The Environmental Protection Agency is expanding its inquiry of the leading telecommunication providers in the United States after investigations found that their older cables contaminate water and soil across the country.
The agency sent a letter to AT&T and Verizon on Thursday requesting meetings with the companies as part of a monthslong inquiry into whether the companies’ old infrastructure was releasing lead into the environment. EPA investigators found more than 100 readings with lead above the safety guidelines for children at locations previously identified. Now, the agency is trying to determine what role the telecom providers played in these levels.
“This is lead that could be concerning” based on the viable “exposure and pathways” into the body, Clifford Villa, head of the EPA’s Office of Land and Emergency Management, told the Wall Street Journal.
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In July, the Wall Street Journal reported lead contamination across more than 2,000 telecom cables across the country. Many of these lead-covered cables were installed in the late 20th century and have begun to degrade, leaking lead into several communities. Many of these leaks were found in social areas such as playgrounds.
AT&T said in a statement that it does not believe the lead-covered cables, which was a traditional method of installing broadband cables underground, pose a public health risk but that it will meet with the EPA to discuss “recent testing.”
