Written Testimony before the Assembly Public Hearing on Lead Service Line Replacement Programs

waterpublic comments
Written By Erica Galante-Johnson

Removing New York’s estimated 550,000 lead service lines to comply with the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) will cost the state an approximate $695 million per year. Despite substantial federal investments, through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), New York still faces substantial funding gaps that threaten its ability to meet the 2037 federal deadline.

Our comments highlight the scope of this funding shortfall and offer recommendations on how New York can overcome these challenges with targeted policy changes, stronger funding strategies, and more efficient program design.

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Erica Galante-Johnson

Erica is the Senior Lead Service Line Replacement Policy Analyst at EPIC. Prior to joining EPIC in 2023, Erica worked in the New York State Assembly in the office of the Health Committee Chair, Amy Paulin. Erica holds a PhD and Master’s degree in Biology from the City University of New York and a bachelor’s degree from Universidad Simón Bolívar in Venezuela. As a scientist, she has been involved in numerous interdisciplinary research projects addressing issues operating at the interface of environmental conservation and human health, in both academic and non-profit settings.

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