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Legislature going to work on tougher lead standards

Steve Carmody
/
Michigan Radio

A state lawmaker from Flint says it’s time to toughen the rules on lead in drinking water. State Sen. Jim Ananich, D-Flint, has sponsored a bill to reduce the allowable levels of lead in drinking water.

He wants stricter rules to gradually reduce allowable lead levels with a goal of zero exposure to lead.

      

“We saw what happened” in Flint, Ananich said. “It’s a terrible, terrible tragedy what happened here in Flint, in my hometown, so we obviously should be leading, I think, in making sure it never happens again.”

He says Michigan should adopt the toughest lead rules in the country following the Flint water crisis.                     

We’re seeing problems all over the country, Flint being the first and the most-severe of course, and we know that lead is a toxic substance. It shouldn’t be in people’s bodies,” Ananich said.

The Snyder administration is also working on adopting tougher lead standards. Governor Rick Snyder has said the federal lead and copper rule is confusing and partially responsible for the Flint water crisis. The EPA says Michigan did not follow the rule in Flint. 

Rick Pluta is Senior Capitol Correspondent for the Michigan Public Radio Network. He has been covering Michigan’s Capitol, government, and politics since 1987.
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