parts per billion, far below the federal action level. That means 90 percent of water samples at taps considered at higher risk of lead contamination were below 6 parts per billion of lead. The federal threshold is 15 ppb.

All public water systems are required to test water for lead and copper and must take steps to lower lead levels when a water system’s 90th percentile is more than 15 ppb. In Michigan, that threshold drops from 15 ppb to 12 ppb starting in 2025.

Related: Flint completes lead and copper testing for first half of 2021

Flint officials have said that they have been hamstrung in water sample collection because the favored method for identifying homes at the highest risk of having elevated levels of lead in water is lead service lines, and the city has removed nearly 10,000 lead and galvanized service lines since the Flint water crisis was recognized as a federal emergency.

Nearly 27,000 water service lines have been dug up by contractors in that $97-million program to replace pipes that were damaged by corrosive Flint River water. An estimated 500 more homes still require excavation before the program can be closed out.

Regan met with city and community leaders in closed-door meetings before and after his press availability.

Water Testing Lab Founder Michael Harris felt “empowered” by the EPA administrator’s visit.

He was happy to hear that Flint’s progress in water testing is a model that can be used in other places around the country, as Regan said.

“This is the start of something great -- to have the EPA Administrator come in and put his boots on the ground to find out what’s really going on,” Harris said. “We are not victims. We want to be empowered by this. For the EPA Administrator to come here -- it is a powerful statement to where the priorities are.”

The infrastructure bill Regan referred to was presented by the President last month. The “Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework” bill sets $1.2 trillion for infrastructure upgrades.

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