Finalized service line plans due
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News from the Dept. of Commerce
HELENA — The Montana Department of Commerce announced recently that postcards will be sent next week from its Lead Service Line Inventory Technical Assistance Program to Montana public water systems to prompt the finalization of their updated service line inventories and replacement plans, which are due by November 2027.
The postcards will be sent to approximately 100 Montana public water systems that appear to have a high number of remaining service lines to be identified for the Environmental Protection Agency’s Lead Service Line Inventory requirements under the Lead and Copper Rule. The rule requires that all public water systems create an inventory of their systems to identify any lead or contaminant lines, plan for the replacement of those lines and replace those lines. The postcards will not be mailed to individual homeowners; only to public water systems.
“We urge Montana’s public water systems to stay on schedule and get their inventory and replacement plans completed and submitted as soon as possible,” said Commerce Director Marta Bertoglio.
The first deadline for inventory submission to the Montana Department of Environmental Quality was Oct. 16, 2024. Some systems that failed to submit an inventory may face enforcement actions by the EPA. The State of Montana does not have influence over any enforcement action under the EPA’s Lead and Copper Rule, but systems may use Commerce’s LSL Technical Assistance Program to finish their inventories and possibly have enforcement actions lifted by the EPA.
Many systems were able to submit inventories with service lines listed as “unknown” for that initial Oct. 16, 2024, deadline; however, they must have them identified and submit an updated inventory by November 2027. Identification of these service lines is something that can be done through utilizing the LSL TA Program, which is limited to funding activities through a procured list of statewide providers. It cannot fund activities through providers that are not contracted with the program.
The funding for Commerce’s LSL TA Program was created by the Federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2022, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which provides funding to eliminate lead in drinking water system service lines in towns, cities and water districts throughout Montana.
