EPA’s FY 2026 Milestones under the Federal Lead Action Plan

The agency’s FY 2026 commitments are listed by individual Federal Lead Action Plan objective. Assembling these commitments enables EPA to transparently track its progress and ensure public accountability in addressing lead contamination and exposure prevention. Learn more about EPA’s work under the Federal Lead Action Plan.

Goal 1: Reduce Children's Exposure to Lead Sources

Reduce Children’s Exposure in Homes and Child-Occupied Facilities with Lead-Based Paint Hazards

Coordinate five virtual stakeholder engagement opportunities to improve awareness of EPA’s Lead-Based Paint Program (October 1, 2025 - September 30, 2026).
Propose a soil-lead hazard standard reconsideration rule to increase protection for children in homes and child-care facilities where soil-lead hazards are present (by Winter 2027).

Reduce Exposure to Lead from Drinking Water

Develop and publish new tools and information (e.g., guidance, fact sheets, best practices) to support Lead and Copper Rule Improvements flexibilities and regulatory clarity (in Spring 2026).
Develop support materials for public water systems and states for implementing the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements. These include the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements Small Entity Compliance Guide; Service Line Inventory Guidance; Service Line Replacement Guidance; State Implementation Guidance; Schools and Child-Care Guidance; and Monitoring and Reporting Guidance (by end of FY 2026).
Release a Lead Funding Playbook that highlights how public water systems are utilizing Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Lead Service Line Replacement funding to identify and replace lead service lines. The Playbook will include information on funding amounts and eligibilities as well as project case studies (in Spring 2026).
Announce FY 2026 Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Lead Service Line Replacement funding for states to replace lead service lines and redistribute unused FY 2022-2024 funds to states and continue working with states to help them use the funds effectively (in Spring 2026).
Release lead service line replacement resources (e.g., templates, case studies, best practices) on utility public engagement, working with decision-makers, and inventory assistance that water systems could use for their projects (by Fall 2026).
Release the Implementation Guide and an Allotment Memo for FY 2026 grant funding for Voluntary School and Child-Care Lead Testing and Reduction grant (by Fall 2026).

Reduce Exposure to Lead in Soil

Report all cleanup projects completed that address lead as a contaminant in communities in the U.S. This includes both removal and remedial cleanup projects under Superfund, as well as RCRA hazardous waste cleanup and Brownfields projects (by end Fall 2026).
Pursuant to the October 2025 Residential Soil Lead Directive for CERCLA Sites and RCRA Hazardous Waste Cleanup Facilities, establish a National Center of Excellence for CERCLA Residential Lead Cleanups (by end Fall 2026).

Reduce Exposure to Lead Associated with Emissions to Ambient Air

Finalize amendments to secondary lead smelters National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants. The secondary lead smelting industry consists of facilities that recycle lead-bearing scrap material, typically lead acid batteries, into elemental lead or lead alloys (by end of FY 2026).

Reduce Exposure to Lead in Cosmetics and Personal Care Products

Update the Heavy Metals in Cultural Products Toolkit as new educational and outreach resources are made available and continue to inform stakeholders of the toolkit’s availability (by September 2026).

Reduce Lead Exposure Through Enforcement and Compliance Assistance

Publicly report on national statistics related to lead cleanups and inspections (yearly).

Goal 2: Identify Lead-Exposed Children and Improve Their Health Outcomes

Facilitate Referrals and Receipt of Appropriate Services for Children Identified as At-Risk for Developmental Delays Due to Lead Exposure

Issue funding for Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Units to address a variety of children’s environmental health hazards, including lead through education, outreach, consultations and trainings with medical and public health professionals and community members (by the end of FY 2026).

Goal 3: Communicate More Effectively with Stakeholders

Consolidate and Streamline Federal Lead-Related Communication and Messaging

Review and update the information provided in the Protect Your Family from Lead in Your Home pamphlet as new requirements are developed. EPA’s Lead-Based Paint Program, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) are co-authors of the document, which is required by law to be provided in pre-1978 house purchases and rentals to consumers (in FY 2026).
Update the English and Spanish versions of the Protect Your Family pamphlet based on the FY 2025 review, with a follow-up update planned in FY 2029 to incorporate the finalized soil-lead hazard standards rule (by February 2026). Publish updated pamphlet in Arabic, Chinese Simplified and Traditional, French, Korean, Polish, Russian, Somali, Tagalog, and Vietnamese (by end of FY 2026).
Track and report EPA’s direct implementation activities related to lead programs in Indian country to better understand EPA program delivery and ensure human health and environmental protection is as strong in Indian country as outside of Indian country (by FY 2026 Q4).
Lead the President’s Task Force on Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks to Children’s Lead Exposures Subcommittee to facilitate cross-agency coordination and information sharing for the implementation of the Federal Lead Action Plan, including the completion of the Federal Lead Resources Guide (by end of FY 2026).
Advance cooperative federalism by hosting five EPA region–state listening sessions to enhance shared situational awareness of lead challenges and identify feasible, near-term opportunities for collaborative actions (by end of FY 2026).
Publish National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week 2026 materials on EPA’s webpage to allow time for individuals, organizations, industry, and state, Tribal, territorial and local governments to support EPA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and HUD in national awareness-raising efforts (by September 1, 2026).
Facilitate a national webinar on EPA’s Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule and Lead Disclosure Rule for the real estate industry to better clarify their responsibilities (by October 2026).
Analyze EPA-Tribal Environmental Plans (ETEPs) entered in General Assistance Program (GAP) Hub (approximately 40% of Tribes) and identify tribes with priority lead concerns identified in their ETEPs to gain an understanding of what efforts Tribes currently have underway to address lead exposure and risks (by FY 2027 Q1).
Publish at least one case study on the conversion of an existing building into a new residential use (adaptive reuse) (by September 30, 2026).
Host one private sector forum on the conversion of existing buildings to new residential uses (adaptive reuse) where lead and other environmental hazards are present (by June 30, 2026).

Improve Awareness of Lead Hazards, Prevention, and Remediation among Diverse Populations, Especially Those Most at Risk

Host a tribal workshop on lead risks, regulations, remediation, and available resources to support tribes in addressing contamination and administering lead programs (by FY 2027 Q1).
Complete one or more tools on best practices for lead pollution reduction in low- and middle-income countries to encourage global reductions in lead use and in import of lead-containing products into the US. Recruit authors and reviewers for tools within EPA (by end of 2026).
Publish new and expanded data and data visualization tools on lead in America’s Children and the Environment tool, in response to recommendations from the Children’s Health Protection Advisory Committee (by end of FY 2026).

Goal 4: Support and Conduct Research to Inform Efforts to Reduce Lead Exposures and Related Health Risks

Prioritize and Address the Critical Research and Data Needs that Inform Lead Policies and Guide Decision-making

Initiate Data Use Agreement with at least one state department of health to obtain children’s blood lead data (March 2026); generate initial maps of potential lead exposure sources based on existing environmental and residential data for one or more state(s) (June 2026); and evaluate sources and drivers of lead exposures in one or more state(s) at the census tract or county level, using childhood blood lead surveillance data and environmental data (September 2026).
Conduct field testing of innovative, no-dig technologies for lead service line identification to reduce lead in drinking water distribution systems (by Fall 2026).