Project Grant 02J77001

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded a $1,151,000 Project Grant to the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) under the Voluntary School and Child Care Lead Testing and Reduction Grant Program (CFDA 66.444) to implement a program of voluntary lead testing and remediation in drinking water at local schools and child care centers. The grant will enable ODE to provide training for school districts, complete testing at approximately 70,000 drinking or food preparation fixtures, notify stakeholders of results, establish an ongoing testing program, and implement remediation efforts to reduce lead exposure. An estimated 104 districts may receive up to $5,000 each in reimbursement for remediation expenses. The grant aims to improve state-level lead testing programs, increase district and community knowledge on lead risks, and reduce lead exposure in drinking and food preparation water at schools and child care facilities across Oregon. The award period runs from January 1, 2025 through March 1, 2027.