COLUMBUS, Ohio – An Environmental Protection Agency regulation governing fire hydrants, which critics said would have cost cities millions of dollars, was overturned by Congress yesterday and sent to President Barack Obama for his signature.
Ohio Sen. Rob Portman (right) joined fellow Republican Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania and Democrats Bob Casey of Pennsylvania and Chuck Schumer of New York to prohibit EPA oversight of fire hydrants. The bill passed the Senate yesterday, along with an identical House companion bill.
The EPA announced in October that fire hydrants would be covered under the Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water Act because they are occasionally used in emergencies to provide drinking water, Portman said.
That meant any hydrant manufactured or installed after Jan. 4th must have a lead content that meets the statutory standard so spare hydrants or parts that cities have on hand that did not meet the standard would be obsolete, requiring the municipalities to pay millions of dollars to replace them, Portman said.