Project Grant 96708602

This federal Project Grant award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Voluntary School and Child Care Lead Testing and Reduction Grant Program (CFDA 66.444) provides $772,000.00 to the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE) to implement a program of voluntary lead testing in drinking water at local schools and child care centers in Nebraska.

The key activities include: 1) Communication and outreach to schools and child care programs, 2) Training staff on proper sampling protocols, 3) Collecting and analyzing water samples at eligible facilities, 4) Providing education on potential corrective actions to reduce lead exposure, and 5) Offering reimbursement grants to eligible facilities for replacement of lead-containing plumbing components. The project will prioritize testing and remediation at facilities serving underserved and low-income communities, as well as older buildings more likely to contain lead infrastructure. The NDEE will collaborate with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services and local health departments to facilitate participation and coordinate the implementation of this voluntary lead testing and reduction program across the state.