MILWAUKEE, Wis. — A federal agency has joined the investigation of lead in Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS).
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is now taking part in investigating the lead crisis inside MPS.
An EPA spokesperson, as early as this week, said federal inspectors have been inside MPS buildings to perform "visual lead paint and asbestos inspections."
In addition to the EPA being involved, TMJ4 has also learned the Wisconsin Department of Health Services has been assisting in this investigation too.
We're told EPA inspectors are "providing technical assistance to the Milwaukee Health Department during its investigation of other Milwaukee Public Schools with similar ages, exposure patterns, and deteriorating lead-based paint."
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A spokesperson with the EPA said they've met with local and state health departments to discuss previous inspections done at MPS buildings.
Moving forward, the EPA will work with the Agency of Toxic Substances and Disease Registry to provide enforcement and compliance assistance.
Part of the EPA's function is enforcement, specifically enforcement for businesses or entities that are not complying with federal environmental laws. The EPA can provide notices of violations, but in most circumstances, we're told the agency prefers a cooperative approach like working with local and state agencies to clean up the situation.
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