Vermont state officials are planning to test for lead levels at all public schools by 2022.
Officials say the prompt for the statewide tests resulted from a pilot program that found five schools had elevated lead levels. The Bennington Banner reports some lawmakers like Democratic Senator Brian Campion, of Bennington, agree but want testing to be completed at all schools by the end of this year.
Campion and Democratic Progressive Senate President pro tempore Tim Ashe also favor a lower threshold for requiring action against elevated lead levels. Campion says no level of lead in drinking water should be considered safe.
The state Department of Environmental Conservation released a draft plan for water testing on Friday, calling for testing to begin in January.
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