Correspondence among

Importance: High New FCIA (Edwards} attached. Please respond to [email protected] and copy me. Due date: 11/5/45. Thanks.

Additionally as Linda Dykema noted last week, the city water supply is in compliance with the lead rule, and the DEQ has not seen a change in the city's compliance with the lead rule since switching to the Flint River source.

Thanks Nancy anno Original Message-----

I apologize for the delay in responding more specifically to this assignment, it took some time to review our Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention program data to see if it might contribute to the understanding of the situation in Flint with their water supply. Here is what we found: We looked at lead testing results for May 2014-April 2015, which is the 12 month time frame just after Flint started drawing their water from the river (water source changed in April 2014). We compared lead testing rates and lead testing results to the same time frame for the previous 3 years, to see if there were any patterns that suggested that there were increased rates of lead poisoning after the water supply was switched. Per the attached charts — e Lead testing rates remained about the same from year to year (chart on the right). e There was a spike in elevated blood lead tests from July-September 2014 (chart on the left, gold line). *® However that pattern was not terribly different from what we saw in the previous three years, especially in 2011-2012 (we are working with our Epidemiologist to statistically verify any significant differences). ¢ Wecommonly see a ‘seasonal effect’ with lead, related to people opening and closing windows more often in the summer, which disturbs old deteriorating paint on the windows, sills and sashes. Window fans frequently blow and spread the lead dust from the deteriorating paint to other parts of the room/house. We suspect that the summer data spike may be related to this effect. ® Ifthe home water supply lines and/or river water were contributing to elevated blood lead tests, we 51 xxxEND_PAGE:treasury01_b29_4586_4669_69 expected that the increased rates would extend beyond the summer, but they drop quite a bit from September to October, stayed low over the winter, and are just starting to tail up again in the spring of 2015. So upon review, we don’t believe our data demonstrates an increase in lead poisoning rates that might be attributable to the change in water source for Flint. We recognize that lead exposure via the water is only a small piece of what may be happening for families in Flint, however, we hope the information is helpful. Nancy Peeler

I spoke with Steve Busch, Lansing District Office manager, DEQ Office of Drinking Water & Municipal Assistance. The city of Flint recently conducted drinking water testing throughout the city with special attention to those areas known to have old service lines. The city water supply is in compliance with the lead rule, which means that 90% of the water samples were less than the lead action level of 15 ppb. DEQ will, however, recommend that Flint further “optimize” their corrosion control methods. The DEQ has not seen a change in the city's compliance with the lead tule since switching to the Flint River source. Some water samples had lead levels above 15 ppb. Homeowners receive their sampling results and those with elevated levels are provided with information regarding how to minimize their exposure, including replacement of water supply lines. The city pays for line replacement from the main to the property boundary. The property owner is responsible for some portion of the cost if the line replaced is on their property. To Steve's knowledge, there is no program in Flint to assist homeowners with limited financial means. Regarding the home with high drinking water lead levels: some years ago the supply line that serves the neighborhood was replaced, but somehow this house was not connected to the new line, such that the family's xxxEND_PAGE:dhhs02_b0904_3051_3052_1 003052 drinking writer supply Wis cominug fem the ek eurréeed fead pipe. Noite of the neiwhbers writer hadl eRevited fead levels, Whikth Wis likely why she Wis temporary comneeted by garden trese to a tap supplied by the Rew line. Site hes sinee been permanently eomneeted to the Hew line. Regarding the EPA drinking weiter official quoted in the press articles: the report that he issued Was a result ef his OWh reanesteh and Wats net revieeved of approved by EPA management. He hes essendally acted! outside his authority. xxxEND_PAGE:dhhs02_b0904_3051_3052_2

Importance: High Good afternoon, Please see the message below received from the Director's office just before 5. If at all possible, please provide an update of what you may, or may not, know ASAP, today if at all possible. Include Nancy Grijalva and Sue Moran in the response. Thank you.