COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio Republican Sen. Rob Portman has joined a bipartisan effort to head off an environmental regulation he says would make it difficult for local governments to repair and replace fire hydrants.
Portman (right) and senators Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.) and Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) have cosponsored a bill they say would bolster fire safety and protect local governments from a “dangerous and expensive new mandate, according to a statement from Portman’s office.
The bill prohibits Environmental Protection Agency oversight of fire hydrants. A similar bill was unanimously adopted by the House on Dec. 2nd, Portman’s office said.
Portman says the measure is intended to derail a new EPA policy that requires local governments to replace malfunctioning fire hydrants with new ones that are independently certified lead-free.
This EPA regulation, part of the Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water Act, makes it difficult for cities to repair or replace fire hydrants with existing inventory, and there is no guarantee hydrants that meet the new criteria are available, Portman says.
“Not only does this onerous, nonsensical regulation do nothing to protect Ohioans from unsafe drinking water, it promotes rampant government waste by forcing communities across Ohio to trash over $1 million of purchased equipment and replacements parts that were paid for on the taxpayers’ dime… This is yet another example of regulatory overreach,” Portman said.
Portman says, under the regulation due to take effect Jan.4, cities would have to leave malfunctioning fire hydrants out of service until they can buy and install compliant hydrants.